As always, you are free to lead a service yourself, or contact a celebrant or minister to write and lead it for you, but in either case, you might consider the following;

• Webcast from the service or record it yourself to share with those who can't be there. The Funeral Director will be able to advise further. Do ensure all guests consent.
• Include memories and notes from those who can't be there as part of the service.
• Email or mail a full  Order of Service  to everyone who wanted to be there.
• Ask missing mourners to light a candle at the time of the funeral. They could perhaps read a poem chosen for the ceremony too.
• Send a playlist of the music used in the ceremony and send it to those who could not attend.
• Hold a later memorial when the crisis is over and decorate the room with photos and memories of your loved one. Include the music and readings from the funeral service.
• Take photos if you want to...it IS allowed, as long as everyone gives consent.

For a free printout on funerals when everyone can't be there, please use the contact form below.

Sometimes it may be necessary to hold a funeral at which no family members are present. As current legislation stands, a celebrant or minister would still be able to hold a ceremony on your behalf, play the music you have chosen and ensure a fitting farewell. Not all celebrants or ministers are happy working in this way, but many are, and will  create a fitting ceremony following a virtual family meeting (phone/Zoom/Google Meet etc.). They should then offer to produce a full script for the ceremony, give you a chance to approve it and then deliver the ceremony on your behalf. 

• The ceremony can be webcast live (or recoded and sent to you) from many crematoria. Your Funeral Director can advise.
• Alternatively, the celebrant and/or funeral director may be able to make a recording of the event on your behalf. 
• Specialized funeral video and photography companies may also be worth contacting.
• If it is not possible to watch the ceremony 'live', then you may consider asking mourners to light a candle/ recite a poem used in the service/ listen to a piece of music from the service or mark the event with a shared online call where different households could share memories of their loved one, and hold a shared period of reflection.

For more advice and a printout on unattended funerals, please use the contact form below.

What is a funeral? - It is an opportunity to celebrate a life, allow grief to be expressed and to share treasured memories that help the deceased live on in our hearts. It can happen anywhere, what matters is that the ceremony is a true reflection of the person who has died; what they said, what they did, what they loved in life and how their influence will continue to be felt in those they loved. Ideally it should be planned to be inclusive   and open to input from family and friends.

A Virtual Funeral during the COVID crisis could be held online at a set time, including family members through a social platform like Zoom or Google Meet, and can be written and hosted by a professional celebrant or by a family member.

I am happy to send you the following printouts if you request them using the contact form below;

• Suggestions for content and structure of a virtual funeral.
• Quick summary of social platform options (Zoom etc.)
• Popular poems for use at funerals.

After the COVID crisis has gone, and restrictions are removed, it should be possible to arrange to collect ashes and many will want to cater those ashes in a place of significance. These moments can be simple, or include some element of ceremony, with or without a celebrant's involvement. Ideas on words to say at informal events are included on the website https://scattering-ashes.co.uk where you will also find a guide to where you can and can't arrange scatterings. 

I am happy to advise further.

Memorials can be large or small, hosted and written by a celebrant, or organised entirely by yourself. The important thing to remember is there are no rules! The event should reflect the person who has died, their interests, their friendship groups and their life. Your aim should be that everyone leaves thinking that the person celebrated would have loved the event, and been pleased to be remembered in this way.

Please contact me for ideas, guidance or to write and host on your behalf.

It has been my pleasure to meet a variety of people, hear their stories and be asked to help create ceremonies that uniquely reflect the person who has died. 

"We could not have asked for more. We are so touched and honoured. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts." R & C

"It was perfectly pitched and we were all very moved ...thank you for all your kindness and compassion." K

"You created a wonderful atmosphere and the rituals you suggested felt exactly right." E

"Thank you for making such a wonderful job of conducting J's funeral. You brought a real sense of warmth and compassion...we also appreciated your sensitivity and those lovely flashes of humour  that was something J would have loved!" D