We do spiritual ceremonies as human beings in order to create a safe resting place for our most complicated feelings of joy or trauma, so that we don’t have to haul those feelings around with us forever, weighing us down.

We all need such places of ritual safekeeping. And I do believe that if your culture or tradition doesn’t have the specific ritual you are craving, then you are absolutely permitted to make up a ceremony of your own devising, fixing your own broken-down emotional systems with all the do-it-yourself resourcefulness of a generous plumber/poet.
Elizabeth Gilbert

I’m so sorry we’re meeting under these circumstances but I’m glad you’re here

I hope you find what you’re looking for here but please call or email if you’d like to talk things through instead

07790 817 857 or shaolan@uksoc.com

A traditional funeral may be the most meaningful way to say goodbye to the person you loved

But you may prefer a non traditional ceremony which allows you to create a celebration as unique as the person you are saying goodbye to

You may want to include hymns, chanting and prayers or you may want no religious symbols at all

No one has experienced the particular loss that you are experiencing so the way you choose to mark it is a completely personal choice and we will work together to make sure the ceremony is exactly what you need it to be to honour your loved one’s memory

CELEBRATION OF LIFE CEREMONIES

Non traditional funeral

Children’s funeral

Companion animal funeral

Memorial

Scattering

See below for more on these ceremonies

GET IN TOUCH

I’m here to help you create the ceremony you want so please don’t hesitate to ask

07790 817 857 or shaolan@uksoc.com

SCRIPT WRITING:

If you want to deliver the ceremony yourself but would like help with the wording, you may prefer a script writing service

Do get in touch if you’d like to know more about this option

Non traditional funeral

Life is short. Wear your party pants.
Loretta LaRoche

Whether you were expecting it or not, whether they died peacefully in their sleep or in more distressing circumstances, whether you last spoke to them yesterday or ten years ago, the death of someone you love can be painful in ways you never imagined

But that doesn’t mean you have to focus on the sadness of loss. A non traditional ceremony can put the fun into funeral and allow you to celebrate your grandma’s lifelong love of Latin ballroom or your best friend’s silly sense of humour and obsession with three toed sloths

This is your time to say goodbye the way you want to

So you can dress head to toe in black and have a quiet and reflective ceremony or you can dust off the ABBA album and wear your party pants for a rainbow coloured send off

It’s completely up to you

Children’s funeral

It’s against the natural order of things when a child dies. There are no words to take away or even describe the intolerable pain and disbelief. You are changed forever.

But a child gives us so much in their too short life and saying goodbye to them can be a celebration of the huge joy, colour, music and magic they brought into the world

If your precious little one loved Disney, let’s put on our Minnie Mouse ears and Princess Jasmine outfits; If they loved the seaside, let’s draw pictures of boats and sandcastles for them to take with them on their journey

Saying goodbye to a precious daughter or son is something you should never, ever have to do

The only thing we can do is create a safe resting place for you to remember your irreplaceable little person

Companion animal

The bond with a true dog is as lasting as the ties of this earth will ever be.
Konrad Lorenz

Not everyone understands the grief you feel at the loss of a companion animal but it can be as overwhelming and painful as the loss of any other friend

If you feel a powerful need to honour the memory of this treasured member of the family with a celebration of their life, a ‘pet funeral’ can be a healing experience that helps bring you peace