Funerals

Trying to find the energy and capacity to create a fitting and meaningful farewell for a loved one in the midst of grief is difficult. Let me help you.

To work alongside you to ensure that your loved one is given a warm, meaningful and personal leave-taking will be a privilege. I will spend as much time as you, your friends and your family members need to discuss your loved one’s life, shared memories, precious stories, anecdotes and their achievements so I can gain a meaningful understanding of who they were and what they have meant to those they leave behind. I will then write a draft eulogy that reflects their life and personality that you can amend as you wish – it will be a truly collaborative endeavour.

If you or others feel able, and would like to, take an active role in the ceremony I can suggest poems and readings or, alternatively, I can help you to write and deliver your own tribute or farewell, or read those on your behalf. You may have chosen pieces of music or songs for your loved one to arrive and leave by and to play during a period of reflection but, if not, I am able to make suggestions and help find those that feel most appropriate for you.

Whatever your wishes, led by you I will create a fitting funeral that celebrates the life of the person you love and acknowledges your loss.

I have great trust when advocating Kate’s services to our families. She has a very gentle and calming approach. She listens intently to families’ needs, feelings and memories of their loved ones and she then puts together a very personalised service. Kate is professional, very well-organised and shows great compassion. I look forward to recommending her to many more of our families. Tom Meek, Christophers’ Family Funerals

Please carry on this amazing work in celebrating people’s lives. Feedback from all who attended thought it was amazing and fitting. David, Owen and Daniel, husband and children of Sue Thompson

The kind words you put in the tribute were beautiful. Both myself and Ben were blown away reading it. Clare and Ben, daughter and grandson of Graham Binion, ‘Bingie’

Thank you so much for your beautiful words. We were so happy with your involvement with Arthur’s funeral service. Your words gave our dad a life beyond death and that was felt by all who attended. The wake afterwards continued the positive sentiments and was enjoyed (if that’s the right word) by all who attended. My mum is sure that Arthur would be pleased as punch about the whole day. Thanks for helping us through this. Ian, son of Arthur Carr

We really appreciate what you did facilitating and running the service for Arthur. You did brilliantly in capturing what we said when we all met to talk about the eulogy and we feel the whole thing could not have gone better. We have been very lucky to have you leading us through this. Sally, daughter of Arthur Carr

I love the words. They have made me smile and cry in equal measure. Andrew, son of Peter Butcher

We would very much like for you to be celebrant for our parents’ funeral service. We feel you have the warmth and sensitivity that will set the right tone for the service and bring some much-needed light to proceedings. The Warrington family

I just wanted to thank you for yesterday. It was so beautifully put together and delivered. I am sure everyone there was very moved and also delighted to remember Clive and Val as the vibrant delightful ones we cared about and shared good and bad times with. I thought you did a fantastic, empathic and professional job. Not just holding the space with reverence and dignity but going the extra mile to create such well-crafted eulogies. I hope you were able to let go afterwards; it was a big thing to carry. I slept better than I have for weeks. It was a lovely relief to cry. Family friend of Warrington family

I have just finished reading the service that you composed for Val and Clive’s funeral and want to thank you for doing such a brilliant job. I was glad I was able to help in a small way with info, but you did all the hard work. As you know, we were unable to attend in person but we felt like we were really at the service and can only imagine the tears and what people were feeling when they heard it. It was a pleasure to have known you, Kate, and you seem so well suited to being a celebrant. So, keep up the good work! Sister of Valerie Warrington

Dear Kate, thank you so much for your beautiful tribute to Michael. Nobody could have done it better. Everybody who attended had nothing but praise and admiration for you. What a shame Michael couldn’t have heard it too. Jean Ralph, partner of Michael Walsh

I cannot rate the Vintage Celebrant enough. In what was a difficult time, Kate was one of those rare individuals who make you feel secure. She listened with compassion and guided with sincerity. The eulogy she produced for my wonderful dad was empathetic, true and humorous in all the right places, it really did feel like a true celebration of his life. I cannot thank her enough. Wendy Carter

My dad would have loved Kate! She guided us all so skilfully and then wove our memories of Dad into the most beautiful, funny and fitting eulogy. Perfect for Dad. His closest friends described it as spot on and those who couldn’t be with us have contacted us since to agree. I’m so pleased that we found the Vintage Celebrant at such a difficult time. Thank you Kate. Your kindness and professionalism are very much appreciated. Michelle Smith

The service is perfect; thank you so, so much. The wording is amazing, beautiful and moving.
Both myself and mum think it’s lovely. It is my dad in a nutshell. We know dad’s service is in the
best possible hands. Yvette Collins, daughter of Terry Cissell

A quick note to say thank you so much for yesterday – it was perfect. Tracey Green, daughter of John Edwards

You did our dad proud. Sally Olds, daughter of Brian Thomas

This is super Kate; very happy with it. Michelle Wilkinson, daughter of Tony Wilkinson