First of all, I'm sorry for your loss.
Our lives are bookended by birth and death. It is important that we mark the moment of losing someone with a service that reflects them and their friends and family.
I am an accredited Humanist Funeral Celebrant.
“The meaning of life is to live it, as wholly as we can, as abundantly as we can, as bravely as we can, here and now, sharing the experience with others, caring for others as we care for ourselves, and accepting our responsibility for leaving the world better than we found it.”
James Hemming, prominent Humanist.
Funerals are typically either burials of cremations. Whichever route you choose, you will want a celebrant that accurately reflects the life of the deceased and provides an appropriate celebration of their life.
Direct cremations are becoming increasingly popular. This then opens up the option of holding a memorial service. These can be held anywhere and offer a chance for a bespoke celebration of the life of the deceased, without the committal.
My funeral ceremonies tend to be described with one recurring word - 'warmth'.
I believe it's vital to reflect the life and personality of the deceased, whilst tailoring the ceremony for the mourners. There are times to remember something funny. There are also times to reflect on the loss that people will feel.
I've adopted The Celebrant Accord, developed by the Funeral Celebrancy Council, which binds me to a set of best-practices.