Celebrating your loved one
I’m so sorry that you’re here. Losing a loved one is a terrible thing to have to go through and there’s no way around it, grief - it’s shit.
Having lost my own mother in April 2020, and owing to the country being in Lockdown, we were only allowed to have 9 attendees to her funeral and it broke my heart that we weren’t able to give this most incredible woman the valiant send off she so definitely deserved.
Since then, we have paid tribute to my mum at the same time as saying farewell to my grandmother through a Life Celebration ceremony I crafted for them both. With lots of music, laughter, stories and photographs, it was so healing to be able to celebrate these two amazing women in a way that reflected them both so wholeheartedly.
I never want someone else to feel like I did at my mother’s funeral and I will always do my best to create the most personalised and thoughtful ceremony I can to celebrate your loved one.
“Those we love and lose are always connected by heartstrings into infinity.”
How does it work?
If your loved one has recently passed, tell your Funeral Director that you would like me to be your celebrant and then they will contact me when arranging the date and time for the service.
(Alternatively, if you would like to arrange a memorial service or something similar for a loved one who passed less recently, please contact me directly instead at theleopardprintcelebrant@gmail.com)
After this, I will be in contact with you to arrange a suitable time for me to visit you to have a relaxed chat about your loved one where you can tell me all about them. I’ll ask lots of questions to get to know them (and you) better but please don’t be stressed about this - it’s not an interview and we can take things as slowly as you need to.
Once we’ve talked over a few cups of tea, I’ll leave you in peace and go away and write a unique and bespoke service that will honour and celebrate your loved one.
I can help you decide on choices of music, readings and poems and anything else you’d like to make the service as ‘them’ as possible. I can speak to other friends and family members to include any stories and memories they’d like too.
On the day of the service, I’ll arrive ahead of time to liaise with the venue staff to ensure everything goes smoothly and I will then deliver the service we have crafted together.
The Great Escape
With those bright blue eyes,
And gleaming white smile,
Oh what a cracker you were my dear Mumma.
Witty & kind,
And brilliant of mind,
You made friends wherever you went.
A determined young girl,
You travelled the world
And lived a life without any regrets.
With a beer in one hand,
And a fag in the other,
You were all class weren’t you dear Mother?!
A big fan of Elvis,
And his rock’n’roll pelvis,
The admirers fell at your feet.
The poems were scribed,
Songs sung without bribe,
But humble you stayed through it all.
You cuddled the lions,
And kissed the giraffes,
But it’s your two cubs you raised up the best.
Present & fun,
You were the best bloody mum,
And you taught us to just be ourselves.
Determined and strong,
You showed right from wrong,
And you never gave less than your all.
A best friend and a mother,
We could want for no other,
And we won the lottery when life gave us you.
Your life was cut short,
Far fewer years than you ought,
But it was life well lived nonetheless.
You loved and you laughed,
Seeing your glass fuller than half,
And you never complained through your strife.
Then your Great Escape came,
And you caught your last plane.
This dealer has called No more bets.
Your grandchildren reside,
Without you by their side,
Childhoods without their Nana so great.
We look up to the stars,
And know you’re not far,
But how I wish you were here with us now.
So give Nonno a hug,
And dear Beryl a Baileys,
Your mum is now up with you all.
Our Queen through and through,
How I hope I’m like you,
And I hope we make you proud still.
(A tribute to my own mother)
“Both ceremonies were perfectly scripted and were nothing short of absolutely the best tributes anyone could wish for.”
Prices start from £220 for ceremonies in the Bristol & South Devon area.
Costs inclusive of:
Initial visit to family
Unlimited contact via phone and email to discuss details as needed.
Any help needed with choosing music/readings/poems etc.
Unlimited edits of service script until you are happy with it.
Liaising with venue staff/Funeral Directors.
Delivery of service on the day
