Funeral Celebrant, Author and Poet

Hilary Steel's three books together

The Heart Behind the Words

hilary image

I believe every life is a story worth telling well.

I’m a funeral celebrant based in Kent, and at the heart of what I do is something quite simple: helping families tell the story of someone they love.

Because that’s really what a funeral should be. Not a template. Not a set of standard words. But a moment where a life is properly seen, remembered, and honoured.

When we meet, I’ll spend time getting to know the person behind the photographs and the dates. The character. The quirks. The things that made people laugh. The things they stood for. The small details that only families know. From those conversations, I create a ceremony that feels personal, thoughtful, and true to the life that has been lived.

Families often tell me the service feels warm, natural, and very “them”. That matters to me. While funerals are, of course, a time of sadness, they can also be full of love, memories, and even the occasional smile when the right story is shared.

Alongside my work as a celebrant, I’m also an author and grief practitioner, so supporting people through loss is something I care deeply about. I understand how important it is that this moment feels right.

From our first conversation through to the day of the ceremony, I’ll guide you gently through the process and take care of the details so you can focus on remembering the person who matters most.
Every life has a story worth telling.

It would be an honour to help you tell theirs.