by Hilary Steel
For five years the idea of retraining as a Funeral Celebrant has been floating around in my mind. It was’t inspired by attending a particular funeral but it was confirmed by one. I used to be afraid of death, as though it were a taboo subject that we would only talk about in whispers, while tilting our heads offering the grieving a sympathetic gaze. Instead I have witnessed just how united family and friends can become in celebrating the life of the deceased, even if they hadn’t seen them for any length of time before they passed.
I cared for my Mum for eight and a half years when she was paralysed from a stroke. I was fortunate enough to be able to keep her at home, right up until the end and it was her funeral that confirmed what I had been feeling every time I thought about retraining over the past five or so years. At this point in time I had never actually stepped inside a funeral parlour and was not very savvy on what would actually happen.
I had met a couple of funeral celebrants so when it came to the time I had to choose one to work with I had an idea who I would ask. Louise Rogers was the PERFECT person to work with and it is also thanks to her that I was able to shadow her on some family visits and the actual funerals.
There is something truly wonderful about discoving the essence of a person and not only capturing it, but being able to share it with others who knew them. I took on the role of writing and delivering my Mum’s euology. It wasn’t until the morning of the funeral that I knew I would be able to deliver it in a way that would make her proud.
