woman writing

How to write a eulogy – five prompts to tell a life story in a compelling way

Writing a eulogy for a funeral service can be a daunting task. It’s quite a responsibility to capture the life of your special person in a few minutes. A common approach is to describe someone’s story in a chronological way and this may work very well. However, if you are looking for alternative options that[…]

St Marylebone Crematorium in North London

Direct Cremation: how to make an informed choice

Direct Cremation is becoming an increasingly popular choice for people arranging a funeral. It’s been promoted as an affordable, simple and no fuss option. Sounds good, right? However, not everyone realises what a Direct Cremation involves and it might not be the right choice after all! In this blogpost I discuss pros and cons of[…]

Landrover Hearse (c) Sacred Stones Ltd

How to save on funeral costs

Funerals are expensive, and with the current cost of living crisis you may be curious to learn how to save on funeral costs while still having a meaningful send-off. According to Sunlife, the average costs for a basic funeral in the UK in 2021 was £4,056. This does not include costs for limousines, order of[…]

Coffin decorated with flowers and photo

I couldn’t attend my friend’s funeral. This is how I remembered him.

This summer marks the first death anniversary of my dear friend Christian, who died in August 2021. Covid travel restrictions were still in place and I did not attend his funeral. I was concerned that I could not say my farewells properly and felt awful about not going. However, I found meaningful ways to mourn[…]

Baby funeral by London based funeral celebrant Rosalie Kuyvenhoven, Rituals Today
Online funeral service led by Rosalie Kuyvenhoven, London based celebrant

Virtual funerals: honouring a life in times of COVID-19

A virtual funeral offers a meaningful alternative when a physical get-together is not possible. Rosalie Kuyvenhoven, London based celebrant, explains how a Zoom funeral works.

Hampstead Heath. Photo credits (c) Rosalie Kuyvenhoven, Rituals Today

Beautiful poems and readings for an autumn funeral

Every season has its own special beauty. Autumn has many attributes that relate to the cycle of life and death. Watching nature transform its colours from green to a palette of golden yellow, bright red and warm brown is a delight. Yet, there is also a sadness in all this beauty as it is also[…]

Free download: a Guide to Dementia Friendly Funerals

A Guide to Dementia Friendly Funerals. Written by Rosalie Kuyvenhoven in association with Dementia Friendly Haringey and The London Cremation Company and sponsored by the National Association of Funeral Directors. Including people with dementia, where possible, in funeral arrangements and on the day of the funeral helps them express their emotions and say their farewells[…]

Supporting people with dementia: how to have a dementia-friendly funeral?

How to have a dementia-friendly funeral? In this blog, I take you on my own journey in finding out who to support bereaved people with dementia. Learn why this is important, what it involves and how you can make a positive difference. Check also my online training on this subject: It started with awareness …[…]

Holding hands

Dementia and grief: how to support people with dementia in funeral arrangements

Quite a few funerals I conduct are related to dementia. Either the person who has died or a living family member has been diagnosed with the disease. This raises specific questions and thoughts around funeral arrangements, such as: “Should we take mum to the funeral? She will not remember anything of it” “We don’t need[…]

Celebrate life

How planning your funeral (and talking about it) benefits you and your loved ones

Sculpture on grave at Zorgvlied Cemetery, Amsterdam Discussing your own funeral is not something you typically do at the dinner table, at a friend’s birthday party or during a coffee break at work. For many people, death is something they rather not think or talk about. It might evoke fear, sad feelings or images of[…]

The Goodbye-box: a playful way to help children grieve

Children grieve too but they do this differently than adults. Unlike adults, children have a limited ability to express their feelings, thoughts and memories verbally. Alternatively, play can be an effective and safe way for them to give messages on how they feel. Bonnie Jansen, who teaches at a primary school in the Netherlands and has[…]

Is taking children to a funeral a good idea?

“I am not sure if I should take my children to the funeral. What do you think?” Can I take my child to a funeral? It’s a question parents often ask me as a funeral celebrant. If prepared well, attending a funeral can be a healthy, healing and positive experience for children. The following feedback from a[…]

Why we need to rethink funeral spaces

Funeral at Willow Row Barrow, Cambridgeshire On a chilly but bright autumn morning, David’s family and friends gathered to both celebrate his life and acknowledge his death at the place he had chosen as his final resting place, Willow Row Barrow, in the Cambridgeshire countryside. It was the first time that a funeral ceremony was[…]