Grief is often seen as something that is intrinsically connected with love. However, to some people, grief does not equal love. How do you grieve someone you didn’t like? In the below I’ll share some thoughts on how this may affect your grief and what to say or do at a funeral for someone you[…]
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[…]
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[…]
This November, for the second year in a row, I had the honour to lead a Remembrance Day ceremony at Mill Hill Cemetery for the Dutch ‘Bond van Wapenbroeders’ (Brothers In Arms) – a group of Dutch Veterans. At Mill Hill Cemetery, 254 Dutch soldiers have been buried who fought for peace during The Second[…]
As the days are getting shorter and the Winter Holidays approaching, we may all have different feelings. We may feel joy, but also grief during the Holidays as you miss the people who have died and are not sure how to remember your loved one. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Yule or mark the transition[…]
People are not always sure if young children should attend funeral services. When families ask me this question, I always try to understand first why they are having concerns. Reasons I often hear are: ‘They are too young to understand’, or: ‘I am afraid that it will upset them’. I believe that every child, no[…]
At All Souls’ Day, or Dia de Los Muertos, we commemorate people who have died. There are many traditional rituals to honour this day which takes place on 2nd November. You can also create your own moment or All Souls’ Day ritual to remember the special people in your life who have died. Here is[…]
Increasingly, people opt for a non-religious funeral service led by a celebrant. If you are reading this, you may be interested in this option too. At a celebrant-led funeral service, it’s the life and the personality of the person who has died that is at the heart of the service. But how does a celebrant-led[…]
The pandemic has changed the way we do funerals. As a result of the restrictions, many people have been reaching out to online options to include those who cannot attend a funeral. The use of technology at funerals has taken an enormous flight since the start of the pandemic. It has been invaluable in connecting[…]
Mortality Day is an invitation to reflect on the one certainly in life: that one day, it will end. Reflecting on our mortality is not new. Since ancient times, humans have been telling themselves ‘memento mori’ (‘remember that you die’). This resulted in wonderful works of music, art, architecture, literature and more. In more recent[…]
Virtual candlelight vigils to remember people who have died and support the living in times of COVID-19.
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[…]
Real wedding: a personalised wedding ceremony with a Dutch touch
Weddings come in all shapes and sizes. Big, tiny, lavish, luxury, simple, creative, serious, hilarious, traditional, unconventional, loud and still. In the ‘real weddings’ blog posts I describe how I work with couples to create and conduct bespoke wedding ceremonies to celebrate this special moment in their lives. The below is an impression of the[…]
Cheers for Hornsey Town Hall, an iconic community building in the heart of Crouch End that is closing its doors for redevelopment. Screenshot from video by Sugarsweet Productions The vast majority of the ceremonies I lead are for people: babies who are given a warm welcome into the world; couples who commit their love to[…]