Danette O'Brien - Funeral Celebrant

05/09/2025

Some people have an affinity with butterflies through their spiritual meanings, but a woman I farewelled recently loved them because they are beautiful and one of her wishes for her funeral service was for those present to stick a butterfly on her coffin. As I was handing mourners their butterfly, I watched as this work of art and love and significance came to life. As she embarked on her final journey to the crematorium she did so surrounded by something that was so very special to her. 💗🦋💗

26/08/2025

This email touched my heart when it arrived recently. I will always remember this service - they are all special but this one was off the charts beautiful 💗💗💗

“Below I have written a short piece on my experience with yourself and your business Farewelled with Love. I would be very happy for you to use this to share with other families preparing to farewell a loved one.
 
Danette was recommended to me as a ‘perfect fit’ by our funeral home.  
We wanted to plan a ‘Celebration of Life’ Service for our Mum, who was a very gentle caring Mum but a very private person.
Danette came to my home and her calm and sincere nature had me feeling at ease immediately.

We talked openly and with many tears, or ‘droplets of love’ as Danette calls them, and I shared precious photos of Mum.

I wanted to involve all the family members Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren. 
And it was to be only 40 guests, small and personal to our Mum.

Danette encouraged us to celebrate all the things we loved about Mum, some humorous!!
 
From that Danette wrote the most beautiful service order in which reflected the gentle person Mum was, who was dearly loved by so many. 

I loved how personal her words were as if she had known Mum.

Grandchildren lit candles gifted to us by Danette, and then two sang ‘Wind beneath your Wings’.

Family wrote personal tributes and Great Grandchildren handed out GG’s favourite lollies afterwards.

We all made paper flowers together to place on the coffin, such simple expressions of our love for Mum.
 
I wanted to read my Eulogy but didn’t think I could, this was very important to me. Danette encouraged me to try and with the help of my son we did read it together, I will be forever grateful for this support.

Danette’s care and encouragement ensured Mum’s farewell was so beautiful and showed our deep love for her and overwhelmingly this was the feedback we received from everyone there. 
 
Sincere thanks Danette, we cannot thank you enough💕
 

16/08/2025

I hear these words so often… and they provoke a lot of reflection for me.

If I know the deceased, I’ll let the people attending the funeral or memorial service know that I do upfront but that’s really the only difference you’ll find in a service I deliver.

A skilled celebrant will craft their words to convey all that they learn about the deceased without portraying they’ve known them. It’s all about the language used, never glossing over the finer details and really bringing someone’s essence into the venue.

During one of my first meetings with a family, I was unexpectedly stopped after 20 minutes with the comment “I see what you’re doing, you’re really getting to know who dad was.” To which I replied.. “but that’s my job.” I was then told that the last celebrant the family engaged had stayed for 15 minutes.

In the end, it’s up to the family. If you want an unengaged celebrant who most definitely doesn’t know much at all about your person, I don’t ever aspire to be on your list of people to call.

If you are looking for a highly personalised service that is delivered with warmth, empathy, a touch of humour when warranted and one that people will remember for the right reasons, but most of all captures who your person was to an absolute tee, know that you’re in exactly the right place. 💗

28/07/2025

If natural burial is something you are considering for your end of life wishes, here’s another option in Goolwa. 💗

EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT
The WATTLEWOOD PROJECT

The NBGTA is establishing Australia's first Restoration Burial Ground on seven hectares near Goolwa, South Australia, in partnership with Nature Foundation, together modelling Restoration Burial Grounds across Australia.

I'm absolutely excited to announce this amazing project, details have now been released to the general public, overwhelmingly approved by the Alexandrina Council and supported by 95% of local residents surveyed.

An innovative model that connects end-of-life practices with environmental restoration. This approach uses simple, nature-inspired practices and minimal resources to create a sustainable end-of-life option that reduces carbon emissions and offers a meaningful return to the earth.

In contrast to conventional funeral processes that are often commercialised, disconnected from nature, and resource-intensive, natural burial involves placing a body into the earth with minimal resources to promote natural decomposition. When located within a Restoration Burial Ground, this ritual generates biodiversity, restoration and conservation, providing a practical investment in our shared ecological future. Ultimately, this allows individuals and families to find comfort and establish a lasting legacy by connecting the death of an individual with the restoration of environmental life.

Donations are part of how this vision can become a reality, every dollar counts as every person does. If you can't donate that's OK, but if you're interested in what all the fuss is about then just copy and paste the address below and enjoy the tour!

https://natural-burial-ground-trust-australia.raiselysite.com/

Alternatively, scan the QR code from the photo and it'll take you directly to the site.

25/07/2025

So grateful to receive another 5 star online review from a family I worked with recently.
🙏💗🙏

24/05/2025

It’s head down and write write write for me all weekend and early next week with an incredibly busy week and weekend of funerals and memorial services ahead. I’ve just arrived home after a family meeting up in the glorious Adelaide Hills, one place in this crazy world of ours that still seems to know what seasons are, and Autumn is always such a treat there. Feeling grateful for my Saturday morning road trip and the reds golds and greens of the beautiful trees along the way. 💗🙏💗

20/05/2025

These lovely words rolled into my inbox recently. It was the last sentence that made my heart smile. While I’m in people’s lives as a Funeral and Memorial Celebrant for a short time, knowing they’ve felt supported is one of the biggest compliments I can ever hope for. 💗

05/05/2025

While there’s been a huge trend in funerals becoming celebrations of life, sometimes circumstances are a little different. Not everyone has oodles of family who love them, friends galore and has lived a full and happy life. An end of life ceremony is a mark of closure, and an authentic one is always best. These are always the more challenging services to write and after spending time listening to the deceased’s family or friends, I’m very much guided by them as to the approach I take. I like to keep in mind these words that I hold dear to my heart when I write: “everyone is doing their best at any given moment.” Reflecting on this allows us to see each other as humans, flaws and all and understand there are often reasons behind behaviours that we may never be privy to.

24/04/2025

Today we remember the men and women and the animals who made the ultimate sacrifice ♥️

❤️

04/04/2025

Week 3 of The Eco Coffin Project. A day full of inspiring speakers.

04/04/2025

I left Smithfield Cemetery completely in awe of its natural burial ground Pilyu Yarta. The natural burial services I’ve conducted previously have all been at Wirra Wonga at Enfield Memorial Park which is a beautiful resting place. Pilyu Yarta had something really special about it - secluded, small, a very apparent abundance of wildlife. Located on the outskirts of Gawler, this cemetery is incredibly special with its lakes and a feeling of immersion in nature.

04/04/2025

The last 3 weeks I’ve been part of the Eco Coffin Project group for 2025, and it’s been time so well spent deepening my knowledge as we’ve explored sustainable death practices. I’ll share the posts from our 3 week journey.