Julie Carlton Celebration of Life Celebrant

24/01/2026

For those in my area of the hills who may be interested… it’s great to see a safe, beautiful end-of-life death conversation space happening for the LGBTIQA+ members of the community.

An invitation to share your thoughts about Care , Family and Planning for the future.

23/01/2026

Wherever I travel I always visit cemeteries. I guess it’s because I work with grieving families in my celebrant role. But also I’m fascinated in the stories they tell of lives lived, the social history of a place… I love the rituals, the variations, style & creativity of the headstones & grave surrounds. I love reading the carefully composed wording that succinctly must encompass a life journey. I feel the pain expressed by family left behind… I feel their anguish, wipe away their tears & I sense their loss, their grief & sorrow overwhelming them. But then a few steps away I will happen upon a joyful happy tale of a successful life, lived to the fullest, with joy, laughter & kindness. I stop awhile… breathe that life in … & celebrate it too. Walking through a cemetery is a meditation for me. It grounds me. It inspires me. It saddens me. But two things do upset me greatly. The intense pain I feel when reading a headstone telling of an angel baby or death of a young child. Then I see the desecration of some graves… the flower pots upended, broken pieces strewn around, the weeds taking over, the fact that no one cares about this person, this life that was lived. I admire the communities of volunteers who lovingly take on this task. But sadly not in Esperance. But I will continue to walk amongst the dead. They have much to share with us… & to teach me.💕

19/01/2026

Many of us choose to be cremated, just imaging the the casket rolled into the firebox without knowing the actual process. This is an interesting explanation of what actually happens!

The actual process of cremation happens in stages and is not all about the flame; cremations work based on fuel and airflow as well. It is a science to get it right each time and there are a number of variables. The weight of the body and the amount of body fat affects how the cremation runs and the time that it takes. For some crematory operators, it is a general rule of thumb that women need to go into a cool cremator. This is because women can have more body fat which, if placed in a hot cremator, can cause some smoking and the escape of fluid. Thankfully, that is not a common occurrence. The coffin will usually burn away rather quickly, and it is the torso area of the body that takes the longest to turn to ash. Some crematoriums will do what is called a ‘rake over’ of the remains part way through the cremation. This is where the doors are opened slightly and a large metal rake is inserted into the retort and used to rake through remains, spreading them out for a more even burn. The skull is usually opened at this point, if it has not done so naturally, and the organs in the chest cavity, already partly burned, are spread out and separated a little. At this stage, airflow is key, as good airflow will enable a good, clean burn that will create the light-coloured ash most people are used to encountering.

Learn more on this topic and other cremation or burial alternative via our website - https://www.ahfa.org.au/cremation-burial-alternatives

12/01/2026

Having a family member with Dementia is a tough journey… for the family but also for the person struggling with memory loss. Sometimes we allow our frustrations to bring up anger or impatience. But let’s just pause, breathe & remember who they are & how special they are to us… Behind that story that you’ve just heard for the sixth time is a small voice trying to speak… ‘I’m still ME! I still LOVE you. Please still LOVE me!’This poem by Joanne Boyle Heartfelt encourages us to listen for that small voice… & to have compassion rather than anger or frustration. Remember the LOVE. 💕💕💕

If the day comes
that I forget your name
because my mind
is no longer the same.

I still love you.

If I don't remember
things from the past,
because I'm on rewind
and moving too fast.

I still love you.

If I ask who you are,
or where it is you went,
because I've forgotten
everything you meant.

I still love you.

If I shout out for you
whilst you are there,
but look for the child
with the curl in her hair.

I still love you.

If I ask to go home,
even though I am there,
and look out the window
from my old armchair.

I still love you.

If I shout for my mam
as I wait for my dad,
and talk about the kids,
the ones that I had.

I still love you.

If the day comes,
though I pray that it won't,
don't lose sight of me,
I'm begging please don't.

Still love ME.

Joanne Boyle

30/12/2025

The best New Year Resolution… give thanks for the past year but look ahead to what the new year may bring… and all the while DANCE before the music is over & LIVE your LIFE fully each day… because none of us know what tomorrow may bring! Make a New Year’s Resolution to put those farewell arrangements in place & share them with family. Then DANCE & LIVE fully each day.

24/12/2025

24/12/2025

Not everyone has a happy Christmas…as this post shows. But sending love & support to you.

22/12/2025

It’s ok if everything is not merry & bright in your life… just breathe & sit with the grief, the sadness… the overwhelm. You are where you need to be. Feeling what you need to feel. Reach out if you need to. We are here for you. ❤️💚

Not every season feels shiny.
Some feel quiet. Some feel heavy. Some just feel… real.

If today is more about getting through than celebrating big, that still counts.
There’s room for softness here. 🤍

20/12/2025

It doesn’t matter how long it’s been since your loved one died. Maybe it was recently, maybe it was earlier this year or maybe it was years ago. ❤️We still miss their presence at Christmas time. So how do we acknowledge that grief & sadness that they are not present as we try to celebrate? Do you light a candle in their memory? Perhaps you will still set the table where they usually sat (so they are there with you). Maybe you honour them by always making ‘Nan’s trifle’ to remember & include them. Or do you put that never opened Christmas gift under the tree each year? Toast everyone with your loved one’s favourite sparkling wine? Do you listen to their favourite carols & Christmas songs? Was it Bing Crosby singing ‘White Christmas’? Please share how you & your family include loved ones who’ve died in your Christmas gatherings? 🎄🕯️🎁💐💝🍰 🥂🍾

20/12/2025

As most of us are preparing for a wonderful Christmas with family & friends there are also many who do it tough during the festive season. This post from reminds us to reflect on & support those who struggle at Christmas. If you have someone in your life who is grieving or struggling or all alone ask the question Showing that you care is so important at this time. Hugs from me to you.

16/12/2025

Amidst the chaos & craziness of Christmas preparation many of us will also be grieving & remembering a loved one no longer with us. At Christmas we feel that sense of loss even more. So when that loss overwhelms you… pause for a few moments… even whilst standing in that long checkout queue at KMart … remember them. Talk to them aloud or in your head. They ARE with you. It’s not crazy to talk to the dead. It keeps their memory alive. It keeps the LOVE they shared with you in your heart. ‘Nan, are you there? I miss you always being there at Christmas. I loved how you remembered each one of your 42 descendants in the family… you are always there for me. Love u ❤️ Julz’

16/12/2025

The perpetrators of the tragic events that occurred at Bondi do not warrant media attention or commentary - no matter how outraged we are. However, to the innocent lives lost, those injured in hospital, and the families left traumatized, I extend my sincerest condolences, thoughts, and prayers. Rosemary is the universal symbol of remembrance, and we honour the memory of all those who died. To all those affected by this tragedy, especially the first responders, individuals who provided aid and support, and the ambulance and medical teams. To each of you, we express our deepest gratitude. 🙏 💕