Crown Connection Celebrant

02/06/2023

Just wondering if any wonderful motorbike darlings are available on Friday 30th June, to help es**rt a beautiful five year old lad on his final journey.

Hearse leaving Pitsea Coop 11am, es**rting Noah, collecting family and friends along the way, then off to Basildon (Pitsea) Crematorium for a 12noon celebration of life... there is a Disney theme!

If you are available please go to Thurrock Bikers page and let Noggs know you're going 💜

Please share this post, it would be fantastic to get as many bikes (and trikes!) in Disney garb es**rting this adorable little lad who had the most amazing smile 🥰

Thanks for reading and hopefully sharing 💜🙏💚

22/02/2022

Completed a celebration of life funeral today, got to share a life journey filled with love and laughter

After, while gathered with the family around the flowers, I was ask for my business card... I was told, "I've been to many funerals, (she's 80yo), but never one that I enjoyed, until today!"
The lovely lady, and her family had smiles on their faces, before the service they were inconsolable... They left feeling uplifted, knowing celebrating life is is the way to go! 💜🙏💜

12/02/2021

Looking after our mental health is so very important at the best of times, more so during these unprecedented times

Crown Connection Celebrant invites those who would like to talk in a safe, open way, about the loss of your loved one, about how you feel, what they/you experienced, or to just talk about death - this is not a counselling session, it is not to encourage death - it is to talk about feelings, opinions in a respective manner.

When: Friday 19th February 2021
Time: from 7.30pm

Contact Crown Connection Celebrant via the WhatsApp (click on the green speech bubble with phone symbol) and the Zoom link will be sent to you.

Crown Connection Celebrant looks forward to 'meeting' you.

Bring your own beverage and nibbles! 💚

12/02/2021

12/02/2021

08/04/2020

PRESS RELEASE:

A funeral celebrant in Basildon, Essex is conducting ceremonies online so that bereaved families can still give their loved ones a meaningful send-off at a time when options for a traditional service are severely restricted.

The move will support families who are unable to hold the funeral they had hoped for because they are in isolation, or because of necessary safety measures at crematoria.

Elaine Ford, a member of the Institute of Civil Funerals (IoCF), said:

“My heart goes out to those who have already lost someone they love. To those who will face loss in the coming months.

Funeral ceremony options are currently very limited, whether death is due to Covid-19 or not.

Part of the remit as an IoCF celebrant is to have great creativity – it’s a condition of our membership.

Every ceremony we put together is unique.

I am confident that a solution for each family can be found in one way or another.”

Elaine went on to say the online ceremony is conducted while everyone stays in the safety of their own homes.

Other benefits are that it can be held at any time and include people from around the world.

It will be created for each family individually so they can plan with Elaine to make it a completely personal occasion.

For families who prefer to wait until the end of the pandemic, or who would like a second ceremony, Elaine can also prepare a memorial service that can be delivered in a venue of their choice later in the year.

Elaine said: “It’s really important, as an IoCF member, that I give families options for saying a final farewell to their loved one. It all feels surreal that we are even having to make this kind of statement. It is challenging for everyone to say the least. But to lose someone you love – to know that family and friends cannot gather to grieve together - is heart breaking, worse even.

To be able to give families ideas, options, for the way they can say goodbye to their loved one is so important. I will do my best to make sure every family I support finds comfort in the unique farewell I can help create with them.”

Elaine is also working closely with other IoCF members to share ideas about how bereaved families can be best helped throughout the pandemic.

She can be contacted on 07983 428872 or CrownConnection@gmx.com

For more information, visit the IoCF at www.iocf.org.uk

PRESS RELEASE ENDS

Welcome to the Institute of Civil Funerals (IoCF) Coronavirus and funeral ceremonies. Representatives of the funeral sector met with the Cabinet Office on March 17 to discuss how funerals should be conducted in a time of self-isolation and social distancing. The key outcome is that funerals can cont...

25/03/2020

I can't express how heart breaking the current situation is.

C-19 is a KILLER! It's now taken the lives of young, old, those with underlying health conditions, AND those without.

This miniscule bug doesn't care who you are. Human, yep you'll do!! Like I said, incredibly heart breaking.

Funerals are still happening. At the moment most crematoriums are still open for services.

This changes daily. Each crem have their own rules to follow.

If you have lost a loved one, for whatever reason, then please do check.

If using a funeral directors, they should be able to answer your questions. Remember, its fluid, changes made daily.

Some crems are only allowing a maximum amount of mourners.

For example, as of today (25/03/2020) South Essex Crematorium (Corbets Tey, Upminster) the maximum is five - immediate family only.

Immediate family are:

Spouse/Partner
Parents/Carers
Brothers/Sisters
Children (+partners)

In no relatives, close friend would be acceptable - but please check.

You decide who the attendees will be.

Within the next few days, many more crems will be instigating DIRECT TO CREMATORIUM only.

This will be for all deceased, not just those dying of C-19.

What we, as Celebrants, have been suggesting is the following:

You can still have a celebration of life - just may have to be at a later date - Personally, I have been offering my clients memorials at a later date - Contact me if you have any questions about this

If having a funeral service, but unable to attend, you can use the web cast facility (if the crem you are using has this choice)

The service can be recorded or streamed live via social media outlets, i.e. WhatsApp

You could ask for the service to be on a USB/DVD if option is available.

There are so many different variables regarding options - none are perfect. Let's face it, we would prefer to be there on the day. Carrying in our loved one. Having the curtains remain open. 'Kissing' the coffin.

Now there is no longer any touching of the coffin. Curtains have to be closed. This is to alleviate potential spreading of the virus.

It goes without saying these are difficult, scary, trying times.

My heart breaks as more limitations are put in place. As more people die due to the virus.

This is our life at the moment. Normality has changed.

Please, if you've read this far, do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, queries, or just want a chat.

I'm here to help where I can xx

Be Safe. Be Strong. Stay Home.

Mobile: 07983 428872
Email: CrownConnection@gmx.com

23/01/2020

Life is never straightforward; is it?

Losing a loved one certainly drops into that category (usually with a big clang!).

Creating a bespoke, unique celebration of life is a way of celebrating who they were, their character, their essence.

Remember - we each have so many options available when it comes to a 'funeral'. You are allowed to put the 'fun' into funeral - if you/your loved one was just that, fun!

We are allowed to laugh. We are allowed to remember with joy. We are allowed to be sad...

This does not diminish our grief, of what they meant to us, of how much we miss them.

But it certainly helps towards our own grief journey - as the saying goes, 'grief does not go away, we just learn to live with it'.

If remembering someone with joy makes you cry with a mix of sad and happy tears, surely that's better than all sad?

Don't misunderstand me, I have the utmost respect for all life, for all death. My own family and friends included.

But we live our life our own way.

Be gentle on yourself. If you want to have a duvet day, get through boxes of tissues - do so!

When you feel ready, start to notice yourself healing. To feel yourself learning to live with the grief. With the loss.

Your life goes on. Remember you are allowed to live it. To smile again. To love again.

The choice is yours.

Blessings and healing to each and everyone of you. 💚🙏💚

Elaine at Crown Connection

08/01/2020

"Sometimes I want to say I love you all," said the mole, "but I find it difficult."

"Do you?" said the boy.

"Yes, so I say something like I'm glad we are all here."

"Ok" said the boy.

"I'm glad we are all here."

"We are so glad you are here too."

(taken from The Boy, the mole, the fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy)

06/01/2020

🧡

19/12/2019

At South Essex Crematorium today. Met my 'sister' Celebrant Di Gilbranch 🥰 We couldn't resist a selfie 💛

26/11/2019

I've been left genuinely in awe. Officiating Celebrations of Life for incredible souls more recently; each in their late 90's... a few just mere days from 100.

The history they have lived through/experienced - just incredible. The things they have done, achieved - often breathtaking.

Battle of Brittan
Spitfire pilot (a couple of them!)
Secret squirrel stuff
Being part of creating future generations with their children thru to great great great great grandchildren - what a legacy!
So so much more...
Their loved ones raising hundreds with their generous donations to charity in lieu of flowers. Inspirational.
I truly feel blessed to be a full time Celebrant. From seeing people arriving, so broken, sad for the loss of their loved one. To them leaving, with a sense of upliftment having joined in with celebrating a full life lived.

Remember to smile. To be grateful for what is in front of you (works best when looking in a mirror!).
TO LIVE YOUR LIFE TO THE FULL! 🥰
Blessings to y'all xx

28/10/2019

What an incredible place. A great opportunity for an alternative way to honour our loved ones ashes.

I know for some it's a long way to travel - but maybe someone will see this and set up their own closer to home - we can but hope!

Click on the link - have a read through - let me know what you think 🙏💜

https://www.mid-englandbarrow.co.uk/

Mid-England Barrow - An idyllic rural modern day Round Barrow for the storage of cremation ashes as an alternative to Natural and Woodland Burial. We also provide a unique countryside Funeral venue. Please note, CONSTRUCTION STARTED 11-3-19 and will be completed by summer 2019. We are taking reser

13/10/2019

For all of us with beasties we love, that are part of our family... our lives... 💚🐾💚

06/10/2019

Currently researching Isle of Dogs for 3 funerals I have over the next week... this is from 1904... nowt's changed really 🥺

02/10/2019

I 'meet' the most amazing and interesting people as a Funeral Celebrant. One 'Celebration of a Full Life Lived' I've worked on was for a gentleman not far off 100 years of age... such a life lived and incredibly documented by himself through verse and photos. He wrote the following about his time in India during WW2; incredibly emotive - be grateful for what you have and don't lose sight of living your own life xx Blessings to y'all xx

India

We were often told in our days at school
Of a wondrous land where princes ruled
Where the rivers that ran were wide and deep
And where life was passed in one long sleep

But we were not told of the want and despair
Or of the filth and misery that abounded there
Whereby people starved, while others I'm told
Had themselves weighted against fortunes of gold

This is the India I dreamed of with awe
But it's a dream I shall dream nevermore
For I've been there myself to this wondrous land
And have seen the misery on every hand

Hordes of beggars with deformed limbs
That were broken by their parents amongst other things
In order that they may go out and beg
By exhibiting a shattered arm or a twisted leg
To offset these horrors we are told
Of the Taj Mahal and temples of gold

But they are just diamonds with a setting of woe
That only one who's been there can ever know

18/09/2019

Someone shared this... author unknown (unless you know x)...
--------
How do I love thee?
Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
my soul can reach,

when feeling out of sight
for the ends of being
and ideal grace.

I love thee to the level of every day's most quiet need,

by sun and candle-light.

I love thee freely,
as men strive for right.

I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use
in my old griefs,

and with my childhood's faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose with my lost saints.

I love thee with the breath,
smiles,
tears, of all my life;
and,

if God choose

I shall but love thee better after death.
----------

For those missing their loved ones... including their fur babies 💚🐾💚

Have a Blessed day y'all 💚

13/09/2019

I am feeling rather proud of myself at the moment. As many know, I aim to provide the best service I can.

I've just passed my Level 4 in Advanced Tribute Writing and Child/Baby Funerals.

A lot of hard work, stupidly long hours and quite a few tears (during the latter course).

But I only went and passed!!! 😁

I was already trained in both, these L4 courses just enhance the overall quality I can provide.

Losing a loved one, no matter the age, born sleeping, miscarriage, unexpected, su***de... we all deserve to be acknowledged and farewells to be said.

Contact me for further information... I will be pleased to hear from you xx

Blessings to y'all xx

(Please SHARE... help spread the word xx)