Ceremonies with a Light Touch

06/02/2025

Don’t wait til I’m gone
And then stand up to speak
About all the things
That you loved about me
Don’t sing all my praises
Through all of your tears
When I am no longer
Beside you to hear
Don’t leave all that love
Like a secret unsaid
But tell me tomorrow
Or right now instead
And I’ll tell you too
Of the things I admire
About who you are
And how much you inspire
I’ll speak from my heart
Whilst you’re still here to know
“You are” not “you were”
Or “it used to be so”
I’ll speak of your light
Whilst you’ll still hear the words
And not leave that love
In the darkness, unheard
So tell me tomorrow
Or right now - don’t wait
Because we don’t know
When it might be too late
Because we don’t know
When our time might be up
And we need to hear - while we are here -
How we’re loved.....
✍️Becky Hemsley

23/10/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/1DPodrtPZH/?mibextid=WC7FNe

"I hope death is like
being carried to your bedroom
when you were a child
& fell asleep on the couch
during a family party.
I hope you can hear the laughter
from the next room."
Lilies Abounded

Artist: Xi Pan - Mother and Child

Pairing by Whispers from the Heart

20/09/2024

What a special day. I was honoured to be the Celebrant at a funeral for a lovely family who were into Theatre. It was a brilliant send off for a very special man.

17/05/2019

I have decided to give Funerals and weddings a miss for a while as I deal with my own personal issues. However, I can always recommend others if you need a ceremony.

19/12/2018

So as another year draws to a close, I can't help but think about all the people I have come into contact with who are dealing with the loss of a loved one, or grief of some kind. It's a difficult time for many and I'm so aware of how quickly life can change. All we can do is be steady in ourselves (and that is challenging when things around us are changing so fast).

To steady yourself, my advice is keep your heart open and be willing to forgive.

If you have time off - enjoy it and make the most of it. Share your time and your heart as generously as you can.

May 2019 be a good one for all of you.

15/11/2018

23/04/2018

So true. We never get over a loss we just learn to roll with it....

27/03/2018

Two funerals today: one for a lady of 104 and a more personal family funeral. I will be on both sides of the coin today but it's just reminding me of how important this job is.

25/01/2018

A reflection on an autumn day
I took up a handful of grain and letting it slip flowing through my fingers,
and I said to myself, ‘This is what it is all about’.

There is no longer any room for pretence.

At harvest time the essence is revealed
The straw and chaff are set aside, they have done their job.
The grain alone matters – sacks of pure gold.

So it is when a person dies the essence of their life is revealed.
At the moment of death a person’s character stands out;
Happy for the person who has forged it well over the years.

Then it will not be the great achievement that will count, nor how
Much money or possessions a person has amassed.

These, like the straw and the chaff, will be left behind.
It is what they have made of themselves that will matter.

Death can take away from us what we have,
But it cannot rob us of who we are.

Anon

19/10/2017

Gaily I lived as ease and nature taught,
And spent my little life without a thought,
And am amazed that Death, that tyrant grim,
Should think of me, who never thought of him.

22/07/2017

14/04/2017

As someone who has suffered grief in my life, this is really nice.