Wendy Barratt Funeral Celebrant - Darwen

13/12/2025

Someone you know is preparing for their first Christmas without someone they love a husband, wife, parent, sibling, child.
Someone else is preparing for their last. For others, it’s another year they’re trying to get through with a smile that doesn’t quite reach the eyes.

The holidays highlight love but they also highlight absence. So if someone seems quieter, more tired, or a bit distant, don’t assume they’re okay just because the lights are bright and the music is cheerful. Grief doesn’t pause for Christmas. It often gets louder.

Be gentle with people. Check in. Show up. Offer patience where words fall short. A little kindness goes further than you think especially in a season that isn’t easy for everyone. 🤍

08/12/2025

28/11/2025

Three services conducted this week and it seems a good time to remind you all that grief has no rules!

Grief has a way of changing the shape of your days, even long after people expect you to be “okay” again. Some moments feel normal, and then something small a song, a smell, a memory knocks the air out of you. Missing someone doesn’t fade on a schedule. It comes in waves, sometimes gentle, sometimes sharp. If you’re carrying that kind of ache, you’re not doing it wrong. You’re not weak. You’re human, and you loved someone deeply. Take your time. There’s no right way to move through grief, just your way.

26/11/2025

How often have you heard someone say ‘I don’t want a funeral I don’t want all the fuss’? Have you ever thought that a funeral is not for the deceased it’s for the living?

A funeral is part of the grieving process for the families left behind. It enables family and friends to gather together in mutual support and to provide a means of celebrating and acknowledging the deceased’s life. Sharing memories and providing comfort is the first step in acceptance of the death of a loved one.
A funeral service can be held anywhere - it does not have to be in a church or even at a crematorium. It can be at a hotel, a pub or even in the deceased’s own home.
A funeral or celebration life service does not have to follow a set pattern and can be as unique as you choose.
Talk about these things before it’s too late - death is the one thing in life we are all guaranteed and it shouldn’t be a taboo subject.

There is no doubt that direct cremations are becoming popular and the top companies can afford to advertise in the media but are to clear about what actually happens to your loved one? Ask the questions before you go ahead.

Are you aware that your local funeral director can also arrange a direct cremation at a local crematorium? You do not have to go to the national companies you can support your local independent funeral directors.

YES DIRECT CREMATION IS VERY POPULAR BUT DOES IT PROVIDE ALL THIS?

18/11/2025

There are no rules where grief is concerned. It’s a minute by minute, day by day journey. Keep putting one foot in front of the other. ❤️

13/11/2025

Another little string to my bow - hopefully I can provide extra support to my clients even after the funeral is over. Helping them move forward with some coping strategies and signposting to other services.

13/11/2025

It was an honour to be involved in getting this magnificent send off delivered. Orchid, you did your dad proud.

It’s an honour to help families create meaningful goodbyes. We’re so grateful for this beautiful review thank you Orchid, for sharing your experience with us.

24/10/2025

I’ve been thinking recently about how much we really know about our closest relatives and do we have enough to plan a fitting and meaningful funeral service. Do we know which school our parents went to? Do we know about jobs, special memories, things about the childhood? The answer to this is usually no. When there is no one to ask what do we do? We can still write a beautiful service but not necessarily as lovely as it could be. So what do we do about this? Talk about death and dying, it’s something that will come to us all. Reminisce about ‘the old days’, laugh and share funny stories and ask the relevant questions that will make planning a meaningful celebration of life easier. Death is a part of life and it should not be taboo. Talk and get those memories down on paper it really is important.

30/07/2025

Today’s service was a very emotional one for everyone. We said goodbye to a beautiful, quirky, unique, kind and loving teenager. No one can possibly imagine how her family feel but my goodness they did her proud. Sleep tight princess xx

19/07/2025

It has been my privilege to conduct three celebration of life services this week. Two were for ladies in their late nineties! A life should be celebrated no matter how long it has been and I pride myself on creating a personal, fitting tribute ❤️💙. I’m very grateful for all the amazing feedback from the families x