Paul Winder - Funeral Celebrant

13/11/2024

Some nice feedback from a family today:

"A # # # and I have been reflecting on the events of yesterday and in particular your handling of the service and wanted to somehow express our sincere gratitude to you.

Whilst you reminded us all to celebrate our memories of S # # # you went much further by highlighting the meaning and messages behind the elements of the service, thereby achieving a very moving and relevant delivery that may otherwise have been just hollow words.

All the family commended your involvement and the power of your words, and all agreed that we and S # # # were blessed to have you as a celebrant."

31/07/2024

03/03/2024

My son Rohan is currently working for a missions organisation and will shortly travelling to the Philippines to continue his work. Please, if you can, donate a little to this fund. Even a small contribution will make a big difference. Many streams make a river. Thank you

Hey! My name is Rohan, I am a Christian missionary working with YWAM Ships Kona! Youth With… Rohan Winder needs your support for Outreach to Philippines!

09/01/2024

I'd love to claim this as mine, but it isn't. I found it on facebook, but thought it was worth sharing.

When Parents Grow Old!
Let them grow old with the same love that they let you grow... Let them speak and tell repeated stories with the same patience and interest that they heard yours as a child... Let them overcome, like so many times when they let you win... Let them enjoy their friends just as they let you… Let them enjoy the talks with their grandchildren, because they see you in them... Let them enjoy living among the objects that have accompanied them for a long time, because they suffer when they feel that you tear pieces of this life away... Let them be wrong, like so many times you have been wrong and they didn’t embarrass you by correcting you...
LET THEM LIVE and try to make them happy the last stretch of the path they have left to go; give them your hand, just like they gave you their hand when you started your path!

23/12/2023

So, as many people prepare to celebrate Christmas, for the 200 or so families I have been honoured to work with this year, this will be the first Christmas with an empty chair at the table and a much loved face missing.

Try not to focus on the space at the table, instead, remember the years you spent together, the joy and laughter you shared, and the love you had for each other.

May the absence of that person bring the rest of the family closer together. There will be happier Christmases, time will lessen the pain of parting, but you will never forget the one you have lost.

Thinking and praying for everyone who has lost a loved one this year.

Every blessing

Paul

06/09/2023

I’m writing to express my and my Mum’s grateful thanks for the wonderful service you delivered for my Dad. You were so exactly the right choice to eulogise his life. We felt your words as sincere and heartfelt. You balanced perfectly between recollection and looking to the future, while acknowledging grief: and this was important to the little community at which he was the centre.

My Mum asked me to tell you that several people asked her for your contact details!

Everything about the event was so perfectly what we wanted for Pops, thank you again for your organisation, kindness, and insight.

23/08/2023

Always nice to hear back from families:
I want to again say thank you for everything that you did for ****** to help give her a good send off. I really appreciate your advice and flexibility for the last minute changes.

In the nicest possible way, I hope I don’t need to see you again soon. I’d like to imagine you continue to help other families in the way you helped us.

15/08/2023

So nice when families take the time to feed back after a service. Makes it all worth while.

"Hi Paul,

I wanted to drop a quick note to say thank you for the service yesterday. It went well, and we really appreciated the words you chose.
Dad would have approved, and of how the wake went afterwards too."

15/08/2023

I just realised I haven't posted for some time.

Just wanted to share some recent feedback from families.

"I just wanted to write to thank you for all your help and guidance in preparation for *****'s funeral and for the sensitive way you lead the service as well as the beautiful words you spoke.

Thank you for helping us make our farewell and celebration of ***** a day that everyone I have heard from since has said was a beautiful occasion, which captured the truly special person she was.

"I just wanted to take the opportunity, on behalf of the whole family, to say a very big thank you not only for yesterday’s service but for your wider efforts on our behalf beforehand.

Everyone I spoke to said how well the service had gone and moreover how well the words spoken reflected dad.

We truly are appreciative of your support throughout - thank you"

"Today was perfect . It was the send off we needed for him . A character to the end . Loved him for being the guy he was.. and if ever needed we will always be there for your reference .. "

"Please may I add my thanks to you for conducting our mother's funeral service today so beautifully. It could not have been done better and we are extremely grateful. Thanks again."