Paula Clements Celebrant

31/10/2025

When people who have lost their loved ones come together to remember them it is very special.

Gathering together to remember loved ones.

Brian and his family come to our Light up a Life service every year, to remember his dad Peter, sister Janet, and father-in-law Ken.

“We all come from wherever we’ve been that day and meet up there. We look forward to going; it's a lovely way to remember someone. It’s nice to look for the names being projected up, that’s quite special.”

This year's service will be held inside Guildford Cathedral on Sunday 7th December at 7.45pm. To make a dedication in memory of a loved one, visit www.pth.org.uk/lual2025 Their name will be projected onto Guildford Cathedral after the service, printed in the Order of Service booklet, and added to our virtual night sky.

28/10/2025

The Power of Poetry
The careful selection of a poem for a funeral can be very meaningful. This short poem gives such a positive message.

Afterglow by Helen Lowrie Marshall
I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one.
I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done.
I’d like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways,
Of happy times, and laughing times, and bright and sunny days.
I’d like tears of those who grieve, to dry before the sun
Of happy memories that I leave, when life is done.

17/10/2025

As direct cremations become more popular how can family and friends say that important "farewell" to their loved one?
Here are 3 ideas:
Have a Memorial or Celebration of Life Ceremony;
Have an informal get together perhaps at home or somewhere with special meaning;
Plant some seeds or flowers in a special place.

08/10/2025

I got to know a wonderful 97 year old gentleman when I helped him and his step-daughter pre-plan his celebration of life ceremony. I was sad to hear that he recently died. However, there is joy in knowing that every part of the ceremony will be what he wanted. RIP.

01/10/2025

Funeral hymns?

22/09/2025

Yesterday was World Gratitude Day so I wanted to say a few "thank yous" to those who help me have a wonderful job as a funeral celebrant.

11/09/2025

Farewells really DO matter.
Last night I attended a powerful seminar lead by Dr Bill Webster, internationally renowned grief counsellor, author and speaker. Thank you to the wonderful team at Green Acres Heatherley Park for organising it. GreenAcres Living Memorial Parks

Bill’s biggest message was this:
It is a vital part of every person’s individual journey through grief to take action to say farewell to their loved one with a ceremony or ritual that is meaningful to them.
Celebrants have an important role to play in helping to facilitate the right goodbye.

28/08/2025

Today I'm tapping into my creative writing skills.

20/08/2025

Recently we honoured and said goodbye to L an amazing and talented young woman. The chapel was full to bursting with people from all generations. You could feel the love for L. With laughter and tears we listened to tributes, music, and poems and watched a wonderful photo slide show. The chapel was a sea of purples and mauves because we all honoured L by wearing her favourite colour.
It was a real privilege to be part of this farewell ceremony.

14/08/2025

Did you know there might be an alternative to a crematorium chapel for a funeral or memorial service? More natural spaces and burial grounds are opening around the country. Many have service halls that can be hired for an end-of-life service in beautiful surroundings. If you don’t feel your local crematorium is the right place for your service find out what’s available in your local area.
For example, on the Surrey/Hampshire border at Grayshott there is Heatherley Park

07/08/2025

I love meeting people. Breakfast networking today in support of Tuckwell, Hospice Care
.

05/08/2025

I have such a rewarding job but what is a funeral celebrant?