16/04/2026
A special milestone for Clare Bennett 🤍
We’re proud to work closely with Clare in supporting the families in our care. Her compassion and the way she brings each story to life makes such a difference.
Congratulations on 10 years — very well deserved.
Today marked 10 years since I conducted my first funeral.
Back then, I was still teaching part-time only having recently returned to work after having my second child. I knew I needed a change and it was a friend who was already in the funeral industry who suggested I trained to be a celebrant.
I spent some of my maternity training with UKSoc - the UK Society of Celebrants - to ensure that I could give the best ceremonies possible. Thank you to my tutor James Convery for all his advice and guidance, and to all the members of UKSoc who are a constant source of support and advice.
Just 1 month after conducting that funeral I had handed in my notice to leave at the end of the school year.
Since then, I have conducted the ceremonies of 1884 individuals - from babies born sleeping to a 108 year old.
I will never take for granted the honour I have of families welcoming me into their lives during what can be one of their most vulnerable times & sharing with me, someone who is a stranger, all their stories and memories of their loved one. There can be tears, but more often than not there is laughter and smiles as they remember all the happy times. I feel even more honoured when they tell me a story and then say ‘but you can’t include that in the ceremony!’
By the time we have finished our meeting, we are no longer strangers, and over the years, there are some families who I have come to regard as friends.
I have learnt so much about the social history of Liverpool - I could probably name every factory that could be found along Edge Lane, and every dancehall where so many relationships started.
Most of the funerals I conduct are for people I have never met, but I always hope that that is not always apparent to those attending. However, there have been times when I have met the person, and their family before. It is my greatest privilege, although one filled with sadness, to be asked by a family to work with them again.
There are also the ceremonies I have conducted for personal friends. Ones where I have fought to hold back the tears, knowing that this is the least I can do for people so special to me.
I couldn’t have done this without the support of my husband Michael, my family and my friends.
I would like to also say a huge thank you to all the funeral directors and funeral arrangers all over the city who have put their trust in me and recommended me to the families in their care, to the staff in the 11 crematoria, 2 chapels and 7 cemeteries I have worked in for showing me the ropes, and for putting up with my sometimes strange requests, to the drivers and pall bearers for their smiles and hellos.
Here’s to the next 10 years!
