English Funeral Celebrant in Poitou-Charente (16) France. Available countrywide at short notice. SIRET 890 383 193 00012
Based in Dept 16 with easy access to surrounding departements - eg 17, 19, 23, 24, 33, 36, 79, 85, 86, 87 - but happy to go anywhere subject to agreed fees and travel expenses, all calculated on an individual basis. Pre-need advice and consultations available - worth considering in view of the legal requirement for funerals to take place within six working days...
Every ceremony is tailored to c
lients' wishes and can be fully religious, completely secular or combine elements of both. Ceremonies at crematoria, cemeteries, funeral homes, churches (subject to permission being obtained) - even your own home or garden. I am also a qualified church organist and available to play for funerals as well as being a wedding celebrant and piano teacher. Do please contact me for more information and an informal chat at any time.
22/07/2023
Lovely feedback received....
"I don’t really know how to thank you enough for your help and support over the last three weeks. All I know is that I wouldn’t have been able to achieve what we achieved in celebrating xx’s life last week without your help. I’ve had so many wonderful comments from family and friends about the celebration and especially your massive role in conducting everything so efficiently and so sensitively. I know that xx would want to say thank you, too, if that were possible"
13/07/2023
Funeral at Ajain (Guéret) Crematorium
07/07/2023
Funeral at the parish church
05/07/2023
Officiating at Gueret Crematorium,
Thursday 13 July.
05/07/2023
Probably the most imposing place I will have conducted a funeral. St Martial de Brigueuil, where I shall be taking a service on Friday..
01/07/2023
Booking received for a funeral at Brigueuil church, followed by committal at Limoges crematorium, on Friday 7 July
12/03/2023
Feedback is always interesting as well as valuable.
If anyone would care to leave any comments (as separate topics - not as replies to this) it would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance and all best wishes.
18/02/2023
Updated business cards have arrived
01/01/2023
Please use phone or email - ongoing issues with pages using Messenger in Europe!
31/12/2022
I have just received the following, pasted here from my personal page...
"Thank you Andrew for taking on the role of celebrant on the occasion of marking the passing of our much-loved family member. Although I'm sure you do not need any more recommendations or references, to acknowledge the excellent job you did for us I would like to write you one now.
Andrew Butler was the perfect choice as a celebrant. From the first meeting he provided guidance and support in the crafting of our service, always with patience, warmth and kindness. He listened to our wishes, helped with structure and content and advised on the finer detail by drawing upon his extensive experience. On the day itself Andrew struck the appropriate tone and held the service together in a professional manner to ensure we had the service we wanted and one which suited our family. Thank you for making this sad occasion a meaningful one with your strength, respectfulness and generosity of spirit" L.S
06/12/2022
Booking received for a funeral at Tulle Crematorium (Corrèze) Saturday 10 December
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As the son of a nonconformist (Unitarian) minister, I have been aware of bereavement care from a very early age, and, as a church organist since the age of 14 I have provided music for many hundreds of funeral and memorial services. I have always been used to liaising closely with bereaved families and individuals in order to tailor the music to suit each circumstance. In addition to my musical activities, I teach one-to-one piano to all age groups and I have three grown-up children and 6 young grandchildren.
With my experience, I have learned what “works” - and what doesn't! Also, the sort of things people hope for - and what they don’t want! As a Funeral celebrant, I am aware that one size does NOT fit all. In death, as in life, people have differing needs. Sometimes, the wishes of the departed loved-one may differ from those of the ones left behind. If a fully religious service is what is wanted, churches and worship centres of all denominations and religions are there to help - or I can offer this. A completely “secular” ceremony may be what is wanted - or perhaps with some religious or spiritual input, maybe for the sake of people attending who might expect it. I can work with you to provide whatever is best for your loved one, and yourselves.
Do please get in touch to discuss your requirements - I can promise you caring support and guidance at all stages of grieving, and saying farewell.
A couple of recent comments....
"Just a short email to thank you so much for Thursday. Despite the occasion and the lack of people, your presence made the day, and lightened what was effectively a very sad occasion for our family"
"If I could know that Andrew would always be officiating, I'd stop dreading going to funerals"
Fils de pasteur non-conformiste (église unitarienne), j’ai été très tôt sensibilisé à l’accompagnement des personnes endeuillées. De plus, en tant qu’organiste d’église depuis l’âge de 14 ans, j’ai tenu l’orgue lors de plusieurs centaines d’obsèques et de messes commémoratives. J’ai toujours travaillé étroitement avec les familles et les personnes endeuillées de façon à choisir la musique appropriée à chaque circonstance. En plus de ces activités, je donne des cours particuliers de piano à des enfants et à des adultes de tout âge et j’ai trois enfants adultes et six petits-enfants.
Grâce à mon expérience, je sais ce qui fonctionne et ce qui ne fonctionne pas et je comprends ce que les gens souhaitent et ce qu’ils ne veulent pas en un moment si particulier. En tant qu’officiant dans les cérémonies de funérailles, je suis conscient qu’il n’existe pas une seule façon de faire. Dans la mort, comme dans la vie, nous avons tous des besoins différents. Parfois même, les souhaits du défunt peuvent s’avérer différents des souhaits de ses proches. Si vous désirez un service entièrement religieux, vous pouvez vous adresser aux églises ou aux centres œcuméniques de toutes confessions ou religions – mais je peux aussi vous apporter mon aide. Vous souhaitez peut-être une cérémonie cent pour cent laïque – ou avec une note religieuse ou de spiritualité, pour répondre aux attentes de ceux qui assisteront à la cérémonie. Quel que soit votre souhait, je peux réfléchir avec vous pour vous apporter ce qui convient le mieux au défunt, et à vous-même.
N’hésitez pas à me contacter pour me parler de vos besoins. Je peux vous assurer de mon soutien et de mes conseils à chaque étape du deuil et au moment de dire adieu.
