Hilary Steel - Celebrant

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Hilary Steel - Celebrant

Independent Funeral Celebrant in Kent telling life stories properly. Warm, real and never one-size-fits-all. Grief Practitioner and author.

22/03/2026

Sometimes, Spud comes with me to visit a family and although he isn’t officially a ‘therapy dog’ he does know how to make people smile!

18/03/2026

This popped up as a memory from six years ago!

In funeral services music is often chosen for the sentiment and significance it has for a person or those they leave behind.

I’ve chosen the music to be played at my funeral…and am pleased to say that it makes me smile when I hear them.

17/03/2026

Today I went to Memoria Faversham & Mid Kent Memorial Park & Crematorium - meet chapel attendant Harry. He’s brilliant at making sure everything runs smoothly and when I asked him to take a couple of photos to use on my ‘work in progress’ revamp of my website…this is what he came up with!

R High and Sons Funeral Directors

24/02/2026

I’m coming up to the 1st anniversary of a close family member’s death - which has been playing on my mind.
This is a poem I wrote called ‘A Knock on Memory’s Door’ set to music telling a little story from my point of view about anniversaries.

Grief is as unscripted as I was when writing this in one go! 💝

29/01/2026

Tuesday was all grey skies and rain.
Yesterday brought sunshine, warmth, and a feeling of ‘spring’ at Love Lane Cemetery in Faversham.

It’s a reminder that even in the hardest moments, there can be light, gentleness, and unexpected beauty.

26/12/2025

I watched these two for ages when I was early for a family visit!
A simple moment that made me think about what is truly important in life!

Sittingbourne, you have no idea how much you inspire my writing 💝

24/12/2025

A poem I wrote for a memorial service put to music. I can only take credit for the words ❤️

17/12/2025

Here’s part of the song inspired by the poem ‘A Light That Does Not Cease’ that I wrote for the R High and Sons Funeral Directors memorial service in November.
❤️❤️❤️

Many of the poems I have written (that aren’t personal) are being put to music. This is just a demo 💝

12/12/2025

Throughout 2025 I have kept a record of every piece of music I have played during a funeral service.

Music often tells its own story and it’s always fascinating to discover why particular tracks were chosen.

So…on 31st December, I’ll share the top 10 🎵- if you’d like to guess what you think the number ONE will be…let me know in the comments!

There’ll be a prize for getting it right (if more than one person guesses correctly…we’ll do a draw!)

07/12/2025

I have some advance copies of Goodness, Grief and Me before the paperback is officially published later this month.

There is an error with a duplicate page at the end…minor issue 😜 So, if you would like a copy at £5.99 instead of £8.99 including free delivery, let me know and I’ll send you a payment link.

Here’s the blurb 💝

When life falls apart, you can either crumble… or find the goodness hiding in the rubble.

Goodness, Grief and Me is a refreshingly honest, often funny, and deeply human exploration of loss, love, and what it really means to keep going when the people who shaped you are gone.

Drawing on her own story of caring for ageing parents, losing them, and somehow rediscovering herself in the process, Hilary Steel, a funeral celebrant, grief practitioner, and accidental optimist, invites readers into a world where laughter and tears sit side by side, and where even the darkest days can hold unexpected light.

Through heartfelt storytelling, gentle wisdom, and the occasional cheeky truth about family, funerals and finding your feet again, this book reminds us that grief doesn’t mean the end of happiness, it just means life is asking you to feel it all a little deeper.
Tender, relatable, and brimming with warmth, Goodness, Grief and Me is for anyone navigating loss, caring for a loved one, or simply learning how to adapt to what comes next.

❤️❤️❤️

22/11/2025

Can those lovely people who pre-ordered the book on Kindle please message me?

The file you will automatically receive isn’t the correct one! I will then send the REAL one directly to your kindle (you’ll need to send me your Kindle email. If you aren’t sure where to find it, let me know)

The paperback version will officially be released on 13th December.

Thanks ❤️

21/11/2025

This morning is all about recording ‘Goodness, Grief, and Me’ for the audiobook version.

It will then be available in Audible! The best part of having the recording kit at home is that it can be done at silly o’clockin the morning in my PJs! 😜

Address

Maidstone

Telephone

+447802495066

Website

http://www.kentfunerals.co.uk/

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