Melissa Jane Ceremonies

Melissa Jane Ceremonies Fenland based Civil Celebrant offering bespoke funeral and memorial ceremonies tailored to the individual.

Covering Fenland, Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Kings Lynn and beyond.

Today I led a beautiful Celebration of Life, and it was a true reminder of how meaningful these gatherings can be when f...
11/01/2026

Today I led a beautiful Celebration of Life, and it was a true reminder of how meaningful these gatherings can be when families choose to do things their own way.

I arrived to find the room already full of conversation, laughter and photos playing on the screen. People were connecting and sharing memories before the ceremony even began. Candles were lit by family, poems and tributes were shared, stories were told, and when the moment felt right, everyone sang Hey Jude together.

The ashes were present throughout, resting in an Everton casket atop an Everton shirt, a very personal reminder that he was still part of the room.

This wasn’t about removing grief, it was about separating the funeral from the ceremony. Allowing the practicalities to happen privately and creating space later for something warmer, gentler and completely personal.

The ceremony closed, afternoon tea followed, photo albums were opened, and memories continued to be shared long after the formal words ended.

A truly lovely way to remember a life. 💙

If this feels like the right kind of farewell for your family, you’re welcome to reach out.

As we approach the final days before Christmas, I’ve found myself pausing to reflect on the year that’s nearly behind us...
23/12/2025

As we approach the final days before Christmas, I’ve found myself pausing to reflect on the year that’s nearly behind us.

This work is never done alone. Every service is shaped by many caring hands, quiet teamwork, and people who show up with professionalism and kindness, often while carrying their own stories of loss.

This year has looked a little different for me. For the first time since becoming a celebrant, I haven’t managed to deliver my usual cards and small gifts to the funeral directors and crematoria teams I work alongside. Life, quite simply, asked a little more of me this year than I expected.

But my gratitude hasn’t changed.

To the funeral directors who continue to place their trust in me, and to the chapel and crematoria staff who create calm and dignity in every service, thank you for your continued support. It means more than you may realise.

Wishing you a peaceful Christmas and a gentle end to the year.

Melissa 🤍

✨ Christmas Memorial Service. A Truly Special Evening ✨This evening, I had the honour of joining Reverend David Busk in ...
11/12/2025

✨ Christmas Memorial Service. A Truly Special Evening ✨

This evening, I had the honour of joining Reverend David Busk in leading a Christmas memorial service organised by William Peacock & Sons Funeral Directors. Although I have been a celebrant for five years, this was the first time I’ve ever been part of a service quite like this, and it was truly something I will never forget.

The chapel looked absolutely beautiful. Huntingdon Crematorium’s staff had decorated it with festive garlands and softly glowing candles, creating the perfect setting for a gentle and heartfelt evening of remembrance.

One of the most moving moments of the service was the Roll Call. Sara from Peacocks and I read aloud the names of those we remembered this evening. When the final name was spoken, the lights dimmed, O Holy Night began to play, and each person lit a candle in honour of their loved one, and the chapel felt almost magical.

Thank you to everyone who came, and to William Peacocks for inviting me to be part of such a meaningful and moving service. 🕯️🌟

Sometimes this role takes me to places I never expected.Last week, I found myself in Loughborough, leading a service for...
07/11/2025

Sometimes this role takes me to places I never expected.

Last week, I found myself in Loughborough, leading a service for a vibrant young woman. Her family and friends arrived in a colourful array of hats and outfits which was a beautiful reflection of her spirit. It was an honour to hold that space with them and to help shape a farewell that felt 'just right' for her.

And in the coming weeks, I’ll be travelling to Colchester Crematorium to support another family as they say their goodbyes.

Although most of my work is here in Cambridgeshire, every service is unique and sometimes that means stepping a little further afield. No two days are the same, and that’s one of the many reasons I feel so privileged to do what I do.

If you, or someone you know, needs support in planning a heartfelt and personal farewell, whether near or far, I’m always here to help. 🤍

03/10/2025

I was really touched after this morning’s service to receive the most wonderful compliment from the Manager of The Gables Care Home in Chatteris, who told me I was the best celebrant she’d ever heard and that the service was absolutely amazing.

Coming from someone who has attended many services, those words truly meant a lot.

I never take such feedback for granted, every family, every goodbye, and every story deserves to be treated with care and heart. I’m just so grateful to be trusted to help make those moments meaningful. 💛

01/09/2025

✨Sometimes, words stay with us long after we first hear them.

At a recent service, I was asked to read this beautiful passage from The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. I found the sentiment touching, as did many of those present, because it captures so honestly what grief can feel like.

“ I miss him. I know in my head that he has gone, but I still still keep looking. The only difference is that I’m getting used to the pain. It’s like discovering a great hole in the ground - to begin with you forget it’s there and keep falling in. After a while, it’s still there, but you learn to walk around it.”

Grief doesn’t disappear. Instead, we slowly learn to live alongside it. ❤️

Direct Cremation and the Importance of GoodbyeAs funeral traditions evolve, more people are choosing a direct cremation,...
09/08/2025

Direct Cremation and the Importance of Goodbye

As funeral traditions evolve, more people are choosing a direct cremation, a simple, unattended farewell. While this may honour an individual’s wishes, it can sometimes leave family and friends without the closure they need.

If you choose a local funeral director to carry out a loved one’s wishes for a direct cremation, there can still be the opportunity to say goodbye.

A celebrant can attend with a small gathering of family, speaking words of farewell and offering the comfort that comes from marking their passing.

Sometimes it’s these moments, however small, that help us begin to heal. 🌿

01/08/2025

“The Next Place” - A Poem of Peace and Hope

I read this poem at a service today, after suggesting it to the family during our conversations about their loved one. As soon as I shared the words, they felt right. His sister shed some tears and said it was beautiful. Sometimes, the right words find us when we need them most.

This is The Next Place by Warren Hanson, a truly beautiful reading. I hope it brings peace to you too. 💛

Last week, just hours before a funeral, I received a phone call from the granddaughter of the gentleman who had passed a...
29/07/2025

Last week, just hours before a funeral, I received a phone call from the granddaughter of the gentleman who had passed away. She had just gone into labour!

There was a flurry of phone calls between the funeral directors, the crematorium and the music company, and a livestream was arranged so that she and her partner could watch from home.

As the ceremony began, I gave them a mention, waved to the camera, and wished them all the very best for the arrival of their new baby.

Today, I heard from the funeral director that the very next day, they welcomed a baby boy into the world 😊

A reminder that even in the midst of loss, life finds a way forward.

The presence of a baby or young child at a funeral can bring an unexpected lightness to the room.I recently led a servic...
24/07/2025

The presence of a baby or young child at a funeral can bring an unexpected lightness to the room.

I recently led a service at Fenland Crematorium, and during the reflection music, the sweetest baby girl sat down in the sunlight that had flooded the centre aisle of the chapel.

She was holding an order of service as if reading it, while the music played gently in the background. It was such a heartwarming sight, a quiet and beautiful reminder that even as we say goodbye to one life, we are always making space for another.

Moments like that stay with you. 💛

Some people stay with you.Today I led a funeral service for a gentleman whose wife's service I also took, only a few mon...
15/07/2025

Some people stay with you.

Today I led a funeral service for a gentleman whose wife's service I also took, only a few months ago.

Over that time, I’ve grown close to their daughter and I truly hope our connection continues beyond the chapel doors.

After the service today, I was invited to join the daughter and the family at the wake. It was lovely to sit and chat with them in a more relaxed setting. I heard stories, saw their smiles, and got to be part of a little bit of lightness after a very emotional goodbye.

In both ceremonies, I was able to include words from Winnie the Pooh — beautiful words that bring comfort and calm.

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”
Those words feel especially true today.

✍️Writing a Eulogy or Tribute - Even When You're GrievingWriting a eulogy or tribute can feel overwhelming, especially w...
15/07/2025

✍️Writing a Eulogy or Tribute - Even When You're Grieving

Writing a eulogy or tribute can feel overwhelming, especially when you are grieving. But it doesn't have to be perfect, it just needs to be real.

Here are three tips if you've been asked to speak at a funeral.

🕊Start with one story.
Think of a moment that captures their spirit - a holiday, a saying they always used or something that made people laugh. Stories bring people closer than lists of facts ever can.

💛Speak from the heart.
It's ok to be emotional. In fact, it's expected. Just say what you feel, whether a sentance, a memory or a poem that resonates with you.

🌿Keep it simple.
You don't need to cover their whole life, just share the parts that mattered most to you. There's no right or wrong way to remember someone you love.

And, if it feels too much, that's okay too. Someone else, including myself, can read it for you.

You're not alone in this.💛

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