Susan Barnes Celebrant

30/07/2025

Today, we at Heart of England Co-op Funerals bid a solemn farewell to West Midlands true icon. Ozzy Osbourne’s influence reached far beyond music — he touched the lives of millions with his passion, presence, and originality.

As his funeral procession takes place, we hold his loved ones in our thoughts and offer our deepest condolences.

May he rest in peace. 🕊

26/06/2025

Funerals aren’t just formalities. They’re moments that really matter, times when stories are told, memories are shared, and emotions run deep. Having the right person standing at the front, guiding the service, can make all the difference in how your loved one is remembered and how you feel walking away from that day.

A good celebrant doesn’t just turn up and read from a script. They take the time to listen, to really get to know the person who has died, their personality, their quirks, their values, the things that made them, them. They bring warmth, care, and professionalism, creating a space where it’s okay to cry, to laugh, to sit in silence, or to smile at a memory that catches you off guard.

Not all celebrants are the same, and that’s why it’s worth finding someone who feels like the right fit for you and your family. Maybe you want a bit of humour woven in. Maybe you’d like a spiritual element. Or perhaps you just want someone who’s a really good storyteller, who can capture the essence of your person and hold the room with compassion and heart.

The right celebrant will make sure the service feels personal, meaningful, and true to the person you’re saying goodbye to.

And here’s something many people don’t realise; you can choose your own celebrant. You don’t have to go with whoever is suggested first. In fact, making that choice yourself, or encouraging your family to, can take away a lot of the pressure later on. It means you can be confident that when the time comes, the person leading the service will do it in exactly the way you’d hope for.

When we talk about planning a funeral, people often focus on choosing the right Funeral Director and of course, that’s crucial, (ask your celebrant their thoughts, we work with the best). But choosing the right celebrant? That’s just as important… if not more.

Because at the end of the day, the words that are spoken, the way the service feels, and the atmosphere in the room, that’s what stays with people. That’s what helps carry them through their grief.

So, if you’re thinking ahead, take a little time to find someone who truly gets it, someone who can help make the farewell a day you’ll want to remember, for all the right reasons.

26/06/2025

29/04/2025

I have had this conversation recently with a family who disagreed with me before their person died but after they died, they changed their mind and said they agreed. They couldn’t see it before, but they do now.

➡️ It is not really the death we are scared of when someone we love is dying, it’s our grief that petrifies us.

Death itself isn’t the enemy. It happens to us all, and it isn’t punishment. It doesn’t happen just because we talk about it. It’s our grief that unsettles us, that stops us from speaking about death, from exploring what it means, from truly understanding it. It’s our anticipatory grief that kicks in and it’s strong.

We often don’t fear death the way we fear loss. The ache of missing someone, the unbearable weight of absence, the uncertainty of how we’ll carry on, that’s the bit that is scary.

That fear of grief keeps us silent about death and dying. It keeps us from asking questions, from preparing, from acknowledging the inevitable.

But here’s the thing: avoiding grief doesn’t make it disappear. It waits. It lingers. It festers. And when death does come, expectedly or otherwise, it crashes in with all the force of the words we never said, the plans we never made, the conversations we never dared to have.

What if, instead, we let ourselves talk about it? Talk about the fact we will die and those we love will die. What if we allow ourselves to feel it now? What if we acknowledged death as part of life, a natural progression for every single one of us? What if we made space for our grief before it overwhelmed us after the fact?

What if we actually learnt about what dying looks like in advance to ease some of the unknown and reduce fear and panic? Because that’s exactly what it does.

I know and see the difference it makes when we give ourselves permission to explore death, we really do support the weight of our grief in so many ways at the same time.

We maybe just don’t or can’t see it yet, but please trust me, it’s true ❤️

29/04/2025

Some conversations can feel difficult to start, but when they’re had in a calm, supportive setting — with space for a few smiles — they often bring real comfort and clarity.

15/04/2025

Most people avoid talking about death like it’s contagious. But here’s the truth—when we face it, name it, and talk about it, something shifts.

Death stops being the unspoken shadow lurking in the background. Instead, it becomes a reminder: this life is limited. And with that reminder comes clarity.

You start noticing what really matters.
You make decisions with intention.
You love harder.
You say the things you meant to say.
You stop wasting time pretending you’re invincible.

If we lived forever, time wouldn’t be as precious and meaningful as it is.

Talking about death doesn’t bring it closer. It brings you closer to you; to your values, your people, your peace. It strips away some of the fear and leaves the good stuff behind.

When we talk about our death and understand dying, we don’t just prepare for the end of our lives, we start to wake up to the middle of it. The bit we are in right NOW. This present moment.

Talking about it is the gift you give to your people who will be left behind, and you give them the gift of listening ❤️

24/02/2025

06/02/2025

Thank you to the family of this lovely gentleman for the wonderful comments. Special thanks also to the great team at Heart of England Co-op Funerals for your amazing care.

13/01/2025

A very special arrival today for a very lovely lady 💜💜💜

11/01/2025

Sometimes when we are rushing around in our busy lives, we may miss out on the natural beauty around us, especially when it’s cold and we need to get inside - any guesses as to where I took this picture this evening?

01/04/2024

Heart of England Co-op Funerals
Heart of England Co-op Funerals

17/03/2024

It was an absolute honour to take the service for this beautiful family and then to receive these wonderful flowers from the always amazing, Suzanne Evetts Florists has made my day ❤️🤍



Henry Ison & Sons Funeral Directors