Justin Standfield Celebrant

28/05/2026

“Grief is like a long valley, a winding valley where any bend may reveal a totally new landscape.”

For more information about grief and support, please visit our website ⬇️
https://ow.ly/VPUJ50Z471J

26/05/2026

Across our local area, places like Oakhaven Wellbeing offer spaces for comfort, connection and community.

These organisations support families not just in , but through life’s wider challenges too.

Oakhaven wellbeing supports those who are affected by a life-limiting illness, are a carer or are living with a loss or bereavement.

25/05/2026

Sometimes a ceremony is shaped around different “chapters” of a life:
- childhood
- family
- work
- hobbies
- friendship
- mischief
- love

It reminds us that a life is far bigger than the final days.

23/05/2026

Studies show that shared rituals - especially ones that feel personal and meaningful - help people feel emotionally supported and grounded during times of change.

It’s less about “formality” and more about connection.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12635995/

This theoretical-conceptual article draws on philosophical discourse, cultural analysis, and personal narrative accounts from our teaching and research in life and death education, particularly within higher education settings, to examine the ...

22/05/2026

Today I helped a family say goodbye to a man whose humour, kindness and character clearly left their mark on many people.

, Dermot.

22/05/2026

21/05/2026

One gentle way to prepare for a ceremony is to ask friends and family for short memories.

Favourite sayings, funny habits, moments of kindness.

These often become the heartbeat of the service.

21/05/2026

Today I led a service for a family saying goodbye to someone they loved whose life was complex, colourful and deeply human.

Not every funeral is filled with polished stories or straightforward memories. Sometimes the most meaningful moments come from gathering together the small details, the laughter, the personality, the music someone loved, the mischief they carried, and the connections that still mattered despite life’s complications.

One of the greatest privileges of being a is helping families find words that feel honest, compassionate and real, especially when emotions are mixed and relationships haven’t always been simple.

Every life leaves an imprint. Today was about recognising that with dignity, warmth and kindness.

, Nathan.

18/05/2026

Today I had the privilege of leading the service for a truly remarkable man who lived for 97 years - a ceremony filled not only with reflection and remembrance, but also with warmth, laughter and deep gratitude for a life so well lived.

The stories shared painted a picture of someone who brought joy to the people around him, and it was clear just how loved he was.

Funerals can be incredibly sad occasions, but they can also be powerful celebrations of life, connection and legacy. Today was very much one of those days.

, Michael.

18/05/2026

PUT OUT TO SEED AGAIN
by Michael Ashby

It's my turn now to be planted
Put out to seed again
While the fruits of my earthly labours
Flourish in the sun and rain

It's a wonderful day to be planted
In rich, deep loamy soil
A natural bed, for a tired gardener's head
With green fingered hands of toil

Please plant a tree or bush for me
To celebrate a gardener's life ways
I strove to enrich the world with beauty
Over many, many gardening days.

Last week I had the privilege of leading the and burial for a much-loved lady who adored everything about the great outdoors - especially nurturing her own garden. Her daughter chose the poem above, which was shared during the ceremony.

Her final wish was to have a woodland burial, which her family arranged to take place at the Natural Burial Site in the South Downs.

Photos were taken for those who couldn’t attend, as the lady had friends all over the world. , Michelle.

15/05/2026

Today I had the privilege of leading a for a devoted Chelsea supporter.

His love for the club was evident in the service, from the blue scarves and badges worn by so many family members and friends, to the stories shared about match days, memories and moments that mattered most to him.

I wore a Chelsea scarf alongside my suit as a small but meaningful way of honouring him and standing with his family in creating a farewell that truly reflected who he was.

Personal touches like these matter. They help turn a funeral from a formal goodbye into something deeply human, familiar and full of love.


, Dave.