As a Registered Nurse (RGN) and Registered Social Care Manager , Certified Bereavement
Counsellor & Entheos Certified Funeral Celebrant, I have spent my entire career caring for those who are ill and I feel I’ve been privileged to work in both Hospice & Hospice at Home care.
I feel honoured to have prepared and officiated numerous celebration of life services. I have considerable experience in creating ceremonies that reflect the unique personality and passions of the individual being celebrated.
I have an extensive background in clinical care – specifically palliative and care of the actively
dying.
My professional experience in palliative and end of life care for all ages, requires a deep
empathy with my patients and their loved ones. I have gained an exceptional insight into the
needs and requirements of the very recently bereaved.
I have cared for all ages from stillbirth, newborn to the elderly, and sadly those of all ages who
have passed away in tragic circumstances.
My years of experience has equipped me with the highly specialised skills required to act as an end of life Doula. This involves meeting the individual and their loved ones, encouraging and opening conversations about death, and gently – and with the greatest compassion – guide people through the advanced planning of their celebration of life.
I feel it is important to offer choice and give the person ownership in relation to creating their celebration of life service, and I liaise with their chosen Funeral Director in order that their wishes be carried out.
I support bereaved families at the most difficult of times, The loss of a loved one whether from a sudden death or prolonged illness still comes with deep sadness & trauma and supporting families at this time requires sensitivity, sincerity and great compassion.
I firmly believe that dignified care for the dying is the first step in dignified care for the deceased.
Central to my preparation of a warm, caring and truly bespoke ceremony for those who have passed on is meeting with the family and spending the time to get to know about the person from them. I’ve been honoured to spend time with truly wonderful families who even at a time of great loss have shared with me the most wonderful memories and life stories of their dearly departed.
In a time of loss, a celebration of life offers the opportunity to come together in shared grief. It is at these times we need reliable and comforting support, and I am privileged to be welcomed into the home (or Funeral Home) and to create a ceremony which honours those they have lost in an authentic, personal way.
I create bespoke and personal ceremonies including celebration of life, committal services, memorial services, remembrance ceremonies and scattering of ashes to reflect the life, love and loss of a loved one. It is a privilege for me and an opportunity to honour the values, beliefs and personality of a loved one.
How I create a ceremony
I will meet with family and together we can create a bespoke ceremony reflecting the wishes the deceased may have expressed & to incorporate the family’s thoughts and memories of a precious loved one.
I very much recognise that families may prefer a faith service in their place of worship & then wish to have a committal in a crematorium, cemetery, or perhaps have a scattering of ashes in a
place special to them.
I strongly believe that a personally crafted committal service is of great comfort to a family. I believe I can add a unique dimension to a funeral service, I have a very personalised approach to each family & as such families & those attending a ceremony remember it in a special way. This is their abiding memory of their loved one’s funeral & I will do my utmost to ensure that the committal is a thoughtful & dignified memory for them.
As an Entheos Celebrant I recognise inclusivity & diversity. Everyone has the right to have the Ceremony that most reflects them and their own life story.
I am happy to weave in any prayers ,hymns ,poems etc that loved ones may deem best captures and honours the deceased (whether of a faith or no faith structure) in their own unique way.
For me the purpose of the funeral service is a “celebration of life” that honours and best represents the person’s memory. The emphasis is on how the person lived their life, their personality traits and the memories they have left behind.
The freedom afforded by creating a bespoke celebration of life is a wonderful opportunity for families to choose relevant, special songs or poems for the service and should the deceased or their loved ones have had prayers or hymns that brought them solace I am happy to include that too.
Preparing for a Celebration of Life Ceremony at a time when people can feel numb is not easy and I can gently guide you through the process, I am pleased to go through poems or readings that the family may feel is appropriate & guide them as they make their choices.
Memorial And Anniversary Services
I offer memorial services and ceremonies to commemorate the anniversary of a loss. Anniversaries can be a difficult time and being able to remember whilst surrounded by those closest to us can be of enormous support.
Should you have a loved one who’s ceremony is abroad I will create a Ceremony here at home for friends and family to gather to celebrate their life.
Scattering of Ashes, Tree Planting or Memorial Bench Unveiling
If this is how you wish to honour your loved one I shall create a beautiful ceremony for you.
“ Their life continues to shine in the lives they touched”
Available 7 days per week
Northern Ireland, Cavan, Monaghan, Louth , Meath, North Dublin, Sligo, Longford.
Please do not hesitate to contact me – trishafuneralcelebrant@gmail.com
ROI: +353 87 928 1992
UK: +44 7884 135723
