Funeral/Memorial Services

---

As a certified funeral celebrant, I work with families to organize and conduct a personalized funeral service with the aim of celebrating the life of their loved one, while supporting the bereaved family.

I specialize in the list below:

Celebrations of Life:

While it's important to celebrate the life of the deceased, the main purpose of a celebration of life is to allow the family to say goodbye, give closure and begin the healing process.

Living Funerals:

This is a type of memorial performed while the person is still living. Having the opportunity to plan one’s own funeral, gives a sense of control. This is often a much needed comfort. Loved ones are able to pay their respects, say their goodbyes on their own terms and it’s a time to reflect on one’s life.

Home Funerals:

For cultural, traditional, or personal reasons, the client of the family may wish to have a viewing, wake or funeral in their home. (More below).

Pet Wakes:

Before going ahead with disposition plans, some owners may want to honour their furbaby with an at home pet wake. Setting sacred space can take place indoors or outdoors with meaningful decorations.

What this involves:

I will spend time with the family and friends to learn more about your loved one’s life through interviews and meetings. We can discuss what is the most comfortable way to correspond.

We will carefully craft a eulogy, discuss music, and poems/quotes/hymns/readings. The ceremony is completely family led and will reflect your cultural background, values and beliefs.

Planning and carrying out a funeral service can be overwhelming for the family. I can take the stress out of this difficult time by making the arrangements and making sure that the day goes smoothly. This allows the freedom and the creativity to honour your loved one. You can make changes to the arrangement whenever you need too.

What this involves:

• Meet with you to discuss plans and funeral/memorial ideas
• Arrange the location of service, flowers, music, catering, etc. 
• I will conduct the ceremony
• Support throughout the whole planning process, assistance to find bereavement support after the funeral

This is an option for those wanting to create a funeral ceremony on their own but would like assistance with creating a eulogy.

What this involves:

• An interview for me to learn about your loved one’s life 
• A completely original and professional quality eulogy consisting of 1000-1500 words (Approx. 8-12 minutes)
• To be received within 2-5 days from the day of the interview
• Any necessary revisions until one day prior to the service

Did you know…

• Families have the right to care for their own dead until the body is buried or cremated
• The documents needed are readily available online
• Should the person die in a hospital, hospice or residential care facility, you have the right to transport the body home after death
• You do not have to be embalmed
• You do not have to buy a casket from a funeral home (as long as it meets general standards). Some funeral homes do offer cardboard caskets and these can be decorated to memorialize the person's life

As a trained Home Funeral Guide, I directly support the family with post-death care (washing, dressing and cooling the body) and with the funeral instead of the family working with a funeral director. All the decisions are made by the family.

The general steps involved:

• Assistance in transportation and filling out the required paperwork/ documents
• Preparing the body for cremation or burial
• Organizing a viewing, vigil or wake
• Preparing the casket which can be built and/or decorated
• Arranging the funeral and/or memorial service which may be held elsewhere
• Making arrangements with the cemetery or crematorium for burial or cremation

Call or text: (905)758-0152

Email: hayley@lifeanddeathdoula.net

Facebook: Life & Death Doula Hayley

Instagram: life.and.death.doula.hayley

*** Please reach out and I will get back to you within 24 hrs. ***