The funeral is one of life’s most important rituals. It’s also the one most resistant to change.
Category
To Celebrate A Life
We live in a death-phobic culture
The brain has a shield which insulates it from thoughts of death.
A funeral is the ultimate distress purchase
If even doctors can’t talk about death, it’s hardly surprising that the rest of us ignore it too.
Where do you expect to be buried?
Early humans built houses for their dead before they built houses for themselves.
Bring Up The Bodies
Our ‘end of life choices’ are pretty limited. Most of us will be cremated; some will be buried, but every year a select few choose to be buried at sea.
A Lie About Humanity
Most of the ceremonies I conduct are for people who have done “little of note”. Often they’re the most moving of all.
The Soundtrack of Your Life
Ronnie wanted lots of music for his funeral but what he DIDN’T want was for me to talk about his life.
The Silent Teachers
Fiona had no funeral. Instead she donated her body to train a new generation of doctors.
Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, soil to soil
It’s time to rewrite the Book of Common Prayer.
Dust to Dust
Most of us will be cremated when we die, so the business of reducing a body to ash has become an industrial one.