Funerals To respect, honour and celebrate a life; to mourn a passing.
Hello. My name is Jill Jones. I have spent most of my adult life on Teesside. I hold Professional Certificates for both Funeral and Family Celebrancy. I have 5 years’ experience as a Celebrant, and more than 30 years’ experience of working in Education. I have extensive Multi-cultural experience through education. I am privileged to conduct Ceremonies across the Tees Valley and in Durham County. Honouring and celebrating life's milestones is extremely important to me. When someone you love dies, it is important that their life is commemorated and celebrated in a respectful and accurate way. Being able to honour, celebrate and share a loved one’s life with you is a privilege.
I will spend as much time with you as you need, guiding you through these difficult times. I will help with your choice of funeral ceremony be it religious, non-religious, spiritual, modern, traditional or a fusion of all.
A Funeral Ceremony / Celebration of Life Ceremony is a vital part of beginning to heal from your loss, and so this ceremony has two purposes – firstly to celebrate the life of your loved one and secondly to sensitively acknowledge your deepest sadness at this time.
People have their own ideas about life and religion, spirituality and death and not everybody wants traditional religious funerals.
I will listen carefully to your wishes and will guide and support your choice of content –readings, poems, prayers, blessings, hymns or other music. Each ceremony will be individual, and highly personalised.
I’m sure that you will share many beautiful stories and happy memories with me – no matter how small. Often the Eulogy or tribute is a time to celebrate with some humour, but always with dignity, love and respect. With your help I will weave the stories and memories you share with me into a meaningful Eulogy for your loved one which Celebrates their life in a fitting way.
Information is usually gathered during a home visit, but many families live a distance apart, so this can also be done via the phone or email. My experience has shown that working closely in this way works equally as well to produce a meaningful and fitting Ceremony.
You will receive a final copy of the Ceremony;
and in time this Ceremony may become a comforting, dignified and unique personal memory of their life’s story. Far from being sombre, the ceremonies I create are positive and uplifting. You will find great comfort in working with me to provide a ceremony your loved one would have wanted and would be pleased with.
Families I have worked with have fed back that my support, amount of time I am willing to spend with them, and desire to get things “just right” has been a great comfort in their time of loss.
You may want close friends or a family member to participate in the ceremony. I am more than happy to assist in this.
I look forward to speaking with you and meeting you soon, and with any family or friends whom you want to be involved in preparing the ceremony.
Ceremonies I provide:
- Non – religious ceremonies
- Ceremonies with some Religious content
- Spiritual ceremonies
Should you have any questions prior to our meeting, or are yet undecided as to whether or not you want this type of service please do not hesitate to contact me…
A draft copy of the Eulogy is emailed to you prior to the service date for any amendments or additions to be made. If it is not right for you then it is not right for me.
Some families consider a retiring collection to a charity in memory of their loved one.
A Final copy of the service will be sent to you after the ceremony as a “keep sake”.
I offer the following Ceremony options:
- Crematorium
- Graveside
- Scattering of Ashes.
- Memorial ceremonies - as an anniversary of a loss or as a separate celebration after a family funeral, bringing people together in remembering a loved one.
Please contact me directly or via the Funeral Director you have chosen.
Planning your own Funeral
I also offer the opportunity for you to plan your own Ceremony.
You may want to make all of your own arrangements whilst you are alive so that you know that your Ceremony really will be exactly how you want it to be. Together we can plan your Ceremony, write the Eulogy, choose readings – secular or religious, choose the music you want – as quiet or raucous as you wish, you may have a specific venue that you wish your ceremony to be at – a Crematorium for the whole Ceremony or a favourite venue for the Celebration of your life followed by a short committal Ceremony at the Crematorium , or a short Graveside burial…
Maybe you would like to lodge your Ceremony with your Funeral Director alongside your Funeral Plan; or with your solicitor alongside your will; or perhaps lodge it with your next of kin or executor of your will. You may choose to place it alongside your care plan. I will work sensitively with you to draft and word your Ceremony exactly as you want it to be so that you can be content in the knowledge that all of your wishes for your Ceremony will be carried out precisely as you wish them to be, when the need arises.
Costs
The cost for my services for a Funeral/Celebration of life Ceremony are included in the price you are charged by your Funeral Director.
Prices for planning your Funeral Ceremony with you whilst you are alive begin at £200 for a simple Ceremony. Each Ceremony is bespoke and involves a visit, or email/telephone conversations with you, plus writing time. You may want to name me as your chosen Celebrant for your Funeral / Celebration of life Ceremony too – the charge for the Ceremony will need to be charged by your Funeral Director at the appropriate time.