A woman with dark, curly hair and hoop earrings smiling, standing in front of lush green foliage.

Image by @mahlapearl

Organising a funeral can feel overwhelming, balancing bereavement and family dynamics with arranging a significant event. I can support you to navigate the process, however you decide to say goodbye.

I can help you tell their story.

Book a call with me

What can you expect?

A funeral celebrant acts as a host. They work with families (of origin and chosen - family can mean so many different things) to craft the ideal ceremony for a person who has died, and guide it on the day of the funeral. Or end-of-life celebration, if you prefer to think of it that way.

Incorporating music, readings, rituals, liaising with funeral directors and venues, they help make sure the community of people gathered to say farewell recognise the ‘picture’ of the person being ‘painted’. A good celebrant should act as a mirror, truthfully reflecting someone’s essence, in all their contradictions and complexity.

A woven wicker coffin with a white ribbon tied in a bow, filled with yellow, white, and deep pink flowers, some green stems and leaves visible.

Image by Gizem Gokce via Pexels

A hand holding a black and white photo of a woman holding a young boy, both smiling. The woman has dark, shoulder-length hair and the boy is wearing a plaid shirt while smiling widely. The background shows a park with trees.

Image by Fatma Zehra Ay via Pexels

There are so many ways to say goodbye.

Most people don’t know (because no one really tells them) just how much choice you actually have when it comes to arranging a funeral.

You can go down a more traditional route with a service at a crematorium or church, or you can be more DIY. I’ve held funerals in pubs, music venues and nightclubs, as well as crematoria and chapels.

It all depends on what you want, and what they would have wanted. One of my jobs is (or can be) to help you figure that out.

I can meet you where you’re at.

As experts on the life of the person who has died, it’s all about you and your people. I can do as much or as little as you’d like.

Write the whole ceremony, including the eulogy, and deliver it all on the day. Or be an emcee of sorts, introducing different speakers, gently holding space, allowing several voices to be heard.

Whatever you decide, nothing happens without your consent. I’ll share everything I write, and intend to say and do, with you before the event. You have final say over every part of the ceremony.

A memorial scene with lit candles, flowers, and lanterns at dusk or night.

Image by Shox via Pexels

Colorful dahlias with shades of pink, orange, and white, some with long stems, resting on a white wooden surface in a garden.

Image by Karola G via Pexels

Why I do this work.

In 2019, a close friend asked me to take her father’s funeral, something I had never done before but felt called, in the (literal) wake of the event, to pursue. I qualified in 2022 with a Level 3 Diploma in Funeral Celebrant Training.

I bring to this work years of experience of listening closely to clients, and writing empathetically and intuitively on their behalf. I’m also one of very few global majority funeral celebrants in Bristol, bringing a level of cultural understanding and experience that isn’t a given in an industry that’s overwhelmingly white.

It’s an honour and a privilege to use my skills to help grieving families, of all kinds and cultural backgrounds, tell the stories of their loved ones. If you’d like to have a chat to see how we could work together, get in touch.

  • "I wish I had the words to articulate just how wonderful of an experience working with Jess was. She was kind, calm, caring, funny, and relatable, and really helped us get to the important bits and create an outstandingly beautiful and poignant ceremony."

    Rachel F.

  • "Jess’s way of being is a gift. Anyone who finds themselves in the position of needing a wonderfully warm, compassionate, articulate, skilled human being to preside over any celebration or commiseration, I would highly recommend her."

    Vicky P.

  • "Jess has a rare skill of really understanding people, finding their unique story and crafting the perfect words to pay them tribute."

    Tara S.

  • "Jess... took the time to really understand us, our dad and the relationship we had. All of that was reflected on the day, making the service as love filled as we could have hoped for. Thank you Jess."

    Nicky B.

  • "Jess was introduced to the family at a difficult time... But she fitted right in and was patient... She also showed empathy, respect and enabled me to trust her, and it takes a long time for me to trust."

    Juliet W.

  • "Jess captured the life and spirit of Mum beautifully, helped to bring our readings together and she gently carried us through."

    Suzi G.

  • "Jess is a very skilled writer and speaker. She lead the funeral of a dear friend of mine and it was impeccable."

    Lara A.

  • "Jess was very warm and accommodating at such a difficult time for me and my family. We were all very happy with her contribution at the service. Thank you Jess ♥"

    Stephen S.