What people say
The perfect funeral for our mum
"I don’t know where to begin. We are so grateful for your help, guidance and the wonderful service you produced for our mother... I’m sure she would have been delighted.
From the first contact, you perceived perfectly what we needed and wanted (despite our not knowing it ourselves). You directed, patiently waited and gently nudged when required, without which we may never have got there. Your ideas, thoughts and contributions were so very welcome and needed, creating a wonderful celebration of mum’s life and matched what we were struggling to achieve. From a perfect beginning, to the final (wonderfully pertinent) words, and everything in between, you were so phenomenally perceptive and sensitive.
I can’t imagine anyone being able to begin to match what you have done for us. Thank you so much!"
"We could not have been in better hands"
Natalie was recommended to us by the lovely team at Poetic Endings. There could not have been a better choice of celebrant. The service that she wrote - to celebrate a young life that ended far too soon - combined both tears and humour and was exactly what the family both wanted and needed. We could not have been in better hands.
"The best thing at a dreadful time"
Natalie worked with me and my family at the hardest time of our lives to create two highly sensitive and personal services to celebrate my mother's life. Her support, advice, intuition, encouragement, inspiration and warmth has helped us immeasurably and we take great comfort in knowing that with Natalie’s guidance we gave Mum a service that was absolutely 100% her.
Natalie made the entire process of planning the right words so much easier in the face of our grief. Natalie honed all our words, music choices and photographs into a script that was deeply appropriate, personal and authentic and on the day delivered the words with a beautiful, soft and sincere tone. Behind the scenes she spoke to our funeral director and the venue to make sure things were all set as we wished taking away any shred of anxiety.
I wish more people knew that it’s possible to do something a little different to celebrate their loved ones. Finding Natalie was the very best thing that happened to us at a dreadful time.
"The experience was genuinely life-enhancing"
The event itself was beautiful: it felt so true to our son's spirit that several people were convinced we'd written it ourselves. It was attended by people of several different religions, some of whom said they would now consider humanist funerals for themselves. Someone also commented that if this was the first funeral a child had attended, it would mean they'd never be scared of going to a funeral in the future.
It was a major step in allowing us to come to terms with our son's death.
Natalie conducted it impeccably, and we are so glad we chose her. The experience was genuinely life-enhancing.
"Really captured him as a person"
When my Dad died, I knew that I wanted his funeral to be all about him and a celebration of who he was. The funeral company matched me with Natalie who visited me at home, and we talked about Dad and the sort of service I wanted. She then sent me suggestions which I could say yes or no to… Natalie also read through the three eulogies to guide me on the order of who should speak when.
When I read Natalie’s draft it was very clear that she’d done her homework on Dad and his achievements, but she had also really captured him as a person, and it was clear that she had really listened to what I had told her about Dad.
I had a great deal of feedback after the service with his friends really appreciating that it was all about Dad, and quite a few said it was a service they would want for themselves.
"A memorial we'll all be talking about for years to come"
I had not expected to have to plan a memorial at my age and the prospect was very daunting, but Natalie ensured it was one to remember and my partner would have been so proud.
Natalie was proactive from the start, gathering the right information and memories about my partner, and she helped turn them into something beautiful for all to hear. She also helped put all the contributors at ease when it came to speaking - and the final result was a memorial we will all be talking about for years to come.
On speaking to friends afterwards, many said how brilliant Natalie was and I fully agree! Thank you so much.
Ashes scattering on the Thames
Natalie was exactly what our family needed at this time. She was really conscientious, communicative and sympathetic. She understood exactly what we needed, and all of her suggestions were really valuable.
"Your gentle leadership really helped us"
"Thank you so much for such a wonderful and meaningful service. We got so many comments on how beautifully conceived the day was. Your gentle leadership really helped us through it - giving us time for both celebration and true contemplation. Everything was perfect.
It is a bit of a leap in the dark choosing a celebrant - but we are so glad we found you."
"Sensitivity at a difficult time"
I cannot recommend Natalie highly enough. Her sensitivity at a difficult time was extremely comforting and she led the service for my mother as if she had known her years.
I'm very grateful to her - she made the experience bearable and even uplifting.