Bringing Death to Life

​“I don’t want a funeral, nobody likes them and they cost too much money. "

"Don’t bury me, just cremate me and be over with it."

“I’ve prearranged and prepaid everything.  My loved ones won’t need to do anything and I have peace of mind knowing what will happen after I die”
 
You may have spoken or heard these words, but the truth is, if you die in Quebec, your loved ones will be making a trip to a funeral home because only they can pick up your body and register your death with the government.

And while your loved one is at the funeral home making arrangements for the shell you left behind, they will be offered various services and merchandise that can result in a very expensive and unnecessary bill. They may say no to a viewing, yes to an urn, yes to having an expensive room available so friends and family can visit and gather, yes to stickers with your picture, and a strong NO to a funeral ceremony because you said you didn't want one, and at this point, no room is left in the budget. 
 
But you know what?  A ceremony after you die is not for you. Although it is definitely about you, it’s for your relatives, friends, co-workers, people you know in the community and others who grieve your death.  Despite the sorrow we feel when death comes to someone we love, we leave a good ceremony feeling happy we went.  These gatherings can be uplifting for your loved ones as they see important people in your life they probably haven’t seen for years.  Stories and rituals are shared and help those still alive with the very important and necessary process of Grief. 

Oh, but you prearranged and prepaid your funeral expenses. Did the funeral home tell you  these arrangements are not legally binding upon your loved ones?  Your next of kin can choose to do what they want after you die, despite your prearrangement.  So much for peace of mind. 

There was a time gatherings occurred weekly or more, usually at church, and if you are a believer and attend a church regularly, you will probably want your ceremony held there.  However many of us stopped going to church for various reasons, often because the religious rituals became rote and meaningless. 

Want to know something else?  A funeral gathering doesn’t have to cost a fortune nor does it have to be held at a funeral home.  Also, you don't have to buy an urn from the funeral home, many places sell them for a fraction of the cost.  

While there are the necessary and unavoidable fees for moving your body, cremation, and filing your death certificate, an end of life ceremony in the presence of the ashes or after your body has been buried, can be inexpensive and held anywhere, such as a legion hall, a reception hall, your home or backyard, the cottage, or anywhere else significant to you and your loved ones.

An End of Life Ceremony should not be morbid. Life Cycle Celebrants® are not the same as lay celebrants and officiants. We are Professional Celebrants and Ceremony Officiants, who have studied, trained and are certified in the art of Ceremony and Ritual. We create and deliver a ceremony capturing the essence of the person who died. We won't fumble or mispronounce your name.  We won't mistake your place of birth or other facts (we've all been to one of those funerals). We craft personal, respectful and meaningful rituals of the life lived.  

Every word we write is approved by your loved ones.  We can also work with you to create your end of life ceremony while you are still actively moving around in your shell. 

Don’t deny yourself or your loved ones of an end of life ceremony. Elephants, chimpanzees, magpies and many other animals stop to gather and ritualize the death of one of their tribe.  If they realize this importance, shouldn’t you?

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