Testimonials

Jane did a fabulous job as celebrant at our beloved's funeral. .......

Talking about death; even thinking about it, is very difficult in our culture, and it may be that you have found your way here because you are dealing with a bereavement which has taken place or because you wish to plan some elements of a ceremony to take place in the future. In either case, I hope to be able to help you. As an independent celebrant, I am able to conduct what are essentially non-religious ceremonies, whilst being able to include religious elements, if desired. The wishes of the deceased and their loved ones are what is important to mark and celebrate the life lived and so each ceremony is unique as well as being respectful and loving in its nature. Screenshot The ceremonies are suitable for burials or cremations and can take place in any non-religious building or venue. Because each ceremony is different there is no set format but, after meeting with you, I will be able to craft a tribute to your loved one using all the elements raised by you and your family and friends. To that end, it is good to have as much input as possible from this group, so as to paint a verbal picture of all aspects of character, tastes and preferences. Memories can be shared or discovered, which adds to the completeness of the tribute. We can meet at your home or at another venue if you prefer. Screenshot You may wish to include some poetry or readings and pieces of music which have special significance and I can advise on these elements, if needed. The tribute can be read by me or a member of the family or a friend. After the tribute is written, you will receive a copy to check on the content as well as making sure that all the important aspects of the person you knew that you wish to be included are there. During our conversation, I can advise on the practical aspects of the ceremony, in consultation with your funeral director. On the day, I will arrive early to greet those attending and to ensure that all those who are reading are comfortable to do so. Screenshot Alternatively, you may wish to hold a small, private gathering at the ceremony, followed by a celebration of life held later on, when a larger number of people will be able to gather at a more suitable venue. All these things can be discussed and agreed when we meet and I will be there to support and guide you through the choices and decisions. Please use the contact details here for a no-obligation conversation. If you wish to book me via your funeral director, please ask them to use these details as well, to check my availability. Many thanks Jane Stoggles

Thank you so much Jane for your beautiful Celebration of Life speech and eulogy for daddy. Thank you too for sending it to us! We all felt reassured that we were in safe hands with your sensitive and loving words and your caring presentation on the day.

I think the day went well; the very intimate and gentle time spent saying goodbye to daddy at the Family Chapel and the empathetic, warm celebration later with some of daddy’s local friends and our lovely wider family. It was an emotional day but also a powerful one, allowing us a kind of acceptance and a special memory.

It was really lovely to meet you, Jane and we are so grateful to you for managing the celebration for daddy.

October 2023

Many thanks for your kind words for our Daddy, and reading out mine too - it was very kind of you. It was lovely to meet you and I think our Daddy would have been proud with both ceremonies.

October 2023

.....She created a lovely calm space in which we could say goodbye.

There are a lot of moving parts at a funeral and Jane quietly and competently ensured it all ran smoothly.

Because we were in such dependable hands, we could relax and get the most out of the service. She unobtrusively encouraged each person that spoke. She also told the story of our beloved's life with warmth and gentle humour, in a balanced and fulsome way, yet kept within the allotted time.

Between us all, there were several different faiths. Unlike most celebrants, who make a pitch for their own faith, Jane was all inclusive, making it a special, intimate occasion for everyone.

I've been to many funerals and this was one of the very best - we got to know our beloved a bit better, to remember him and reflect on his life and what he meant to us, and see him on his way with love.

My sister and I are so grateful to Jane Stoggles for all her help and support putting together and delivering the service of celebration for my father in January 2022.

Jane was with us every step of the way, first of all with the preparation - shaping the look and feel of the service in a Zoom call where we shared our memories. Jane really listened, asked many questions, made suggestions and prompted more facts and memories from us. Then she wrote up and sent us a first draft, checked and double-checked everything and phoned and emailed to confirm details. Jane also suggested including welcome messages for those watching online and special thanks for anyone I chose to mention. Each segment was timed carefully to fit in with the strict requirement of 30 minutes set by the crematorium. From this preparation, the Order of service was created.

On the day, the service flowed really well, with contributions read by relatives, live guitar music, a hymn and photo display all seamlessly held together by Jane who delivered the eulogy at various points in between each item. This approach worked really well. My father had many aspects to his life - a family man, engineer and inventor, employer, church warden and pillar of the village community - and those watching, either in person or via video link, reflected these different aspects. The timing was perfect and I was amazed how much we fitted into the allotted time.

I would heartily recommend Jane as a Celebrant: her kind and thoughtful approach really took the weight of responsibility off my shoulders at a difficult time when perhaps my mind was not a 100 per cent. As a result, I was able to look forward to the ceremony knowing it was in safe hands. If any of us readers had had a wobble on the day, she would have stepped in and delivered on our behalf. My wish had been for an uplifting and heartfelt ceremony to do justice to my dear father and would touch everyone’s life. Jane certainly succeeded in delivering this for us and we are truly grateful.

Best wishes
Elaine

Thank you again for your guidance in planning this event. It all went very smoothly and everyone appreciated it. Your suggestions and tone were just what we needed.

One man, John even told me that although he had planned out his whole funeral, Beryl's celebration had given him reason to rethink things. I think that is a great honour to us and to you.

May you bring many more moments of solace to mourning families.

Joni and Wendy

I am extremely grateful to you

Kate

Our family would like to express our gratitude for the supportand expertise Jane offered during the difficult process of organising the funeral of our dear Mum Gwendoline Frith.

From our initial Zoom meeting, Jane provided my brother and myself with a calm and empathic space where we were able talk about our mother and share our memories and feelings. Jane listened closely to our wishes and with her gentle guidance we jointly managed to create a service that celebrated Mum’s unique qualities and achievements.

Jane was a constant source of support from our first meeting to the end of the service and at the gathering afterwards. Her communication with ourselves, the funeral directors and Crematorium was excellent. Facilitating and supporting our personal tributes along with our chosen music and her own meaningful contribution. Together we created a service that not only honoured our dear mother’s long life but brought some comfort to those attending.

S
May 2023