Funeral Directors - Margaret Mulholland Humanist Celebrant

Humanist Funerals and Memorials by Margaret Mulholland

How I work

Humanist Funerals offer an appropriate and fitting way to honour a life with warmth sensitivity and meaning.

I will contact the family to arrange a meeting within 24 hours of you contacting me and I will keep you updated throughout the process.

Humanist Funerals

“What we leave behind is not what is written on tablets of stone.
But what is woven into the lives of others.”

I have been an accredited Humanist Celebrant since 2018. Although I am a humanist most of the families I work with are not and are generally just looking for a predominantly non-religious ceremony.

I am not anti-religious and always respect the faith of others. I am flexible and if someone wants to read a prayer or sing a hymn that is of particular significance to them that’s absolutely fine.
I always acknowledge that although the family have chosen a non-religous ceremony there will be people of faith present and I invite them to pray during the period of quiet reflection.

Staffordshire memorial ceremonies with Margaret Mulholland

At the family meeting I will establish what sort of service the family are hoping for. I will take a life history of the deceased and really try to get a feel for them as an individual and to understand what they mean to the family. I want to create something unique that truly celebrates the life of the deceased in the way that the family desires.
I will help the family to choose poetry, readings and music that create an occasion that best fits who their loved one really was and what they meant to those around them.
After the family meeting I will contact you to advise you of any special requests and to give you a rough running order.

Funeral Celebrant Accord

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The Process

I will then draft a script for the ceremony based on what the family have told me. Ideally if time allows I aim to get the script to the family a week before the funeral. This allows plenty of time for them to feedback and I will make adjustments right up to the day before the service to ensure it is exactly as they want it.

Every family is different, some want to be actively involved and will read the eulogy themselves or have different family members and friends read poetry or play music. Others are content to simply listen and let me take the lead- the choice is entirely theirs.
I charge £200 for funerals plus mileage if travel exceeds 30 miles (round trip) .

On the Day

I leave in plenty of time to ensure that I have chance to touch base with the Crematorium staff before the service. I always prepare a cue sheet for the music together with any instructions re fading out etc.

I will be outside to meet and greet the family and dependent on their wishes usually enter the chapel before them, and leave after the last of the mourners has exited.

” A funeral isn’t a day in a lifetime. It’s a lifetime in a day”

After the ceremony I will give the family a presentation copy of the service and remain with them for as long as is appropriate.

Kind words

Dear Margaret, thank you for doing such a good job at my father’s funeral last week. We received many positive comments about both the tribute and your presentation of the service as a whole. Equally impressive was the fact that you carried this off while suffering from a heavy cold. I hope you have recovered from this or will do so soon. Thanks again. You did Dad proud.

Thank you so much for yesterday. The service was absolutely beautiful – just what my dad would have wanted. The whole family commented on how beautifully you delivered it.

Hi Margaret,
I just wanted to drop you a message to thank you for taking my dad’s funeral service. Thank you for saying our words we were unable to, and for adding yours which were fitting and comforting.
It was a cold miserable day, and I feel I didn’t get the chance there and then to express my appreciation for you and your service. It was lovely.
Take care. J D

Funeral Director Services