Funerals and Celebrations of Life

Saying goodbye is never easy, but a well-crafted ceremony can bring comfort, connection, and healing. In these articles, I share reflections and practical tips to help you plan a funeral or celebration of life that feels right for your loved one. Whether you're navigating grief, looking for ways to honour a unique life, or considering a memorial after a direct cremation, these posts are here to guide and support you.

When loss meets loss: navigating death when a partner or loved one has dementia

Losing someone dear is always hard, but when the person you are caring for is living with dementia, grief often takes on new layers.

Richard Smart

Aug 103 min read

Living funerals: celebrating life while we still can

More and more people are choosing to celebrate their lives while they’re still here to enjoy it. A living funeral or celebration of life held before death, is a powerful, moving way to connect with loved ones, reflect on the journey so far, and hear the kind of things we too often leave unsaid until it’s too late.

Richard Smart

Jul 72 min read

How to choose the right funeral celebrant in Dorset: A caring guide for Poole, Bournemouth and beyond

Losing someone you love is never easy. When it comes to planning a funeral, many families in Dorset feel unsure where to begin.

Richard Smart

Jul 32 min read

A white coffin being placed into the cremation chamber, also known as a retort.

When goodbye never happens: the hidden cost of direct cremation

We’re skipping funerals — but not the grief Direct cremation now accounts for over a fifth of all funerals in the UK, with more families choosing this stripped-back option. But while the practicalities are taken care of, the cremation carried out, the ashes returned by post, the emotional needs of those left behind are often forgotten.

Richard Smart

Jun 303 min read