At the Natural Funeral Company we are here to support and guide you as you navigate towards a fitting send-off for your loved one. There are lots of decisions and details that need to be taken care of, including deciding whether you want a celebrant to officiate at the funeral service.
What is a Funeral Celebrant?
While there are celebrants that are officially registered to perform this service in New Zealand, you can choose whoever you would prefer to perform as a celebrant. Lots of people choose a member of the clergy. There is no legal requirement to have a registered officiant for a funeral service, so essentially it can be anybody who is able to successfully carry out this sometimes challenging duty. Many people choose a family member or friend to act as a celebrant, however, it can be preferable to have a more neutral person take care of these duties to remove pressure from the family and friends on what can sometimes be a difficult and upsetting occasion.
What are the duties performed by the celebrant?
Each funeral is unique, and at The Natural Funeral Company, we encourage you to observe the passing of your loved one in the way that best aligns with the wishes of the deceased and feels right for you. You may want your nominated celebrant to put together a eulogy to share, you might want them to guide the service by introducing other people who wish to share a story, a reading or a song, or you may want the celebrant to take care of all the speaking across the service.
Eulogies
A eulogy is an overview of a person’s life. It may include details about the family tree, close relationships, travel anecdotes, some important milestones and accomplishments and a little about the work life of your loved one if that was important to them. The celebrant might write the eulogy after gathering information from those nearest to the deceased, or it could be written by a family member or friend and passed to the celebrant to read.
What makes a good Funeral Celebrant?
There is an art to public speaking, and this is particularly relevant when it comes to presiding over a funeral service. Your celebrant should be calm, unhurried, and able to take care of anyone who comes forward to speak in a sensitive and thoughtful way should the need arise.
A good Funeral Celebrant may need to be a competent writer and an exceptional listener, and they will need to ensure that all the information they are sharing is accurate. You should choose somebody who is able to provide a meaningful experience and, if appropriate, comfortably inject a little lightness into the service.
How much does a Funeral Celebrant Cost in NZ?
The cost of a funeral celebrant in New Zealand depends on who you choose to perform the service and the level of service they will need to provide. If you have a family member or friend who is going to take care of these duties, then you probably wouldn’t be charged a fee. If you prefer to have a funeral celebrant with experience, the charge is usually around $600 for a member of the clergy or an official celebrant – some celebrants are GST registered.