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Funeral ceremonies

Funeral Celebrant in Warwickshire

When someone dies there's so much to arrange, and so little energy to do it with. My job is to take the weight of the ceremony off your shoulders. I'm Rosie Sayers, an independent celebrant based in Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, and I write and lead funeral services across Warwickshire and the Midlands with care, calm and a steady hand. You tell me about the person you've lost, in whatever way you can manage, and I take care of the rest. from £300.

Let’s talkSee funeral ceremony fees
Rosie Sayers, funeral celebrant, wearing black outside the chapel at Canley Crematorium, welcoming guests.

What a funeral celebrant does

Someone to hold the words, so you can hold each other

You don't need to have anything worked out before we talk. There's no right way to do this. We'll go entirely at your pace, and I'll be a calm, steady presence from our first conversation to the moment we say goodbye.

A funeral celebrant writes and leads the service. I am not there to perform or to offer a set script - I am there to help a family say goodbye in a way that fits the person they have lost.

That means listening properly first. I hear the stories, the details, the things that made them difficult and the things that made them loved. Then I turn what I have heard into a ceremony that feels true - a tribute, readings and music chosen with intention, and a sense of shape to the day.

On the day, I quietly take charge. I guide anyone who's speaking, keep the timing gentle and unhurried, and handle all the practical moments, so you and your family don't have to hold anything but each other.

How I work with families

No two families, and no two ceremonies, are the same

Rosie Sayers standing in a sunny garden, holding her ceremony folder.

  • Meeting where you are comfortable

    At home, over the phone, or by video - whatever is easiest in the first days after a death. There is no form to fill in, and no rush.

  • Learning the person

    I ask about the life, not just the dates. Work, quirks, friendships, faith or doubt, the things they loved and the things they put up with. The real picture.

  • Writing that sounds like them

    The tribute and eulogy are written in their voice and your words - warm, specific, and free of cliché. You see the draft and can change anything.

  • Optional religious elements

    Hymns, prayers, readings, silences or blessings can all be included if they fit the person. Equally, the ceremony can be entirely humanist or non-religious.

  • Liaising with the funeral director

    I coordinate with the funeral director and the crematorium, church or venue so the practical details are handled and the service runs smoothly.

The process

What happens after you get in touch

There is no pressure and no performance. Just a clear, gentle path from first contact to the day itself.

  1. 01

    Enquiry

    A phone call, email or message is enough to start. I will check availability, explain what happens next, and answer any immediate questions.

  2. 02

    Family conversation

    We meet at home, by phone or video, and I listen. I want to hear who the person was, what mattered to them, and how the family would like to say goodbye.

  3. 03

    Writing and liaison

    I write the ceremony, share it with you, and make changes until it feels right. I also coordinate with the funeral director and the venue.

  4. 04

    The funeral

    I arrive early, settle everyone, and lead the service with warmth and calm so the family can be present in the moment.

See the full process for every type of ceremony

The ceremony

What can be included in a funeral service

  • A personal tribute

    The story of a life, told with honesty and warmth. Not a chronology, but a sense of who they really were.

  • The eulogy

    Delivered by me, by a family member, or shared between us. We shape it together so it feels manageable and true.

  • Readings and music

    Poems, lyrics, scripture, letters or words written by the family. I help you place them so they land properly.

  • Moments of reflection

    Silence, candle-lighting, a favourite piece of music, or time for people to share a memory if they want to.

  • Faith and culture

    Religious or cultural elements can be woven in respectfully, or left out entirely. The ceremony follows the life, not a template.

  • Committal or farewell

    A gentle ending - words of farewell, a final piece of music, or a simple moment of thanks - shaped to the setting.

Celebrations of life

A separate, lighter kind of gathering

Some families want the funeral itself to be simple, and a fuller celebration of life later - perhaps at a pub, a village hall, a garden, or somewhere that meant something to the person. That is a different kind of event: more time, more voices and more memories shared, often with food and music.

I can lead both, or either. If you are thinking about a celebration of life rather than a traditional funeral, read more about celebrations of life or tell me what you are considering.

Timing

How long a service lasts, and how soon to get in touch

How long it lasts

Crematorium services are usually 25 to 45 minutes. Celebrations of life and woodland or church services can be longer and more flexible.

How soon to book

Funeral enquiries often come with only a few days’ notice. I do my best to be available at short notice, and I will be honest if I cannot make a date.

Working with your funeral director

Most families are introduced to me by their funeral director, and I liaise with them over timings, music and the order of service, so there is one less thing to hold on to.

Kind words

From families

“Like a consistent pulse, holding it together and getting the tone and balance just right… you did everyone proud.”

Jenny O'Brien - Celebration of life

Fees

Funeral ceremonies, written and led with care

from£300

  • A proper conversation with the family, at home or wherever suits
  • Writing and revising the service, including the eulogy
  • Liaison with your funeral director and the crematorium or venue
  • Leading the service on the day
  • A printed copy of the words for the family

Fees are usually settled through your funeral director.

See full fees and what is includedStart a conversation

Funeral FAQs

Questions families ask

What is a funeral celebrant?

A funeral celebrant writes and leads a personal funeral or celebration of life, built around the person who has died. I spend time with your family to really understand them, then craft a ceremony that tells their story honestly and warmly, in your words, with the music, readings and moments you choose. There's no fixed template and no assumptions, just a service that feels true to the person and gives everyone the chance to say goodbye properly.

What's the difference between a celebrant and a minister?

A minister leads a funeral within the traditions and beliefs of their faith, following its form of service. A celebrant creates a bespoke ceremony with no religious framework required, shaped entirely around the person and family. That said, a celebrant funeral can still include prayers, hymns or a blessing if that brings comfort, so you're not forced to choose between "religious" and "not". I follow what feels right for your family, whatever that looks like.

Can a celebrant funeral include prayers or hymns?

Yes, absolutely. A celebrant funeral is led by what the family wants, so if a prayer, a hymn, a reading or a moment of reflection would bring comfort, we include it, warmly and without fuss. Equally, if you'd prefer nothing religious at all, that's completely fine too. Many families choose a blend, a favourite hymn alongside personal stories and music, and I'll help you find the balance that feels right.

Who writes the eulogy?

I do, working closely with you. During our conversation you share the memories, stories and details that made your person who they were, and I weave them into a tribute that sounds like them and honours the whole of their life. You're welcome to read it yourself, have me deliver it, or a mix of both. Family and friends can add their own words too, and I'll make sure everything fits together on the day.

Can family members speak?

Yes, and they're warmly encouraged to if they'd like. Whether it's a reading, a few words, a poem or a shared memory, I'll help family and friends feel prepared and supported, and I'm always ready to step in and read on someone's behalf if nerves or emotion make it too much on the day. There's no pressure either way; the ceremony works beautifully whether contributions come from many voices or just mine.

How quickly can you prepare a funeral?

Quickly, and calmly. Funerals usually come together within a week or two, and I keep space in my diary to take them at short notice. Once you or your funeral director get in touch, I'll arrange to meet your family, gather everything I need, and write and share a draft in good time for you to approve. You'll never feel rushed, and nothing goes into the ceremony that you haven't seen.

Does the funeral director arrange the celebrant?

Often, yes, but you're always free to choose your own. Funeral directors regularly book celebrants on a family's behalf, and I work closely and easily with them. But you never have to accept whoever is suggested; you can ask for me by name, or contact me directly, and I'll liaise with your funeral director from there. It's your choice who tells your person's story.

Read all frequently asked questions about celebrant ceremonies

Let’s talk

If you are arranging a funeral or thinking ahead, I am happy to answer questions by phone or email. Call 07380 747534 or send a message - I reply to every enquiry myself.

Let’s talkCall 07380 747534