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Karen Gratwick
Funeral Celebrant
"An uplifting farewell for your loved one"
Planning, Writing & Delivering Bespoke
Funerals, Memorials & Celebration of Life Services
"As a celebrant, I am committed to offering a tribute to your loved one in such a way that honours them and reflects who they truly were to you."
Proudly Trained and Certified
"A celebrant-led end-of-life service can be whatever you want it to be; you may prefer a traditional ceremony or something entirely personalised and unique. There are no rules, and I would love to help you shape a ceremony that is personal and meaningful to you."
A Little Bit About Me...
"My ceremonies are typically uplifting and positive, focusing on celebrating the life that has been lived and highlighting the joy and love that have been brought to the lives of others."
Hello, I’m Karen Gratwick.
I’m based in Ascot, Berkshire, married to Nick and have two
wonderful kids. My passion for theatre - especially musical theatre
and all things Shakespeare - along with my love of travel, dogs, the
countryside and fun with my family, have been constants in my life.
Before I qualified as a celebrant I worked as an Event Manager and
an English and Drama teacher, and I have done a great deal of pastoral
work with teenagers. I also regularly host my local church services.
My diverse career has equipped me with a unique blend of skills in
working sensitively with families, listening attentively, transforming
spoken memories into heartfelt stories, public speaking, and planning
and delivering services that are both uplifting and engaging.
I trained to be a civil funeral celebrant after my own dear dad passed
away; it felt hugely important to me that, at his funeral, he was
represented appropriately – in a way that was personal and recognisable to those who loved him - and that his stories were told in a befitting way. It is to this that I am committed as a celebrant: to represent your loved one in such a way that honours them and reflects who they truly were to you.
I am a committed Christian, so whilst I am of course more than happy to help you craft an entirely non-religious ceremony if that’s your preference, I can also deliver - with sincerity - a ceremony which incorporates elements of faith should you wish to include them. My priority is to create a ceremony tailored to your needs and wishes and which fits with your philosophical, cultural or spiritual values.
I believe that all lives are valuable, meaningful and deserve to be commemorated; as such my ceremonies are typically uplifting and positive, focusing on celebrating the life that has been lived and highlighting the joy and love that have been brought to the lives of others.
“I loved your storytelling style as you captured my full attention, and I was fully engaged throughout the service. Your approach was sincere, natural, caring and sensitive. I would be happy for you to do my funeral. You will go on to be an excellent celebrant.”
Stuart Logan, Founder of the Academy of Professional Celebrants
Partnering
with a Celebrant
What a celebrant will do
The days following a loss can be overwhelming, and it can be hard to think clearly; having someone gently and sensitively guide you through the process of crafting a service that honours and celebrates your loved one’s life, can be invaluable. A celebrant will work with you to help you plan the whole funeral service and deliver the ceremony for you.
How to appoint a celebrant
If you’d like a celebrant to help plan and deliver a ceremony to honour your loved one, you can either contact your preferred celebrant directly or ask your funeral director to contact a celebrant for you. In this instance, you can request a particular celebrant or leave the choice to the funeral director.
What a celebrant-led funeral service is like
In a celebrant-led funeral service there is no obligation to follow any set format or include any prescribed content; it can be completely bespoke and personalised from start to finish. You may wish to include particular songs, hymns, music, poetry, readings, rituals, prayers, photos, memories or personal touches to make the service entirely unique and reflective of your loved one. The service can be held wherever you wish it to be as long as it is permitted.
How we will work together
Making Contact
If you choose me as your celebrant, I will initially call you to introduce myself and to arrange a meeting in your home or at any other location in which you feel comfortable.
On the phone I will explain what we will discuss in our meeting, and what you might like to prepare for it. I will also explain that our meeting can include a few close family or friends if you wish to invite them.
Our Meeting
Our meeting will be as relaxed as possible and typically last 1-2 hours. We’ll chat about how to make the ceremony personal and meaningful to you as we build your bespoke service together. We'll discuss your preferences for the ceremony, including whether you would like me to write and deliver the entire service or whether friends and family would like to be involved.
We’ll also talk about your loved one - the things you loved most about them, memories, experiences, and any details that you would like to be mentioned in the ceremony.
Creating the Service
After the meeting, I will use the information you have given me to write a draft of the tribute to your loved one (also known as the eulogy) and email it to you to check that you’re happy with it. If you wish for any amendments to the tribute or service, you can request these up to 48 hours before the ceremony.
At the Service
On the day of the funeral I will meet you at your chosen venue before the service begins, and then lead the ceremony for you with professionalism and dignity.
No-obligation chat or email
I would be delighted to have a conversation with you about how I might be able to help you, and, if you wish to work with me, to guide you through creating a fitting and memorable ceremony for your loved one. Together, we can create an occasion filled with love, laughter, respect and dignity. If you have any questions, please do contact me by phone, email or the contact form on this website.
End-of-Life Ceremonies
"When grieving, it can be hard to think clearly and to make decisions about how best to commemorate your loved one.
My job as a celebrant is to sit with you, to listen to you, and to gently guide you through your options, helping you to make decisions that are right for you. Together we can craft a ceremony that reflects your wishes and those of your loved one."
All the ceremonies below can be entirely personalised.
You can choose where they are held, who will speak,
and what readings, poems, prayers, pieces of music etc. are heard;
the content is entirely up to you.
As a celebrant, I can deliver some or all of the ceremony; again, this is tailored entirely to your wishes.
Funeral
The coffin is present at a funeral. The ceremony can include any content you wish, to reflect the life and character of the deceased and to share memories. It can be religious or non-religious. It will typically end in a cremation or a burial.
Scattering or interment (burial) of ashes
This takes place some time after a cremation. It is typically a shorter service and can be in any special or meaningful place. It is a time for friends and family to gather and say a final farewell to the deceased with appropriate words, to allow the healing process to begin.
Memorial / Celebration of Life Service
This takes place some time after a funeral or direct cremation, so the coffin isn’t present. It is a service of remembrance and celebration and can often feel less sorrowful than a funeral. It can include any content you wish to appropriately celebrate the life of the deceased. Some families choose to do a small funeral for close family, and then a larger memorial/celebration of life service for a wider circle of friends, colleagues and neighbours.
Personal Funeral Planning for the Living
Sometimes, as individuals approach the end of their life, they wish to make plans for their own funeral, so that their own thoughts, memories and wishes can be included in the service. I can offer a service of visiting, listening and planning with the client before they come to the end of their life. This can be cathartic for both the individual and their family and friends, knowing that their wishes are being heard and will later be carried out.
If you have any questions about how I might be able to help you create one of these ceremonies,
please contact me.
Costs
Every ceremony and tribute will be bespoke and tailored to your wishes.
My fee for a Funeral, Memorial/Celebration of Life Ceremony or Personal Funeral Planning for the Living is £250 which includes
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All phone and email communications
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A personal visit to plan the ceremony with you, and gather the information needed to write a tribute (also known as the eulogy). This meeting could be via Zoom, if appropriate
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Help and advice, if required, on selecting poetry, readings and music etc. to be included in the ceremony
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The tribute sent to you to check that you are happy with it, with changes possible up to 48 hours before the ceremony
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Communication with other professionals involved in the ceremony
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Officiating at the ceremony on the day
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Travel for initial home visit and ceremony within 25-miles of Ascot, Berkshire
My fee for a Scattering or Interment of Ashes Ceremony starts from £80
which includes
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All phone and email communications
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A personal visit or phone call to plan the ceremony with you. This meeting could be via Zoom, if appropriate
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Help and advice, if required, on selecting a poem or reading to be included in the ceremony
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Officiating at the ceremony on the day
Please note that all fees are typically paid before the ceremony takes place.
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What is a funeral celebrant?A funeral celebrant is someone trained to plan, write and officiate at funeral services. As well as conducting the funeral itself, celebrants work with families before the funeral to plan the order of service, music and readings, and will write the tribute (if required) and create a meaningful service for the person who has died.
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What is the difference between a celebrant and a Minister?The clue is in the name ‘celebrant’: a celebrant will typically create a ceremony which ‘celebrates’ the life of the deceased, reflecting and honouring their character and life story and reminding the mourners that the individual lived a meaningful life. Their ceremonies, therefore, are generally uplifting and positive. Also, because celebrants have the freedom to tailor their ceremonies according to the wishes of their client, the style, feel and content of a service can be highly personalised. A celebrant is not affiliated to a particular religion so has the freedom to accommodate different beliefs and wishes, without being tied to a specific structure or content. A celebrant will work with you to create a personalised ceremony to appropriately honour your loved one. A minister is affiliated to a particular religion and will typically conduct a religious funeral in accordance with their religion’s guidelines. This means that their services are sometimes prescribed in structure and content.
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How do I employ a celebrant to plan and deliver a funeral?You can either contact your preferred celebrant directly or ask your funeral director to contact a celebrant for you. In this instance, you can request a particular celebrant or leave the choice to the funeral director.
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Who should be at my meeting with the celebrant?The meeting should be attended by anyone who you think might make a significant contribution in helping the celebrant understand the life of your loved one and what made them special. This would normally, but not exclusively, be a few close family members and/or close friends. It is best if there aren’t too many people present. If there are others who you would like to be at the meeting, but who cannot make it, they can write their memories down in advance of the meeting, for you to share with the celebrant.
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How do I pay for the services of a celebrant?If you are employing a funeral director, the celebrant’s fee will be included as part of the costs you pay to the funeral director. If you are not using a funeral director (e.g. for a memorial service or ashes interment), then you will pay the celebrant directly, typically before the ceremony takes place. Payment details will be given to you by the celebrant.
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Can I have a ceremony without having to go the crematorium?Yes, a celebrant can hold a funeral or celebration of life ceremony wherever you wish it to be as long as it is permitted.
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What should be included in the ceremony?The ceremony can be as unique as the person whose life is being celebrated. You may want a religious or non-religious ceremony, containing particular songs, hymns, pieces of music, readings, poems, rituals, memories, photos, etc. The celebrant will help you to compile the contents of the ceremony to create a fitting and uplifting tribute to your loved one.
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Who should speak at the funeral?This is entirely up to you. Many people will leave the bulk of the funeral to the celebrant, which is perfectly normal and understandable given the circumstance. However, should you wish for a family member or friend to speak, deliver a reading or recite a poem, that is perfectly fine and will be discussed as part of the celebrant’s home visit.
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Do I need a printed Order of Service?Naturally there is an order to the ceremony, however it is completely up to you should you wish to devise a printed Order of Service for guests to follow. The Order of Service is usually printed for you by the funeral director at a cost, but you can create it yourself if you prefer.
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Is Karen insured?Yes, Karen has Public & Products Liability Insurance up to the value of £5,000,000.
F.A.Q.s
If you have any other questions at all, please contact me.
Useful Links
For advice, support and information about death and bereavement,
the following organisations may be helpful:
The Good Funeral Guide – Consumer guide to the practical aspects of
organising a funeral
The Natural Death Centre – Comprehensive help, support, advice,
and guidance for planning a funeral
Cruse Bereavement Care - Grief can be overwhelming. You don't have to
deal with it alone
Care For The Family - Faith-based support for those who have a lost a child of any age,
in any circumstance and at any time
The Compassionate Friends - Support and care for bereaved parents and other family members
Good Grief Trust - Help for anyone affected by grief, from day one
Sands - Support for anyone affected by the loss of a baby before, during or after birth
SOBS - Peer-led support for adults impacted by suicide loss
Contact Karen
If you would like more information about how I might be able to help you, please contact me.