What is a celebrant? And who can be one?

Written by Stu

The celebrant is the person who leads the funeral service. Their role can be as simple as welcoming guests, introducing speakers and then conducting the final committal for burial or cremation. In some cases, the celebrant may also read the eulogy (a reflection on the person’s life), offer a homily (a short spiritual message), or share words of comfort and blessing for those gathered.

What does a celebrant do?

We believe that how a service begins — and especially how it ends — creates the lasting memory for family and friends.

A family member or friend may choose to officiate as the celebrant, bringing a personal connection and understanding of the deceased’s life. However, many families prefer the guidance of an experienced professional to lead and organise the service.

I’ve known people who felt deeply honoured and at peace due to being the person to lead their loved one’s farewell. It felt correct to use their skills this way, it gave them a sense of purpose and control over things, and they knew the right kind of tone to strike. And it meant that they weren’t left with a nagging sense that there was something they should have done, but missed the opportunity.

However, there are also those who feel that the work of holding the service together would distract them from being able to grieve. The celebrant has a lot of work to do before the service, as well as during: writing the service, checking the content and adjusting as needed, confirming who’s doing what and instructing them on things like where to sit, when to come up, how long to speak for, and so on. It’s a lot of plates to spin, and even if that’s the sort of thing you usually excel at, you need to be in tune with yourself enough to know if this role might create too much pressure in an already painful situation. The celebrant is also often called upon to ease family tensions, helping people to concentrate on the service and the departed.

They’re also working in tandem with us as the funeral director to ensure that the nuts and bolts of the service are in place: the right number and type of microphone, who walks in which order during the recessional, what will be the prompts for the music to begin or end.

*Stu acting as celebrant at a graveside service*

“Can you do it for us?”

The funeral director usually can’t act as celebrant (except at the very simplest of services), as there are too many other priorities to manage at the same time. However, Stu and I are both experienced celebrants, as well of course as being intimately familiar with the workings of funeral services. If one of us acts as your celebrant, the other will be your funeral director, and you’ll know we’ve got you covered on both fronts.

We also work with several other trusted professionals we can recommend. We’ll talk to you about the type of service you envision and help match you with the right celebrant. Celebrants Aotearoa is a good place to start browsing.

Some families prefer a celebration of life where the tone is warm and uplifting, while others value a traditional, structured service. For some, laughter and lightheartedness is the best reflection of their loved one, while for others the need is reflective, quiet and gentle. Whatever your preference, we will ensure the right person is chosen to honour your loved one with care and respect.