Emily Kilkenny Funeral & Memorial Celebrant

06/10/2026

Now, just to be clear, this is not a pity party post! 💖🦋😘

Got a little certificate today for completing 50 yoga classes in 4 months, and I'm prouder of it than I probably should be 😊, but hey!

First, a big shoutout to BLACK MAT Eltham. Honestly, it's the most peaceful studio I've ever set foot in. Kate and her beautiful team are so caring and intuitive. They've looked after me and my healing soul without even knowing it, and that's a real gift ❤️

I adore my work as a celebrant. It doesn't even feel like a job to me, it's a privilege, and I wouldn't change it for the world. I actually live for it and feel I’ve found my purpose in the world. Amen🥰

But like so many people who hold space for grief and trauma, it all settles somewhere in you, even when you think you're fine. I’ve learned this quickly, thankfully❤️

Yoga helped heal me back in my 20s, and I'm so glad I've come back to it, this time as a permanent part of my life. If you're in a caring role, please look after yourself too. You can't pour from an empty cup. (Talking to 99% of you probs)

The past few years have been a real test for my family and me. I'm not sharing that for sympathy, just honesty, because I know plenty of you have been through tough patches too. Hard times have a way of showing you who's there, even when you're not much fun to be around. This journey at mat has helped me get back on my feet, and I'm feeling stronger and more grateful than ever. To everyone who walked beside me through it all, thank you, because I was a real wet wipe in my hardest times! xx

17/09/2026

Hey💙
One of the things I love most about being a civil celebrant is how much room there is to honour someone's true beliefs, not just a standard script.

Today was a beautiful reminder of that.

We were blessed to have Buddhist monks bless Mark, and offer a prayer and meditation at the end of the ceremony for Mark and his dear, beautiful wife Antika. I asked the monks' permission to share these photos, and they were so thankful, it meant a lot to be able to capture and honour that moment properly.

I grew up in the Catholic faith myself, and even though I'd now describe myself as more spiritual than religious, I understand deeply how much faith and ritual can mean, how they carry generations of meaning, comfort, and identity.

That's why I'm always open to weaving religion and spiritual belief into civil ceremonies, whatever that looks like for the people in front of me. A blessing, a prayer, a meditation, a ritual passed down through family, these aren't things to leave out of a "civil" ceremony. They're part of honouring a person and their life, exactly as they lived it, belief, faith, or none at all.

Every ceremony should reflect the people at the heart of it. Today, that meant monks, prayer, and meditation. Next time it might mean something else entirely, and that's exactly how it should be.

Em xoxo

02/09/2026

Some news I’m really excited to share 💫

I think we’re allowed to keep evolving in the careers we love, to let them grow and stretch as we do, rather than staying boxed into the one lane we started in. For a few years now, I’ve stood beside families writing the words, holding the space, helping people say goodbye to those they love through ceremony. It’s such a privilege💜🙏

Now I’m taking the next step and training to become a death doula, alongside my ongoing work as a funeral celebrant.

For those wondering what a death doula actually does. Its support in the time before death, and during this sacred time. That can look like sitting with someone as they work through fear or unfinished business, helping a family know what to expect as things progress, making space for the conversations that matter most to actually happen, or just being a calm, steady presence in a room that can otherwise feel pretty overwhelming. It’s non-medical, practical and emotional support, legacy work, comfort, companionship, and helping someone’s wishes be heard and honoured.

Funeral celebrancy showed me how much people need support not just on the day, but in the lead-up to it too. So I’m not stepping away from celebrant work, I’m adding to it. I’ll still be there to help families say goodbye through ceremony, and now I’ll also be able to walk with people earlier in the journey, when they need it most.

Grateful to be doing work that I truely find so meaningful. More to come as I learn and train. 🙏

Thank you to my friend Fi who is guiding and encouraging and planted this seed with me when we first met in 2022🫶🫶

13/07/2026

💛 Funerals V Memorials 💛

As a funeral and memorial celebrant, I've had the privilege of walking alongside hundreds of families over the last 4 years — helping them say goodbye to the people they love in a way that truly reflects who that person was.

Some families want a full funeral service, with the body present and all the traditions that come with it. Others prefer a simpler memorial, with no funeral parlour needed at all. Honestly?

There's no right or wrong way to do this.
It's about what feels right for you and the person you're farewelling.

One thing I've learned over the years is that not all funeral homes are created equal. I've worked with a lot of them, and there are only a handful I'd genuinely recommend, the ones who show up with real care, not just a price list. If you're navigating this and don't know where to start, I'm happy to point you in the right direction.

I also have a wonderful list of preferred
Memorial Venues who have a beautiful space and will cater for the wake after the ceremony.

If you're planning ahead, or going through this, please don't hesitate to reach out. I'd love to sit down with you, or have a phone chat, and talk through what feels right for your family.

📞 0417 460 336

Sending love to anyone doing this hard, beautiful work of remembering someone. 💛

04/06/2026

This is dear Abbi.

Next Tuesday, we will gather to celebrate her life and say our final goodbye.

Abbi was just 20 years old when cancer took her from those who loved her. In every conversation about her, the same words shine through — kind, compassionate, and possessing one of the biggest hearts imaginable. She touched countless lives with her warmth, generosity, and beautiful spirit.

It is a genuine privilege to stand alongside her devoted family and fiancé as we honour her life and create a farewell that reflects the extraordinary young woman she was.

If you are in a position to do so, please consider making a donation to Abbi's GoFundMe or to the Royal Children's Hospital, where her cancer journey began. Every contribution, no matter how small, is a meaningful gift and a wonderful way to honour Abbi's memory.

Please keep her family and loved ones in your thoughts as they navigate this heartbreaking loss. Em💗💗

Hi everyone, my name is Phoenix. I have been Abbi's partner, and more recen… Phoenix Bartolo needs your support for Assist Abbi's Family with Funeral Expenses

01/04/2026

Last week I had the absolute privilege of celebrating the life of Graeme at the Diamond Creek Hotel—his beloved “Snake Pit” and home away from home. 🍻 Diamond Creek Hotel, in particular Hayley and their events team did not miss a beat.

True to Graeme’s wishes, it wasn’t a heavy farewell… it was a gathering filled with laughter, stories, a few cheeky moments, and of course, a drink in hand.

A man of few words but legendary one-liners, Graeme leaves behind a legacy of humour, love, and unforgettable memories. Surrounded by his beautiful family, friends, and the community who adored him, we honoured him exactly as he wanted. Thanks to his gorgeous daughters who listened to his wishes and wants, then honoured them for their beloved Dad. The afternoon was simple, relaxed, and full of heart.

Cheers to you, Graeme. You’ll be remembered in every laugh, every story, and every raised glass. 💛

02/03/2026

When someone we love leaves this world, creating a meaningful farewell can feel overwhelming — especially in the midst of grief. 🤍

I am here to gently and seamlessly guide you in creating a beautiful ceremony that truly reflects and honours the person we are celebrating.

I can assist you with:

• A beautifully written story script to honour your loved one
• Music selection
• Rituals and symbolic moments
• Venue suggestions
• Photo tributes
• And anything else you would like included to reflect the uniqueness of your person.

Even if you simply need direction because you don’t know where to begin, I am here to listen and support you every step of the way. (Always open for a no obliation chat)

If you would like your loved one present, I work with a few preferred funeral directors whom I trust to be honest, reliable, and respectful.

Alternatively, we can honour your loved one with a memorial-style service without the body present — creating a heartfelt and meaningful tribute.

I truly love what I do. Standing beside families in their grief and helping them create a ceremony filled with love, dignity, and authenticity is both an honour and a privilege.

If you need support, please reach out. You don’t have to do this alone. 🤍

11/02/2026

Yesterday we laid to rest a truly beautiful man, aged 95 — a life long lived and deeply cherished.

After migrating to Australia with his adored wife (dec), he built not just a home, but a legacy of kindness, generosity and connection. Over the years, he formed countless friendships and meaningful relationships — the kind that became “chosen family.”

It was a telling tribute to the man he was that so many gathered yesterday to honour him, share stories, and celebrate a life so well lived.

We first laid him to rest at Diamond Creek Cemetery, followed by a heartfelt memorial service in Hurstbridge. The room was filled with warmth, laughter, tears, and the unmistakable sense of a community shaped by one gentle, generous soul.

What a privilege it is to stand with families as they honour lives like his — lives that remind us that the true measure of our time here is the love and connection we leave behind.
Rest peacefully 🫶

07/02/2026

Seventeen years ago today, the Black Saturday bushfires changed Victoria forever.
I had friends who lost their homes. While I didn’t personally know anyone who lost their life, today we remember those who did — and we acknowledge the immense ripple effect of that loss. Families, friends, whole communities were shaped by that day in ways that still echo now.
In the years since, I’ve had the honour of officiating many funerals for Kinglake residents — people who lived through the fires and later passed on from causes unrelated to that day. Each service has been a reminder of the resilience, kindness, and deep connection that defines that community.
Kinglake is, and continues to be, an extraordinary community.
Today we remember, we honour, and we hold space for all that was lost — and all that endured. 🤍Kinglake WestMason Falls - Kinglake

27/01/2026

How to be helpful to someone you know or love who is deep in grief💜💜💜💜

One of the worst things to say to someone who is grieving:
“Call me if you need anything.”

They won’t call.

Grief is exhausting. Decision-making disappears.

Reaching out feels like being a burden.

If you don’t know what to do, do something specific, like….

• Cook them a meal (and don’t ask what they want)

• Drop groceries at the door

• Take their kids for 24 hours — insist if needed

• Walk the dog

• Do loads of washing

• Sit with them in silence

• Check in again next week (and the week after)

Grief doesn’t need perfect words.
It needs presence — long after the funeral ends.

Many people ask me this question, hope it helps at least one 💜💛💜🫶