Sara Hawkins Celebrant

10/13/2026

It was a privilege to contribute to this conversation highlighted in this morning’s The Toronto Star alongside the folks at GFD, Ridley Funeral Home and Heritage Funeral Centre. Thanks to Maia Tustonic for the opportunity to be part of it and for putting a spotlight on this important topic!

09/30/2026

I’m really looking forward to helping lead this special service coming up in a couple of weeks. Thanks to Dodsworth & Brown Funeral Home - Burlington Chapel for having me and most importantly, for offering a space for people to remember the animal companions they’ve loved and lost in such a meaningful way. Children are also more than welcome.

07/08/2026

I regularly pinch myself that I’m able to make a career doing something I’ve loved doing since I was a little girl: writing stories. But yesterday was not about writing the story of someone who I’ll never get the chance to meet in order to help their loved ones say goodbye to them. Yesterday was just writing for me.

Mad love and huge thanks goes out to my incredible husband Mark Nyman and our 4 kiddos (Tyson Brown) who all pitched in for one of the best Mother’s Day gifts I’ve ever had: a personal writing retreat day at the stunning Bonnieheath Estate Lavender Farm & Winery complete with a fancy vintage picnic in the peak of lavender season. I stayed from open til close and ended it with picking fresh lavender in a bouquet that looks like something Anne of Green Gables might have picked. 10/10 recommend!

P.S. Jen Hatmaker.. this was my one day version of “Me Camp” happening a couple hours south of where you are now. ☺️

03/27/2026

I continue to be so grateful for the families who trust me with their loved one’s services as well as the funeral homes I partner with who recommend me to them. Almost 13 years in now, and I may love my work even more than when I started!

02/25/2026

This scene in Netflix’s Virgin River struck me:

Preacher: “Funerals can be pretty sad. If this feels like too much, just let me know.”

Christopher: “I want to say goodbye to [her].”

Preacher: “That’s a very grown-up thing to do.”

Whenever families ask if they should bring their kids to a funeral, my answer is almost always YES.

As a parent myself, I totally get having a protective heart. We want to shield our children from painful feelings. But I believe there are two concepts important to ingrain into our kiddos:

1) death is part of life, and
2) mourning together as a community matters.

I look forward to the day when attending funerals isn’t considered a “grown-up” thing, but rather a human one.

If you’re navigating loss with children and have questions, you don’t have to figure it all out alone. I’ve created three complimentary age-based resources for parents and caregivers (2.5–4, 5–9, and 10+).

If you DM me your email address, I’ll send the one that fits your child’s stage. ♥️

02/20/2026

Today I had the chance to help a family with their loved one who was a die hard Toronto Blue Jays fan. Everyone came dressed in their Jays gear, and we talked about how the game mirrors life in a lot of ways. I used one of my favourite quotes from baseball writer, Rick Maksian who said,, “Life will always throw you curves, just keep fouling them off. . .the right pitch will come, but when it does, be prepared to run the bases”.

Every life has a story worth telling, even the parts that feel like curveballs. If you’re planning a service and want it to truly reflect the person you love, I’d be honoured to help.

01/24/2026

I’ve really liked reading through a lot of these responses.

After sitting with 750+ families after their loved one has died, my own takeaway is pretty simple: at the end of life, two things seem to matter most — simple pleasures with the people you love, and a life focused outwardly on others rather than self. Those are the lives that feel the richest when the story is told.

Funeral friends and colleagues, I’m curious to hear from you as well if you care to share. What has death taught you about life?

01/16/2026

Fantastic article with scientific case studies explaining how rituals unite and divide and how shared suffering can bridge divides. Well worth the short read!

In Tana Toraja, a mountainous region of Sulawesi, Indonesia, villagers pour massive resources into funeral rituals: lavish feasts, ornate effigies and prized water buffaloes for sacrifice.

01/08/2026

So lovely to get the notification for this Google review that came through today. Since the pandemic, in-person services are often preferred. But Pamela wanted hers to be virtual so all of her loved ones all over the world could experience it in the same way together. There is no “right” or “wrong” way to do a funeral or celebration of life. It’s just a matter of figuring out what makes most sense for you. Thank you Richard for taking the time to share your experience. 🕊️

12/11/2025

Here’s an important article that speaks to what I talk about all the time. One of the top reasons I am passionate about my work is because of how I’m able to witness time and time again the power of a personalized, storytelling ceremony. A funeral or memorial Is such a critical first step in the grief journey towards healing.