Jill Bolton - Funeral Celebrant

25/09/2025

Today I officiated at a funeral where a husband said goodbye to his wife.
He said that people had said that they were too young and that they wouldn't last when they first got married.
66 years later, he sat today with his daughter on one side of him and his son on the other and sang along to Too Young by Jimmy Young.
Blimey... what a moment.
And certainly one that I won't forget.

💞

14/08/2025

Yesterday... one of the hottest days ever... I found myself going to see three different families.

It was one of those days that proves that everyone's idea of what makes a 'good' funeral can be so different.

Three lives to honour and remember, each in their own unique way.

From one family who have chosen instrumental, quiet reflective music throughout the service to another who have gone with the Perry Como classic of Magic Moments and the third... this one https://youtu.be/lWu3H84No4I

Please don't ever be afraid to challenge what is 'normal' or the 'done thing.'

Do your thing... Do their thing

Caution though... if you click on that link... you will (like me!) be singing it alllllllll day!

T***s & the Maytals - Monkey ManRecorded Live: 11/15/1975 - Winterland - San Francisco, CAMore T***s & the Maytals at Music Vault: http://www.musicvault.comS...

01/08/2025

It's been a busy week this week but I have worked with some of the loveliest of people. I won't ever tire of acknowledging the privilege it is to do my job!

Some lovely feedback this morning...

Hi Jill, Once again, I just wanted to say a massive thank you for the way you both constructed & delivered the service for ****'s passing.
I wish you could have heard all the positive comments I received regarding the way the service went and the way you delivered it, and we all know that she would have absolutely loved it.
Once again many thanks

15/07/2025

Just parked up at Agecroft Crematorium. I don’t get here that often but it was the crematorium I officiated at for the first time when I started out.
Many, many services later, I can still remember it… and I’m sat here now remembering the other families I have been here with too…some very special people along the way.
💞

28/05/2025

Maybe the most important part of being a funeral celebrant is developing a rapport with a family, something which has to be done in a relatively short period of time and at a time of often great upset/ stress and confusion. So, to receive the following feedback... well it warms my cockles!

'Hi Jill
Thank you once again for the Lovely Funeral Service you gave for Gordon on Thursday...you have the gift of making everyone feel at ease with your warm and bubbly personality!
We all said that we feel like we have known you forever!'

11/05/2025

I'm almost 6 years into my Funeral Celebrant life now, but last month, well honestly, I officiated at less funerals than I have done in all this time.

I'm not going to lie, the self-confidence was having a big wobble...

What had I done?!? Had I let somebody down without realising it?

After talking to funeral directors and colleagues locally, it seemed that everyone was experiencing an unusual quiet period but still... It's so important to me to get it right for people, I was worried!

And then, my first funeral back after that lull... and I received the following feedback...

'Thank you for everything you did to make the service for mum so special. Everyone I spoke with after the funeral said the way you presented the service was a lovely and fitting tribute to Patricia’s life. Thank you for helping us find the right words to remember Patricia and express our gratitude for having her as a mother and a friend.
Thank you, we are very grateful for your kindness and support at this difficult time'

Phew...

And onwards it seems.

04/04/2025

I received a lovely, out of the blue email yesterday, from a funeral a few weeks back... lovely to hear!

'Just a quick message to say thanks for producing and delivering a beautiful service for my Mum. You are still being complimented by my family and friends so thought I'd share.'

And then...just a couple of hours later, the following email came through...

'Thank you so much for today. The people who attended thought the service was just right for her which is comforting, thank you for your time to help make it as good as these things can be.'

Job satisfaction as always 100%