Sarah Burley Celebrant

04/08/2026

I meet many families who are traumatised by the idea that their loved one has starved, rather than naturally come to the end of their life. My husband was similarly troubled by this at the end of his own father’s life. So if you need to see this message right now, please know that the medical teams will be able to guide you through this difficult time. My thoughts are with you all if you’re navigating the last days with a loved one.

One of the hardest things to witness is someone you love losing their appetite. But as the body naturally begins to shut down, it no longer needs food and drink in the same way. Offering comfort is often far more important than encouraging another mouthful.

Listen to their body.

This can feel deeply distressing because feeding someone is one of the most instinctive ways we show love. But at the end of life, gentle mouth care, moistening the lips and simply sitting alongside someone often become far greater acts of care than trying to persuade them to eat. Letting go of food is one of the body’s most natural, instinctive ways of preparing for death.

03/08/2026

Literacy in Celebrancy:
(2 minute read)
Today the BBC highlighted the lack of adult literacy skills in the UK. It followed a very misspelled advertisement I saw last week from a young man marketing himself as a writer of eulogies and a conversation with a funeral arranger who was cross about seeing glaring spelling mistakes in emails from a celebrant she was working with.
This made me wonder about the importance of literacy, spelling and grammatical excellence in my role as a celebrant.
I am a writer of lives, a teller of true stories and, importantly, a speaker and presenter at funeral services.
My role involves carefully listening and interpreting the memories of the bereaved into a beautifully crafted service of remembrance.
I write a ‘speech’ which may not be grammatically correct, because we rarely speak that way. I include moments for pause and intonation, but I also always create the service as a keepsake in written form.
To me, therefore, it’s vital to use the correct language and perfect spelling. Families may keep my words for younger generations to read many years from now. I hope I always remain mindful of this.
A lack of literacy skill should not preclude anyone from being wonderful within the role. Every family is matched to the perfect person to help lead the service that fits for their needs.
But when bereaved clients choose me to reflect the completed life of their loved one, I shall always do so using language that is perfectly and uniquely written, whether it is spoken informally or treasured in print for a hundred years.

29/07/2026

I rather love this idea, that the bouquet might become the baby’s first shawl and they would be wrapped in their parents’ wedding…. Perhaps even with cows embroidered in, as well?!!
Ideal for some, perhaps.

23/07/2026

When a family spends so much on an exquisite floral tribute, it often feels such a shame to walk away and leave those blooms behind.
We always pluck a few stems to ‘send with their loved one’ and always offer for the family to take the sprays and bouquets with them, but it’s wonderful to be asked to repurpose their arrangements.
These are ready to be placed at the welcome desk in a care facility, with a further four vases filled for delivery and a few spare stems on my desk, even after many family members had already plucked out blooms to keep.
Thank you to the Friends for your kindness.

22/07/2026

Sometimes I tell the stories of those who have had lovely long lives reaching their natural conclusion, but sometimes I have to welcome families into a chapel mourning a life that has ended far too soon.
Even in deep grief, I will listen for wonderful memories, moments of joy and together we plan the shared opportunity to say goodbye.
It is an honour to allow grieving families to focus on all the positive aspects, so that as they leave the chapel, it is with a sense of pride, love and gratitude.
The grieving process begins by sharing those moments together with a moment respectfully marked, and reaching acceptance while saying a final goodbye.

21/07/2026

The unexpected arrival of a card like this means the world! The words inside make everything I do feel worthwhile.

17/07/2026

This will help allow couples much more choice, while still respecting the dignity and gravity of the promise and legal obligations.
Regulation but hopefully not too much red tape.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1534300668733920&id=100064620046507

Currently, a marriage or civil partnership ceremony must take place at an approved venue to be legally binding.

Read more: https://bbc.in/4vU5gHD

16/07/2026

I’m sharing this because it’s so important to understand exactly what people are getting when they sign up to these companies following their flowery soft-voiced advertising.

I read an article on Tuesday night from the York Press and have been mulling over the content.

I wouldn’t ordinarily name any other Business so I won’t name them now but the post relates to one of the large National Direct Cremation companies that advertises prolifically on daytime TV.

They have submitted a planning application to open another body storage facility on the outskirts of York - situated on an industrial estate.
This is just one of a number of body storage units on industrial sites that are dotted around the Country.

Let’s just be clear this is going to be a body storage unit (with no physical care being provided). They do make reference to some refrigeration but do not definitively state that all bodies will be stored in cold storage conditions.

The article states that they will have storage for up to 700 bodies - stacked five coffins high (which would suggest bodies are not kept refrigerated otherwise they would be in body bags not coffins).

They have stated an anticipatory 10 bodies inbound and 6 outbound per day and state that bodies will then be transported 4 at a time to their Crematorium (which is situated in Hampshire)…..so much for carbon efficiency transporting bodies 240 miles.

As I have stated many times before on this page - I am not against the notion of Direct/Unattended Cremation if that’s the right choice for you or your person …… BUT your local Independent Funeral Director can also provide a Direct/Unattended Cremation option.

Please don’t be taken in by the prices that they claim either for themselves or Funeral Directors in their TV adverts.

If you go to a local Funeral Director (FD) you will be assured that you/your person will be taken in a suitable vehicle by the FD to their premises - looked after by the staff team at the FDs premises - you will be able to liaise with those named staff - you will be able to choose what your person is dressed in - you will be able to go and view your person if you wish- your person will have their Cremation at a local Crematorium and they will be transported individually in a dignified manner in either a Hearse or a private ambulance vehicle….the list goes on.

** although in the past FDs may have notified people of the date and time of the Direct Cremation they are currently discouraged from disclosing this level of information because family members have then on occasion arrived at the Crematorium - and this is obviously not what a Direct/ Unattended Cremation entails.

Please Please Please talk to your local Independent Funeral Director rather than using online companies.

How can storing up to 700 bodies in an industrial unit be dignified and ethical.

14/07/2026

If you’ve got the money to give the most star-filled send off, someone will always be there to provide something spectacular!

Celebrate the life of a loved one with ashes into fireworks ✓ Heavenly Stars Fireworks offers professional cremation ashes in fireworks ✓ Request a display!

08/07/2026

On the hottest day, we took refuge in the shade of the trees, giving the rare sight of the beautiful chapel seemingly unattended.