Funeral Farewells
Funeral Celebrant
A funeral celebrant is s the main host of a funeral or celebration of life, I can lead and officiate the service. Also there are many ways I can offer support throughout difficult times, including assisting with the planning details such as a Service Sheet and Order of Service.
Typically, a funeral celebrant will:
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Be a source of support and guidance from the very first meeting, right through until the end of the service
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Spend time understanding the wishes of the deceased, their family and loved ones to make sure these are carried out sufficiently, prior to the service
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Keep you informed about how the service will go, so that you'll feel reassured
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Help prepare the eulogy with guidance from Whānau, so that it is a true reflection of their loved one and a fitting send off
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Take charge of the timing of the service so that no moments aren't rushed or awkward or too long and drawn out necessarily
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Craft a ceremony that is personal and helps all friends and family to bid a fond farewell for the person they have lost from this world
Open-minded approach means that whether you want the funeral ceremony to be non- religious, or if you want to bring in a spiritual or faith-based message, we can create an appropriate balance that suits the occasion.
You can contact me directly or your Funeral Director will engage with your chosen celebrant = me!
I’ll call to arrange a meeting with the family and possibly friends, co-workers and anyone else who wants to help arrange the funeral too.
This meeting is for you to get to know me as your funeral celebrant and build a connection. This time is your opportunity to share what is important to you. It’s important that you feel at ease with me, after all, I’m going to play an important role in an incredibly emotional day.
As we talk together you can share your feelings and memories about your lost loved one. Funeral planning is a difficult process, so I will do everything I can to help you develop happy, heartfelt stories that may even be inspiring. During this conversation, I’ll gain a deep understanding and awareness of the type of person the deceased was and your relationships and how they touched your lives. Using this knowledge I’ll carefully create a service that does their life justice and provides a fitting funeral.
Many feel that this is a huge part of the grieving process, and it facilitates a more enriching way to come to terms with loss. It is all about taking the time to remember the departed, and work together to build a funeral that celebrates the many different layers of their unique personality and life.
I can co-ordiante funerals in Levin, Foxton, Palmerston North, Feilding, Ōhau, Ōtaki , Paraparaumu, Waikanae, Te Horo, Ashhurst and anywhere else in the Central/Lower North Island of New Zealand. Some travel fees may apply.
A Pet Memorial Ceremony can include:
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Prepare for a customised Ceremony, either in person or via Zoom, phone and email.
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A Ceremony may be made up of a poem, reading or passage, songs performed or music played, eulogy, tributes and enactments or rituals such as scattering of the ashes, placing a placard or marker or planting a tree.
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Conduct Memorial Ceremony (10 – 30 minutes duration) in backyard, park or other location within the Manawatu, Horowhenua and Kapiti regions.
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Provide copy of Ceremony wording
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Accompany the Pet’s Family at time of a house call / euthanasia, to say last goodbyes with some special words and music, optional
Starting from $299, a travel fee applies for locations further than 50km from Levin, Horowhenua.
To make this process as easy as possible it starts with a simple questionnaire for a Pet’s Family to complete. This will require simple details such as the Pet’s name, Age, Cremation/Burial, Family’s names, phone, email, address, location of service, Memorial type e.g. tree/shrub, stone in garden etc. This can be done on paper or by email.
Pet Memorials
Our pets are our fur-babies and part of our family. The loss of a pet can be deeply distressing. While holding a pet funeral may not be for everyone, many experts believe that having some type of ceremony can help us cope with the loss of a treasured animal friend.
We share years of joy with our pets, when their time comes, we grieve in a similar way to when a person close to us passes away. It makes perfect sense to honour them. A pet memorial ceremony can be helpful for both adults and children (especially if this is a child’s first experience with loss, death and grieving, in their lifetime). Consider the people who were in your pet’s life and invite them to participate or choose to get your entire family involved in making the arrangements. The process of creating a memorial ceremony can be very beneficial for all those who are grieving the loss of a pet.
When it comes to designing a pet’s memorial ceremony there are no hard and fast rules. Of course, it is up to you how elaborate or simple you would like your ceremony to be, there are common elements that many people include, such as saying a few words or singing. In general, pet funerals are intimate and informal. Choose to hold a ceremony in the backyard or a specific location, such as one of your pet’s favourite places; like at the beach, walking track or at a park etc.
Pets hold a special place in our lives and hearts, and their death creates a gaping hole that causes real, true grief. Our pets accept and love us unconditionally and never pass judgment. It is good to express feelings of grief by creating a memorial ceremony to help deal with loss, while taking the time and the opportunity to remember and celebrate their life, together with family and friends.
Testimonials and Reviews
Kind Words from Couples
February 2026 Sudbury Te Horo
"We only met Rita virtually before the day of our wedding at Sudbury but it was an easy choice for Rita to be our celebrant.
From a short questionnaire, Rita designed a beautiful ceremony that captured us so perfectly. She was very supportive, and was open to creating a ceremony that perfectly reflected us as a couple.
Rita made us feel comfortable despite the fact that we were very nervous! Rita was always so responsive and provides as much or as little advice as you need/want.
Thank you so much for being a part of our day, highly recommend :)"
Sarah and Sam
September 2025
Tatum Park
Manakau
"We just wanted to share a massive thank you to you for everything you did for our wedding.
Without your hard work, the day would not have turned out as special.
Without you, we both would have been very lost on the day - you did an excellent job keeping the ball rolling and making sure we were where we needed to be. Thank you both for MCing and officiating our wedding."
Micaela and Liam
January 2025
Linton
Manawatu
Rita was an absolutely amazing officiant, and we couldn't have imagined our ceremony going any smoother.
She was calm, confident, and charming, she allowed space for both light-hearted and emotional moments, and she seemed genuinely touched and invested in our day.
We are so thankful for the work she put in, and would recommend working with her to any couples planning their wedding!
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Malissa and Rob
November 2024
Wallaceville House
Upper Hutt
"Amazing experience with Rita.
Lovely to talk to and deal with.
Made our ceremony very enjoyable.
Thank you Rita for being a part of our day."
Emma and Ben
March 2024
Orlando Country Palmerston North
"Rita was absolutely amazing, from the beginning to end, the process couldn't have been easier.
Rita spent the time to get to know us and customised our ceremony to fit us perfectly.
I highly recommend and thank you again for being a part of our special day.”
Nicole and Andrew
February 2021
Pohangina
Manawatu
"We loved having Rita as our celebrant. She is so friendly and easy going.
She really helped make the ceremony reflect who we are and was very easy to work with.
She made it a comfortable and stress free experience.
Thanks for being part of our day."