Funerals, Celebration of Life, Eco-Burials, Memorials, Interment or Scattering of Ashes

As your funeral celebrant, I offer a calm, reassuring presence. The words and sentiments of the ceremony I create for you will last long after the funeral day. My role is to reminisce on your behalf, and share what made your loved one’s life meaningful.

Eco-burial in a Dalton Woodland

Veronika officiated at my husband’s woodland burial ceremony. Actually ‘officiated’ doesn’t even come close. Veronika spent a lot of time with me getting to know my husband and gently guiding me through the options for the ceremony. The service she created was simply beautiful; she really captured the essence of who my husband was. I remember glancing across at one of my husband’s closest friends at the end of the ceremony and she just beamed at me and mouthed ‘perfect’. And it was.
Veronika is a lovely, genuine and caring person. I would have no hesitation recommending her to anyone looking for a celebrant.

Caroline Syddall

Tony’s Eco-Burial and Memorial Service

Thank you for everything you have done for us over the last few weeks. Your warmth and sensitivity made an awful situation just about bearable. I do hope we get to meet up again under better circumstances. You managed to write a beautiful eulogy that I will keep for my children. Speaking of which, I’m interested in a naming ceremony next Summer.

Another big thank you!

Becky xxx

The Perfect Day: Pam’s Memorial Service

“What a job you did yesterday! Pam would have loved it but I don’t think even with her vivid imagination she could ever have pictured that many people and so much outpouring of emotion and grief.

Thank you for all your hard work. The flowers, the candles, the beautiful display. All so perfect. Everyone said so, and said how well you handled everything. You can feel proud. “

Love Av x

Funeral Ceremony at Carlisle Crematorium Chapel

Nick and I particularly wanted to thank you for the wonderful job you did in conducting dad’s funeral and telling his story. It is a wonderful thing you do: converting the ramblings of Nick and I into a true picture of what dad was like. We knew we had to ask you to do this: the last funeral he attended was Craig Robinson’s, and he actually said he thought it was the ‘best’ funeral he’d ever attended. Thank you again for your lovely words.

Nick and Liz

Image courtesy of Tracy Lazonby, funeral director: Final Journey Funerals, Carlisle.

My Service

Whether you choose me for a cremation, burial, eco-burial, memorial or interment of ashes, I can assure you of my services as a sensitive, empathetic and caring celebrant. Having myself walked the journey through sorrow, I know that my experience of loss adds to my sensitivity and awareness of other people’s pain. My intention is to create a personalised ceremony that allows you to experience your emotional response to loss, and to make adjustments to the new terrain upon which you find yourself.

I am a great supporter of family-organised funerals, and have a particular affinity for those that are low cost, low carbon and based on simplicity and beauty. Although it is common to use a funeral director, I am happy to work with you whether or not you have one.

Did you know that it’s not a legal requirement to use a coffin at a funeral? If your funeral director hasn’t already done so, I can advise you on other options, such as a shroud or eco-friendly container/cocoon such as cardboard, bamboo, felt, wool or willow.

I am here to support you whether you choose a service in a chapel, crematorium, woodland burial site or DIY funeral in your back garden.

A natural burial is for those who care for the environment and want their death to honour their love of the countryside. With such a burial, the body is given back to the earth and can be recycled into new life as it decomposes naturally. Many people find that a natural burial reflects their values, and is spiritually uplifting.

Thank you so much for this. It’s perfect and such a lovely send-off for my Grandma.

Lisa

Beautiful service as always.

Tracy Lazonby, Funeral Director
Final Journey

Woodland Burial

I would like to thank you so much for the perfect service you gave for Paul yesterday. Everything would have been exactly what he hoped for. Even his trust Land Rover made it! He will certainly rest up in the woodland. Thank you again. His childhood friend,

Christine

Woodland Burial

Thank you so much for yesterday. It was just right.
Many thanks and much gratitude,

Bec

Thank you very much for making my father’s funeral feel meaningful and personal. You managed to achieve what my (relative) said you couldn’t. At the pub tea after the service I was asked by someone “who you were” and that “you must have known my father for many years”.

So once again thank you so much. I cannot express in words how grateful I am for an excellent service.

With Best Regards, J

Veronika Robinson is a warm and compassionate person. She was very thorough in researching our brother’s life and struck just the right note when conducting the service.
Her calm and sensitive approach was invaluable in our time of grief….putting the service in her hands was a great choice on our part.

Thank you.

Julia and Jacq Reid

Katie’s Celebration of Life Ceremony

Just wanted to say a massive thank you for the most touching, moving, and perfect celebration ceremony. It’s not just the words that you write, but the incredible professional way that you deliver the words, with genuine true feeling.

We couldn’t have wished for a more fitting tribute, and we will be forever in your debt.

Thank you doesn’t do you justice, but thank you, so so much.

Very best wishes. Mick

Images above courtesy Final Journey

My Fee

£200-£225

There is a travel fee of 45p a mile after the first 30 miles from Penrith.

If you’re using a funeral director, I will invoice them directly. Otherwise, the fee is payable by BACS before the ceremony.

Dear Veronika

You orchestrated the most wonderful memorial service for dear Pam today. It could not have been more special.

You clearly put enormous thought into every single aspect of what was an extremely moving and loving account – and also an honest reflection of Pam’s life. Just perfect.

Thank you so very much for that. It was hugely appreciated by all who were there – and both Emma and I were extremely touched to be able to witness it.

She was a dear friend. She will be much missed by so many but not forgotten.

Richard

Dalton Woodland Burial

Oh Veronika, it’s just perfect. I love it; you’ve really managed to capture the essence of Howard.

Caroline

Funeral Ceremony at Lancaster Crematorium

Dear Veronika, how do I begin? How can I put into words the feelings inside my heart as I write my THANK YOU to you? Here goes!

Always a listener, never judgmental, the calmness of your voice filled with such love and compassion upon taking the stand and leading us into the ceremony. The comforting way you delivered the eulogy — it touched so many people who joined with us to celebrate my dear Colin’s life. So many friends have telephoned to ask who you were, and how we found you, as they expressed how meaningfully you spoke to them, and how much it meant to them in their loss of a special friend.

It was a day to remember, by us all, of a man who lived honestly with such love for his wife, family and friends. You, in your unique style, paid homage to this with such emotion and truth, and I will treasure your tenderness for the rest of my life. I do hope you will be around when it’s my time to pass.

The Farewell, My Friends poem was a bonus of a find. As soon as I heard those words, when you first sent us a draft of your service, I knew it was Colin’s poem, epitomising his life so perfectly.

Thank you again, Veronika. Like I said words fail me!

Sylvia France, Bolton on Sands

Memorial Service at Armathwaite Village Hall

I was deeply moved by Pam’s memorial service, and find myself still reflecting on it days afterwards.

Thank you for creating such a wonderful space, where people could feel and share their love for her. There was such a beautiful spirit in the hall, so many heartfelt expressions of appreciation of Pam’s life and the ways she had touched so many people. As someone who had only met Pam a few times, the service brought her alive to me as a real person, and I felt sad and uplifted and strangely humbled by the whole experience.

Thank you again for making the marking of her death so incredibly special.

Best wishes, Emma

Hi Veronika,

What a lovely service yesterday, very emotional but very uplifting too. RIP Pam Mahoney, many people will miss you.

Best regards, Paul

Dear Ms. Robinson

I wanted to thank you for conducting such a moving service on Saturday. I realise now that I hardly knew Pam, but I wish I had known her better. I think the service was fitting. I will plant the bluebell bulbs with care, and will always remember that they are Pam’s.

Best wishes,
Joan

Recommended Suppliers

Funeral Directors

I can recommend:

Tracy Lazonby, at Final Journey Funerals, without hesitation. She is kind, caring, professional, and listens to the needs of her clients. www.finaljourneyfunerals.co.uk

Graeme Kennedy from Kennedy and Ferguson in Carlisle.

Beautiful felt cocoons

Contact: Yuli Somme at Bellacouche
The Unitarian Chapel, Cross Street, Moretonhampstead, Devon TQ13 8NL
Tel: 01647 441405 Mobile: 07763 935 897
Email: info@bellacouche.com
bellacouche.com