Meet Mia Creely – Funeral Celebrant

I am often asked “How did you become a Celebrant?” along with “Isn’t it really sad?”

In December 1999, I attended the funeral of a family member. As emotional as the service was, my sadness and sense of helplessness was somewhat relieved by the personal approach of the Minister leading the service. He hadn’t known my family and had only the briefest time to prepare this Farewell, and with only scant information. But he had taken such care to record and then share the memories entrusted to him that the service felt personal and meaningful.

A few years later my Grandfather passed away and his service was held at the same chapel. Although the Minister on that occasion was not as warm and engaged as the previous, the Farewell was again made a positive experience because another family member stood and voiced thoughts and memories, thoughts I shared. I found myself nodding and even smiling, grateful that someone was ‘speaking the truth’ about my treasured Grandad.

I remember clearly thinking “everyone deserves a meaningful Farewell.”

In 2012, I was struggling to find meaning in my role. I felt my job, although successful, was not fulfilling, as if I was merely ‘moving paper for money’ and mentioned to a friend how I felt. That friend happened to be a Celebrant – a job title I didn’t know existed until I met them – and suggested I might also find it a rewarding career. I’m so glad they did.

I have learned so much in the years that have passed since. I must have met thousands of grieving people, relatives and friends who lost someone they love and who were then struggling to come to terms with preparing a Farewell.

Most families that meet me probably have the same question in mind,

“What are we going to say to her? And what do we leave out?”

It is understandably a daunting prospect to share precious memories with a stranger, especially when one feels distraught and lost. But that sharing of memories can be such a wonderfully cathartic and positive part of the process, one we all need.

As far as ‘method’ is concerned, I approach every family and every Farewell with the same hope – to bring some calm and the opportunity for pleasant reflection to an unimaginable situation. It is an honour to listen to the stories, memories and reflections that pour from sad hearts in such times and the greatest privilege to give those memories back to all who attend on that loved-one’s special day, their final Farewell.

Every person I meet is different, as is every need and expectation – some have a faith, some none; some wish to stand and speak, most cannot; some need to be ‘carried’ from beginning to end, others need only a calm presence to support them. My role is to support every family, every Farewell, in the most appropriate way I can, to be faithful to the memories shared with me and the choices made; to help each family, each friend, carry their ‘bag’ of heartache and hope through to that last moment, when we all emerge together from the chapel and our hearts, hopefully, breathe out.

This is the longest role I have ever undertaken and absolutely my favourite – I hope to continue to serve bereaved families and their loved-ones for as long as I can speak. And always with a smile.

If you would like to contact Mia you can do so through her website https://miacelebrant.wixsite.com/yourperfectgoodbye