Susanna Watson
Independent Funeral Celebrant In Bath - Celebrations of Life
Hello. My name's Susanna Watson and I work as a independent funeral celebrant, helping to plan and lead funerals ceremonies and celebrations of life in and around Bath.
As an independent funeral celebrant, I'm not attached to any funeral director or religious tradition and I'm happy to lead secular, religious and spiritual ceremonies.
There are many different ways to plan a funeral ceremony or celebration of life. You may want to hold the service at a crematorium or church. You may like the idea of a natural burial ground. Or you might decide to hold the ceremony in a barn, a field, village hall, local hotel or your garden with a separate cremation or burial.
There's no right or wrong way. My role as an independent funeral celebrant is to help create a ceremony that weaves together the threads of a person’s life and captures something of their essence.
I’ll support you, your family and friends to participate, but can also write and lead the whole ceremony if that’s what you prefer. I work closely with funeral directors to make sure everything goes smoothly.
Funerals can be immensely difficult occasions. But saying goodbye in a meaningful place with words, music, flowers and actions that speak of that particular person, can also be deeply moving, uplifting, celebratory, imaginative and beautiful.
Pre-Planning your own Funeral Ceremony or Celebration of Life
Most of us try to avoid thinking about dying and are unprepared when it comes to arranging a funeral service or celebration of life. So it can be very helpful to have thought in advance about the ceremony you would like for yourself.
I can help you think through all the options and document your wishes. I can also work with you to write your life story/tribute or the whole ceremony script.
A funeral or celebration of life can end up being very expensive, but a good funeral doesn’t depend on how much you spend. Some costs can’t be avoided, but others can.
So, whether you’re arranging a funeral service or celebration of life for someone else or wanting to plan your own in advance, please get in touch.
Prices
Here is a summary of my charges. Other arrangements can be discussed on a case by case basis and in some circumstances I can offer a reduced fee. Please talk to me about this if it is needed.
To plan, write and conduct a funeral or celebration of life
- ceremony of up to 1 hour: £240
- short committal only: £100
- mileage over 20 miles at 45p per mile
To pre-plan your own funeral or celebration of life:
- Meeting to discuss your wishes and writing up notes: £50
- Meeting to discuss your wishes and writing your life story/tribute: £100
- Meeting to discuss your wishes and creating a draft of the whole ceremony including a tribute: £150
- mileage over 20 miles at 45p per mile
If you would like me to conduct the ceremony when the time comes, I will reduce my fee to reflect the planning we have already done.
**Note: Please note that I am not available to take any funerals in the first two weeks of February 2025
Feedback About Remembered Lives
And this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart. I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart)