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.

Contact Susanna For Information About Funeral Services

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.

What Is A Funeral Celebrant?

How To Prepare A Funeral

Feedback About Remembered Lives

Here are some of the things families have said about the work I've done as a funeral celebrant in and around Bath. To maintain privacy, I haven't included names.

Thank you so much for everything you did for us today. We've had such a great response from all the relatives in far flung places and of course from those who were at today's funeral, and you were the very core of this. You have an art in piecing together the information that we discussed with you and as a result we could not have happier with the end result.
A big thank you for all you did for us. A service delivered with love and compassion. Perfectly framed to convey my father's spirit. I think I had five people come up to me afterwards who said it was the best funeral they had been to.
We would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts….you were so attentive to our needs…and helped us to craft a ceremony which was truly a worthy tribute to our mum and dad…and you delivered their story with such clarity, dignity and genuine expression….You made that part of the process of dealing with their passing so much easier and lighter for us. Thank so, so much.
I would like to say a huge thanks for all your support & kindness shown before & throughout my father’s funeral. Guiding us through what was always going to be a difficult day was so helpful & your calmness most definitely helped me get me words out!! You were amazing- thanks so much.
I just wanted to say thank you again for crafting such a special service for my mum last Friday. I had been dreading the funeral and knew I would be emotional. You made the occasion such a positive experience, so much so that I have re- run your words, the readings and music in my head many times. I know my mum would have loved the service too and in fact I felt she was very much there with us all.
I wanted to write to thank you for your wonderful support, guidance and ultimately celebration of B’s life. I think he would have been very happy with the ‘send-off’ that we gave him and that was due in great part to the time and thought that you gave to us in the process. Thank you!
I just wanted to say thank you for your wonderful job in putting together a most beautiful service for Mum. Everyone said how lovely it was and meant it. It was very moving, sensitive and absolutely right. I feel that we were all very lucky that you were able to arrange this for us. Thank you again, very sincerely.
I cannot believe you summed her up so well and everyone said how wonderful you were. My Mum would have loved you as a person too, I cannot thank you enough for the most amazing service.... I feel so pleased that her send off was so lovely.
Thank you for the copy of the script of B’s Celebration. It was a pleasure talking to you about B and you made what could have been a sad occasion into a true celebration for us.

And this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart. I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart)
E.E. Cummings

Contact Susanna

Frequently Asked Questions About Independent Funeral Celebrants

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 be about this if it's needed.

I am always happy to have an initial discussion (usually on the phone) before you decide whether or not you want to work with me.

To create and conduct a funeral or celebration of life

ceremony of up 30 minutes at a crematorium or burial ground: £230
ceremony of up to 1 hour at a crematorium or burial ground: £250
ceremony of up to 1 hour at an alternative venue: £250
committal only: £100
mileage over 20 miles at 45p per mile

To pre-plan your own funeral or celebration of life:

Initial information and advice over the phone: free of charge
Meeting to discuss your wishes and writing up notes for you to keep: £50
Writing your life story/tribute or helping you to do this: £80
Creating a draft of the whole ceremony with you 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.

Most people choose use a funeral director (also known as an undertaker) to care for the body, arrange the cremation or burial and complete all the paperwork.

Funeral Directors can also take care of other practicalities - ordering a coffin and flowers, arranging alternative venues, printing orders of service and providing transport and bearers.

A funeral celebrant is responsible for helping families plan and lead the ceremony itself, working closely with the funeral director and liaising with the venue as needed.