I am a Certified Life-Cycle Celebrant, with specialties in funerals, as well as, healing and transition. My education and professional background are in exercise science and gerontology. I have also received supplemental training in Advanced Care Planning and as an End of Life Doula and have been a hospice volunteer for over 15 years.

Since I was a child, I have always enjoyed planning parties and gathering friends and family around to celebrate. Fast-forward many years and this calling is still the same but the calling has deepened.

I enjoy celebrating all of life’s milestones and transitions, but one in particular has grown to have profound meaning for me—living legacy celebrations. Other names for this celebration are living funerals, living celebration of life, or simply… the party of a lifetime.

Living legacy celebrations can follow some of the traditional funerary customs (music, prayers, readings, rituals, eulogies—religious or not) but living celebrations involve the dying. These ceremonies and celebrations are for those who are terminally ill or advanced in age. The guest of honor is… the dying loved one.

These ceremonies provide the opportunity for the honoree to share their life lessons and stories through an interview process. This life review can be very cathartic and healing. After I interview my client (and their family/friends) I create a ceremony script to include everything my client finds relevant, which they can review. These celebrations can be large or intimate, in a home, restaurant or large venue—anything goes!

Nowadays it is increasingly possible to know when someone is approaching the end of their life. Therefore, why not plan a celebration of life with their input, presence and participation!