Civil funeral

What is a civil funeral?

Not everyone feels a natural affinity with the church and its principles, more and more people are looking for alternatives to the traditional church funeral. The aim of a civil funeral is a personal farewell held in a way that relatives and guests will recognize both from the content and ritual of the ceremony.

A civil funeral doesn’t have any set framework. The ceremony is prepared through discussions between the officiant and the family before each funeral. Every local authority has appointed officiants But another person, chosen by the family, can perform the role of an officiant. Often a friend of the family or someone working with the funeral director can hold the ceremony. The civil funeral provides a great deal of freedom in the way it can be organized. Only your imagination sets the limits, together with a few local rules and regulations. The ceremony is naturally a result of the family’s wishes. Like all funerals reflects the deceased’s life and attitudes. Music, readings and poems provide a good base. You can ask us to help and communicate your own thoughts on how a civil ceremony can best be shaped into a memorable, meaningful and appropriate funeral. Another alternative is to arrange a memorial service; this can be instead of or in addition to a funeral. In certain cases the family prefers the funeral to be held within the closest circle and then at a later date give friends and colleagues an opportunity to say their farewells. A memorial service has no set rules and can be a very individual and beautiful ceremony.