Humanist Funerals in Northern Ireland

Humanist funerals in Northern Ireland are experiencing year-on-year growth as more families look towards non-religious celebrations of their loved one’s life. In this edition, we find out more about humanism and humanist ceremonies.

What is a humanist funeral? A humanist funeral is a nonreligious ceremony which focuses on the person who

has died, the life they led, and the relationships they forged. The ceremony is conducted by a humanist celebrant and it is both a celebration of a

life and a dignified, personal farewell. They are an ideal option for

families wanting a sincere,

personal

reflection on the life of their

loved one.

During a humanist funeral, there is time for silent reflection on the life of the deceased. This time is inclusive of people from all backgrounds. People with religious beliefs will often take this opportunity to say a silent prayer.

What is humanism? Humanism is a ‘worldview’ that can apply to a range of views held by non-religious people who want to lead a good, ethical life. Put simply, humanists are people who shape their lives in the here and now, believing this life to be the only life we have.

How popular are humanist funerals in Northern Ireland? 53% of the UK population now identify as ‘non-religious’, and while this figure is lower in Northern Ireland, the proportion of non-religious people is undeniably growing. In 2019, Humanist Ceremonies™ celebrants

conducted over 200 funerals across the province - nearly double the number conducted in the previous year.

To meet the growing demand, non-religious charity Northern Ireland Humanists recently trained nine new funeral celebrants who are now members of the Humanist Ceremonies network and conducting ceremonies in Northern Ireland. Humanist Ceremonies now conducts ceremonies for people in Belfast, Ballymena, Ballycastle, Banbridge, Bangor, Derry, Lisburn, Newtownabbey, and North Down.

Cremation is the most popular choice for those unaffiliated to a particular church, with around twothirds of humanist funerals being conducted at Roselawn Crematorium or at a funeral home with committal service at Roselawn shortly afterwards. However, burials also take place in council-run cemeteries from Sion Mills to Donaghadee and everywhere in between. Many families outside Belfast bemoan the lack of alternative crematoria and there is a strong feeling that they would use a local facility if one existed. Will the return of a functioning government expedite the process? Time will tell!

A recent humanist funeral which gained media attention was that of Belfast artist Ash Reynolds, who spent a year with Rachel Smith planning a colourful celebration of her Rachel Smith, Humanist Funeral Celebrant, Belfast.

life. Over 700 guests filled The Vault Studios for an hour-long memorial which was entirely appropriate for such a popular local figure. The funerals for Snow Patrol singer Gary Lightbody’s father and for BBC Radio presenter Stephen Clements were also conducted by Humanists UK celebrants, trusted by funeral directors who know that high standards of professionalism and confidentiality are essential when there is potential public interest.

The role of humanist celebrants in the community Outside of the funeral industry, the legal recognition of humanist weddings in Northern Ireland in August 2018 has seen a massive growth in couples looking to celebrate their marriage in a way that is personal and meaningful to them. Once a family knows a celebrant, they are then keen to use the same person when a naming or funeral is required for a family member. Many Humanist Ceremonies celebrants are now seen as a family friend in the same way that members of the clergy are to others.

Find a celebrant To find your local Humanist Ceremonies celebrant, visit humanistceremonies.org.uk/ find-a-funeral-celebrant. Or you can refer to the directory on the inside cover of this Funeral Times.

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Compassionate, dignified and helpful service at Lakelands Crematorium

Lakelands Crematorium, Dublin Road, Cavan welcomes all funeral directors from Northern Ireland with easy access and hasslefree paperwork. We have a large volume of business coming from the North.

Four forms are all that is required. Form A is simply completed by the Funeral Director and Form B by a family member and witnessed by the Funeral Director; no JP is required. An Out of State Cert., which can be obtained from the coroner’s office in Belfast once the death is registered, and a copy of the Death Cert is required. We will then organise Form D from the Irish coroner.

We accept a fax or emailed copy but the original forms must be handed into our office on the day of cremation; there is no extra charge for the weekend or bank holidays. We are open seven days a week and can take a phone call or arrange a cremation at any time. Every cremation service is unique; we provide individualised services designed to meet the needs of each family. Our staff of dedicated

Memorial Tree A selection of urns, scatter tubes and jewellery on display

professionals are available to assist you in making the arrangements you want to honour your promise to the family. We will work with you to provide the appropriate time needed for the service, understanding how important it is for the family to meet and talk to friends and relations that they might not have seen in a long time. We can also download a favourite song or hymn to be played during the service. The service can also be viewed on our webcam by family and friends who cannot attend the service. We provide clergy or civil celebrants and we facilitate for all needs to the best of our ability.

For further information on booking a cremation please contact our office Tel: 049 4362200/mob: 086 2458489 email: info@lakelandscrematorium.ie or www.lakelandscrematorium.ie

Everlasting tributes from Forget Me Not Ceramics

TOP quality everlasting ceramic floral displays are now available to purchase locally thanks to a new business based in Kilbeggan.

Forget Me Not Ceramics have brought a beautiful range of colourful floral tributes to the market, ensuring that people can keep the memories of their loved ones forever.

Forget Me Not founder Jane O’Neill came up with the idea for the ornate memorials while on a visit to France where they are a traditional feature of cemeteries.

They are handmade and hand painted and are fully glazed

with a durable finish, making them ideal for the Irish climate. The perfectly formed, and exquisitely detailed ceramic flowers are delicately crafted, resulting in a fitting addition to

all memorials.

The Forget Me Not showroom in Kilbeggan (at the Midlands Gateway Business Park, Comagh Road) is fully stocked with a spectacular array of displays, big and small, each one glazed and gleaming and bursting with colour.

They can be purchased instore or online and Forget Me Not will deliver the ceramics in attractive, well padded, beautifully handcrafted boxes which are keepsakes in themselves.

There are also rose crescents, rose crosses, small posies, single flowers, red and white wreaths, mixed wreaths, rose wreaths, pink sprays and pansy sprays.

Especially striking is the extensive range of covered crosses, with floral options from rose to viola and daisy, to primula and hydrangea.

There are flowers on greenleaved bases and the crosses can be affixed to headstones

or left free-standing on the grave, giving the memorials a classic and timeless look. They can be used as permanent tributes to those who have recently passed away and as keepsakes for special occasions, marking anniversaries or birthdays. People can handpick the ceramics they like from the Forget Me Not varied collection and create their own unique display of treasured mementos which will last season after season.

Log onto www.forget menotceramics.ie for more information. Forget Me Not Ceramics are also on Facebook and Instagram (Forget Me Not Ceramics Ltd) and can be contacted by telephoning 057 933375/085 8622988 or emailing sales@ forgetmenotceramics.ie