Funeral Celebrants play several roles in the service or celebration of life. In my particular case, I am trained to serve as the Officiant (or Emcee). I coordinate the music, either LIVE or recorded.

As an ordained minister, I serve as the Eulogist and administer the commital at the cemetery or memorial service.

There are no limits to who can conduct a funeral, but a Celebrant usually has more experience.

This expertise is revealed by the varied duties. While the specialty of the Funeral Celebrant depends on his or her background, most Celebrants do the following: assist the Funeral Director, Pastor, or other participants on the program to ensure a smooth transition, including soloists and musicians when needed.

Organize the funeral and lead the service

From developing the structure of the ceremony to preparing a schedule, Celebrants are there to help. Funeral Celebrants can also lead a non-religious service that focuses on the life of the deceased. They touch on his or her accomplishments, relationships, and impact without speaking of religion or the afterlife.

Expert knowledge and organized remarks

Qualified professionals are familiar with death and dying rituals, funeral songs, readings, symbolism, and traditions around funerals. Organizing speakers at a funeral is a challenging job, especially when emotions are high. A Funeral Celebrant takes over this leadership role, guiding guests through multiple speakers.

Personalization and grief management

Because religious ceremonies rely on a long-held tradition, non-religious ceremonies have the opportunity to be more personalized and unique. A Celebrant has the training to personalize all components of the service. Finally, a Celebrant is experienced in managing grief within families. They help families at a time of loss, and they work well under stress.