Celebrant Book Club: 20 Funeral Celebrant Book Recommendations

Funeral celebrants weave words into comfort, memories into legacies, and lives into lasting tributes in the sacred space of farewells. As celebrants, our bookshelves are more than mere collections; they’re wellsprings of wisdom, empathy, and inspiration that fuel our ability to honour each unique life with grace and authenticity.

Welcome to the next chapter of our Celebrant Book Club, where we turn our pages to the profound art of conducting funeral ceremonies. In this curated list, we’ve gathered 20 remarkable reads that speak to the heart of what we do – creating meaningful, personalised ceremonies that celebrate lives well-lived and offer solace to those left behind.

From practical guides on crafting eulogies to philosophical explorations of death and dying, each book on this list has been chosen to enrich your practice, deepen your understanding, and spark your creativity. Whether you’re a seasoned celebrant looking to refresh your approach or a newcomer seeking to build a strong foundation, these literary companions promise to be invaluable resources on your journey.

So, pull up a chair, pour yourself a cuppa, and let’s explore these literary gems that will expand your professional toolkit and nourish your soul as you navigate the delicate pathways of grief and remembrance.

1. “Finishing Touches: 60+ Ways to Enrich a Funeral” by Jean Francis

This book offers practical suggestions to personalize funerals, providing over 60 creative ideas that range from small touches like symbolic tokens to more elaborate gestures. Written with both professionals and families in mind, it helps ensure that each funeral is meaningful and unique, often at little or no additional cost.

Why Celebrants Will Find It Helpful: As celebrants strive to create deeply personal and memorable ceremonies, the ideas in this book can help enrich the funeral experience with touches that resonate with the grieving family. This makes it especially useful for both traditional and non-religious ceremonies. Moreover, it supports families in making funerals more intimate and reflective of their loved one’s personality​.

2. “Write That Eulogy” by Veronika Sophia Robinson

Veronika Robinson’s guide is designed for anyone tasked with writing a eulogy. It provides advice on structuring speeches that are heartfelt, respectful, and celebratory, helping to balance grief with joy.

Why Celebrants Will Find It Inspiring: Eulogies are a crucial part of many ceremonies. This book is a great resource for celebrants who may help guide families through the process of crafting moving tributes or for celebrants who write eulogies themselves. It emphasizes authenticity and connection, essential qualities for memorable ceremonies.

3. “A Guide to Death and Dying (Practical, Metaphysical and Historical Aspects)” by David Leesley and Carolyn Main

This comprehensive guide explores the history and metaphysics of death, offering both practical advice for those facing the end of life and reflective insight on death’s deeper meanings. It covers topics like rituals, spirituality, and history surrounding death practices.

Why Celebrants Will Find It Useful: Celebrants often need to support families from various belief systems. The book’s exploration of both practical and metaphysical aspects will equip them to create ceremonies that are informed and sensitive to different traditions, while also reflecting contemporary views on death and dying.

4. “Loss” by Donna Ashworth

Donna Ashworth is a bestselling author and poet known for her deeply emotional and empowering writing. Her work resonates with a wide audience, particularly women, as she tackles themes like grief, love, self-acceptance, and resilience. In “Loss”, she addresses the themes of grief and loss with raw honesty. Her words offer comfort during life’s challenges, making her poetry especially cherished by those seeking solace or empowerment during difficult times.

This poetry collection by Donna Ashworth delves into themes of grief and healing, offering a soothing balm for those in mourning. It provides words that comfort and gives voice to the emotions associated with loss.

Why Celebrants Will Find It Inspiring: Ashworth’s poetry can be used in funeral readings to offer solace and reflection, providing the right words when families are struggling to express their feelings.

5. “Poems That Make Grown Men Cry“ edited by Anthony and Ben Holden.

This anthology of 100 poems is featured in our list Book Club list of recommended books for wedding and naming celebrants, but it also provides inspiring poems for funeral celebrants to draw from.

Why Celebrants Will Find It Useful: Poetry often adds a deeply emotional element to ceremonies. This collection offers a wealth of emotive verses that celebrants can use in moments of reflection, especially during funerals or memorials where the expression of grief and beauty is needed

6. “Poems That Make Grown Women Cry” edited by Anthony and Ben Holden.

Like its predecessor, this anthology showcases poems that have moved 100 notable women, from Judi Dench to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. The selected poems deal with themes of love, loss, and personal resilience, offering powerful emotional experiences.

Why Celebrants Will Find It Useful: This collection provides celebrants with a selection of poems that resonate deeply with women’s experiences. It’s particularly valuable for ceremonies focused on love, empathy, or mourning, making it a go-to resource for personal and heartfelt readings

7. “Time to Go” by Jean Francis

Jean Francis offers a compassionate guide for those planning funerals. The book emphasizes personalizing the final farewell to reflect the life of the deceased. Francis, a funeral celebrant herself, focuses on the emotional needs of families during this time, offering tips on planning unique, respectful ceremonies.

Why Celebrants Will Find It Useful: This book helps celebrants navigate conversations around death and funerals, offering inspiration for creating deeply personal services that honor the deceased’s life.

8. “The Natural Death Handbook” (Fifth edition) by The Natural Death Centre

This comprehensive guide covers everything from practical advice on alternative funeral practices to philosophical explorations of the meaning of death. Published by The Natural Death Centre, it is a key text for those interested in eco-friendly and personalized funerals.

Why Celebrants Will Find It Useful: Celebrants will benefit from the book’s exploration of alternative and environmentally conscious funeral practices, as well as insights into how to support families through natural and non-religious death approaches.

9. “Funerals Without God: A Practical Guide to Humanist and Non-Religious Funeral Ceremonies” by Jane Wynne Willson

A must-read for celebrants who perform secular funerals, Jane Wynne Willson’s guide explores how to create meaningful non-religious ceremonies. It offers practical advice on structuring services, choosing readings, and honoring the deceased without the use of religious symbols.

Why Celebrants Will Find It Useful: With secular and humanist ceremonies becoming more common, this guide is invaluable for celebrants who need to plan heartfelt, non-religious funerals that focus on the life lived, not on religious doctrine.

10. “Bereavement: Counseling the Grieving Throughout the Life Cycle” by David A. Crenshaw

This book provides in-depth knowledge about grief counseling across different age groups. Crenshaw’s approach covers the psychological aspects of loss and offers strategies for helping individuals and families cope with grief at various stages of life.

Why Celebrants Will Find It Helpful: Grief is complex and affects everyone differently. This book will give celebrants insights into the emotional processes of mourning, allowing them to better support bereaved families before, during, and after the funeral.

11. “On Death and Dying” by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, M.D.

Kübler-Ross’s groundbreaking work introduces the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. This book offers a foundational understanding of how people process death and dying.

Why Celebrants Will Find It Inspiring: Understanding the emotional journey of grief is crucial for celebrants. This book equips them with the psychological insight needed to handle sensitive situations with empathy and care.

12. “We All Know How This Ends” by Anna Lyons & Louise Winter

Written by a palliative care nurse and a funeral director, this book combines personal stories and practical advice on dealing with death. It focuses on the importance of preparing for the end of life and creating meaningful funeral ceremonies.

Why Celebrants Will Find It Useful: The personal experiences shared in the book provide celebrants with fresh perspectives on how to talk about death and create meaningful, reflective services.

13. “A Good Death” (Film) by Professor D. Robin Taylor & Dr. Paul Trotman

This documentary, produced by Professor D. Robin Taylor and Dr. Paul Trotman, explores what it means to experience a dignified and peaceful death. It was inspired by the desire to demystify death and promote conversations around it, particularly in medical and personal contexts. The film features personal stories from people facing terminal illness, as well as insights from healthcare professionals.

It teaches us about the importance of planning, acceptance, and compassion when facing the end of life, aiming to help individuals and families approach death with understanding and peace. It is a valuable visual tool for understanding end-of-life care and the importance of preparing for death.

Why Celebrants Will Find It Useful: Celebrants can use this film to better understand the emotional and practical aspects of a good death, which can guide them in leading more thoughtful, compassionate ceremonies.

Visit the ‘A Good Death’ project website

14. “Advice on Dying: And Living a Better Life” by His Holiness the Dalai Lama

This book merges spiritual and practical perspectives on death, focusing on how to live a meaningful life in preparation for death. The Dalai Lama discusses death within the context of Buddhist teachings, offering wisdom on acceptance and the impermanence of life.

Why Celebrants Will Find It Inspiring: This spiritual perspective provides celebrants with profound insights on helping individuals approach death with peace and dignity, making it a great resource for ceremonies with a spiritual component.

15. “Listen: How to Find the Words for Tender Conversations” by Kathryn Mannix

Mannix, a palliative care doctor, provides guidance on how to talk about death and dying in a tender, caring way. The book focuses on the importance of open conversations about life’s end.

Why Celebrants Will Find It Helpful: Celebrants often need to guide families through difficult discussions. This book will equip them with the language and sensitivity required to approach these delicate conversations.

16. “Holy Family Prayer Book: Prayers for Every Family” by Missionaries of the Holy Family

A collection of Catholic prayers for various occasions, this book is particularly useful for celebrants performing religious funerals. It includes prayers for different life events, including death.

Why Celebrants Will Find It Useful: For celebrants conducting religious funerals, this book offers a valuable resource of prayers and blessings, making it easier to provide comfort to Catholic families.

17. “The Gift of Grief: One Son’s Story Following the Death of His Father” by Andrew Stringfellow

This memoir recounts Stringfellow’s personal journey through grief following his father’s death. It’s a raw and emotional exploration of loss and recovery.

Why Celebrants Will Find It Inspiring: The book offers celebrants a personal, relatable story about the grieving process. It can help them connect emotionally with families and guide them through similar experiences.

18. “Outside the Box: Everyday Stories of Death, Bereavement, and Life” by Liz Rothschild

Liz Rothschild shares real-life stories from her work as a funeral celebrant, covering everything from humorous to heart-wrenching moments. The book highlights the importance of personalized ceremonies.

Why Celebrants Will Find It Inspiring: This book offers real-life insights into the diversity of death experiences. Celebrants can draw inspiration from the stories to create unique ceremonies that resonate with families.

19. “The Madness of Grief” by Rev. Richard Coles

A memoir by Reverend Richard Coles, reflecting on his personal experience of grief after losing his partner. It is an honest, raw exploration of sorrow, loss, and coming to terms with life after death.

Why Celebrants Will Find It Helpful: Celebrants can gain a deep understanding of grief’s complex emotional layers through this personal narrative, allowing them to better empathize with families.

20. “Good Grief: Embracing Life at a Time of Death” by Catherine Mayer and Anne Mayer Bird

Good Grief is a poignant memoir that explores the shared grief of a mother and daughter who were both widowed within 41 days of each other, just as the COVID-19 pandemic began. This book is a raw, touching, yet unexpectedly joyous exploration of grief and resilience as they navigate loss together during one of the most isolating periods in recent history.

The narrative combines practical reflections on grief—what the authors refer to as “sadmin,” or the administrative duties of death—with deeply personal insights into love and life after loss. Catherine’s husband, Andy Gill (of the band Gang of Four), and Anne’s husband, John, both passed away, and the book captures their journey of rebuilding life around these profound losses.

Good Grief is an essential read for celebrants looking to deepen their empathy and understanding of grief, and it offers invaluable insights into how love, humour, and resilience shape the human experience of mourning​

Why celebrants will find It helpful: This book explores universal insights on grief and provides a deeply relatable exploration of loss that funeral celebrants can draw upon when comforting families or discussing grief in a compassionate, understanding way. There are Practical and Emotional Reflections, providing you with the tools to discuss not just grief but also the practical realities that families face after a death.

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going!

We’ve shared our favourite reads, but we know this is just the tip of the iceberg. Your bookshelf might be hiding the next gem that will inspire countless beautiful ceremonies. So, why keep it to yourself?

• Join the Discussion: Head over to our Facebook group and share your thoughts on these books. Which one resonates with you the most? Have you read/used any of them?
• Share Your Go-To Books: We’re always on the lookout for fresh inspiration. Jump into the group and tell us about your favourite celebrant inspiration books that didn’t make our list. Your recommendation could be exactly what a fellow celebrant needs!
• Feeling Overwhelmed? We’ve Got You: If all this talk about crafting unique ceremonies has you feeling a bit daunted, don’t worry. You’re not alone, and we’re here to help. Check out our celebrant training and mentorship programs. We’ll guide you through the process of creating meaningful, personalized ceremonies that truly reflect the individuals you’re celebrating.

Remember, every great celebrant started somewhere. Whether you’re just beginning your journey or you’re looking to refresh your approach, there’s always room to grow, learn, and be inspired. Let’s continue to elevate the art of celebration together!