A celebrant is similar to a priest a Rabbi or any religious leader.
we officiate and curate a beautiful, personal, unique, and meaningful service for you.
The Service can include religious or spiritual beliefs or not.
muldowney Memorial Celebrants
Jennifer Muldowney
Chief Celebrant, Jennifer is the founder and owner of Muldowney Memorials.
Born in Dublin, Ireland, she now splits her time mostly between New York and Dublin. Both cities are home for her.
Jennifer has been in the Funeral Industry for over 15 years and is a published author on the subject. Regularly featuring in the media in all forms, Jennifer is happiest when speaking with groups both small and large about celebrant work and funeral planning. She believes everyone deserves a personal and loving funeral.
Jennifer is a trained, experienced, and modern Memorial Planner, Celebrant/Master of Ceremonies and positive advocate of the funeral profession.
Siobhán J. Regan
Siobhán J. Regan is a proud Irish woman born and raised in County Mayo. She is fresh to NYC after 10 years of living, working and loving life in Chicago, IL. She attended Worsham College of Mortuary Science, Wheeling, IL and is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in the state of Illinois. As a celebrant, her integral focus is upon trust, and respect of the families she works with. Siobhán is committed to safeguarding peace and comfort of the bereaved.
In her spare time, Siobhán focuses on mental health and wellness activities and contributes to deserving causes such as The Arthritis Foundation. She has volunteered with Hope for the Day, a non-profit organization that focuses on mental health and proactive suicide prevention.
She enjoys travelling and listening to music/podcasts. She stays active by attending dance classes, running and walking with her beloved dog Rua. Siobhán is a strong-willed, kind, thoughtful and generous individual who prides herself on her Irish heritage. She believes in making every individual she encounters feel more at peace after being in her presence.
Marc Sabin
Reverend Marc Sabin was ordained as an Interfaith minister in 2004. His background in spiritual studies, meditation and the martial arts, focused him to seek out peaceful ways to bring resolution to difficult, conflictual situations—on both personal, societal and global levels. “Many of life’s challenges arise in our closest relationships,” Marc observes. “It is here where we find the transitional power of love and compassion can be cultivated. We all experience the rites of passage in our own personal ways.”
Turning thoughts into words and words into actions, Marc is a compassionate advocate and spiritual guide for others who are traveling through the challenging passages on life’s journey. He has devoted his life to helping others. From celebrations to contending with loss, Rev Marc has offered comfort and solace to people of all faiths.
Susan Capurso
Susan Capurso is an End-of-Life Doula, Legacy Specialist, Celebrant and Author. Susan supports and guides an individual and their family holistically, emotionally, practically, and spiritually in their End-of-Life journey, while specializing in leaving their stories and memories for generations to come through creative legacy work.
Susan serves on several Patient Advocacy Councils on Long Island, including the Pulse Center for Patient Advocacy and with Stony Brook University Hospital’s Patient and Family Advisory Council. Susan is on the board of the National Aging in Place Council and gives back to Long Island communities through workshop presentations and educational symposiums. Susan volunteers for East End Hospice in Westhampton New York.
Susan’s mission is two-fold, to help individuals have a beautiful and peaceful passing with the closure they deserve and transform an individual’s life experiences into a meaningful legacy that will educate future generations to come.
Sarah Ritchie
Sarah Ritchie is a Funeral and Life-Cycle Celebrant, serving the tri-state area, since 2010. Educated at the Celebrant Foundation & Institute, she also completed a two-year inter-faith ministry program at the One Spirit Learning Alliance in 2016. More recently, she received the Integrative Thanatology Certificate at the Art of Dying Institute, an initiative of the New York Open Center. This spring, Sarah will pursue training to become a death doula conducted by the International End of Life Doula Association (INELDA).
A native Oklahoman, Sarah has lived in New York for more than 20 years, working in in education, nonprofit management, and event planning. She is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate (history, economics, and politics) of the University of Oklahoma, receiving an M.A. and M.Phil. in political science at Yale University.
In addition to work as a Celebrant, Sarah is involved in a number of charities relating to education, children, health, and the arts. A life-long learner and ardent traveler, she brings compassion and creativity to honoring the life of your loved one.
DiAnna Ritola
Rev. DiAnna Ritola is an author, Interfaith Minister and a Dianic Wiccan priestess. Her community-based ministry centers on rituals to honor life events and passages along with spiritual counseling for trauma, intimate relationships, and sexuality. She believes that the more we align ourselves with the rhythms of the Earth, the better we treat ourselves and each other because we experience how deeply interconnected we all are.
DiAnna lives in Queens with her wife, Michele, two cats (Lilith and Harriet) and their dog (Finnbar). She is a cheerleader for living an embodied life, fully honoring our humanity and our divinity, leaning into life’s questions and embracing the adventure of living.
Over the past 20 years, DiAnna has helped thousands of people reclaim the parts of themselves that have been cut off or suppressed, deepen their spiritual practice, integrate fragmented pieces, and love themselves into the power of wholeness.
As a Celebrant, she believes she is called to hold the ‘container’, to remind others that there is enough space for all the feelings, all the reactions, and that nothing is right or wrong within that. Her role is to facilitate expressions of emotion so that people leave feeling connected and embraced by the service.
Crafting a farewell that mirrors the unique essence of a loved one's life is not just a task, but a heartfelt journey. It's about finding a way to encapsulate their story, their beliefs, and the unforgettable moments that painted their life's canvas. For those leaning towards a ceremony that steps away from traditional religious confines, opting for a celebrant-led funeral could be the path that resonates most deeply.
A celebrant-led ceremony ushers in a blend of personal beliefs and humanistic values, offering a platform to honor a life in a way that's as unique as the individual it commemorates. This guide aims to shed light on this option, hoping to ease the burden during a time that's often shadowed with uncertainty and emotional strain.
FAQs
Who are Funeral Celebrants?
At the heart of a celebrant-led funeral is a figure who orchestrates the ceremony. Their versatility allows them to embrace either religious or secular elements, tailoring the service to echo the wishes of the departed and their family. This approach ensures the ceremony becomes a personalized tribute, capturing the essence of the loved one lost.
The Role of a Funeral Celebrant
A funeral celebrant is more than just a conductor of ceremonies; they're a pillar of support, guiding families through their grief with compassion. Their involvement includes crafting eulogies that reflect true life stories, overseeing the ceremony's flow, and/or ensuring a space where every attendee can embark on a journey of closure and remembrance.
Benefits of a Celebrant-Led Funeral
The inclusivity and flexibility of celebrant-led funerals stand out. They offer a space where the ceremony can reflect the true spirit of the deceased, facilitating a journey through grief that aims to leave mourners with a sense of peace and closure.
Personalizing the Ceremony
The beauty of a celebrant-led service lies in its capacity for personalization. From thematic elements and visual tributes to favorite poems and music, the ceremony can become a vibrant tapestry of the deceased's life and legacy.
Finding Your Guide
At Muldowney Memorials, we understand the importance of choosing the right celebrant. Our goal is to ease the process, offering guidance and support to find a celebrant who can honor your loved one's memory most fittingly. Navigating the journey of saying farewell is undeniably challenging, but through personalized planning and a thoughtful approach, it's possible to create a ceremony that not only commemorates a life but also offers solace to those left to cherish their memory. We are here to help you say farewell your way.
Initial Meeting with a Funeral Celebrant
This first encounter is crucial. It's a chance to build a connection, share cherished memories, and start shaping a farewell that truly honors the deceased. It's a moment to remember, to celebrate, and to begin the process of healing, collaboratively creating a service that pays homage to a unique life lived.
The Flow of a Celebrant-Led Funeral
While each funeral will naturally differ, common elements unite them: the planning stages with the celebrant, the ceremonial proceedings, and the personal touches that speak volumes about the individual being remembered. From the music to the readings and the final goodbye, every detail is meticulously woven into a narrative that celebrates life.
Selecting a Funeral Celebrant
Engaging with potential celebrants is a vital step. It’s an opportunity to gauge their experience, approach, and compatibility with your vision for the service. This dialogue can significantly impact the comfort and satisfaction with the ceremony's outcome.
Cost Considerations
The investment in a funeral celebrant varies, reflecting the scope and nature of their services. While cost is a consideration, the value they bring in crafting a meaningful and respectful farewell is immeasurable.
The Ceremony's Sequence
On the day of the funeral, the celebrant works closely with the funeral director and venue staff to ensure everything proceeds smoothly. Attendees gather, creating a supportive community ready to embark on the ceremonial journey. The processional, led by the celebrant and followed by the coffin and mourners, marks the beginning of the tribute. The ceremony itself is a reflective journey, guided by the celebrant, who weaves together the life stories, values, and essence of the deceased, offering a path through grief towards a semblance of peace.
Length of the Ceremony
The duration of the funeral service is as individual as the person it honors. Factors like family wishes, religious traditions, and the nature of the ceremony (burial or cremation) play a role, but the underlying principle remains – it should do justice to the life being celebrated. The length of a funeral service varies, reflecting the unique nature of each life it commemorates. Factors influencing the duration include whether it's a burial or cremation, the family's wishes, any religious or cultural traditions, and the desired elements of the ceremony. While cremations may have a more standardized timeframe, the duration of burials can differ more significantly. Ultimately, the goal is to provide a fitting tribute that honors the individuality of the deceased and fulfills the family's needs and desires.
Crafting the Celebrant's Speech
While there's no strict template for how a celebrant's speech unfolds, there are elements commonly woven into the fabric of the service. The ceremony might begin with an introduction, setting the stage for what is to follow. The heart of the service often includes eulogies or tributes and readings from guests or family members, providing personal reflections on the life being honored. A moment of quiet reflection, possibly accompanied by meaningful music or poetry. The ceremony concludes with final words that can offer a note of hope and closure. This structure, however, is merely a starting point; the celebrant, in collaboration with the family, can modify and adapt the service to ensure it perfectly mirrors the life and legacy of the deceased.
A funeral service should be as unique as the person it commemorates; for that reason, celebrants do not use a set script. They will always write your service script from scratch to truly reflect the life of your loved one and to pay the full respect they deserve. At Muldowney Memorials we will always share the script with you ahead of time so you can approve every word.