Honouring a loved one who has passed.

At times like this, when a loved one has moved beyond the veils of this world and we stumble under the weight of our loss, that nothing feels more important than gathering around with our friends and family, hearts on display, to honour and grieve together. It is a time to share stories, memories, and heartache as we recall the joy and laughter that once seemed so simple and yet now is held so dearly.

A celebrant can guide and co-create with you, and all those who are grieving, a ceremony that truly captures the essence of your loved one. One where there may be just as much laughter and love as tears. One that encompasses the quirks and the eccentricities, celebrating and sharing their unique beauty now that we must say goodbye.

“There are three needs of the griever: To find the words for the loss, to say the words aloud and to know that the words have been heard.”

I’m here to help.

Hello, my name is Frank Wall, I’m here to help guide you towards a ceremony that perfectly aligns with what your loved one brought to this world in their lifetime.

I am a Certified Life-Cycle Celebrant™ and an active community member and helper in the Cowichan Valley. I specialize in helping create and officiate ceremonies, that facilitate beginnings and endings of all kinds. I have a natural curiosity about people, in what makes us unique, in what we each bring to this world - and I truly believe that we all bring something in a way that no one else could. I love the diversity of human expression and experience. Truth be told, the ones I wish to serve the most are the misfits, the mystics, the oddballs, the eccentric, the misunderstood, the ones who may otherwise fall through the cracks…

Over the years I have occupied myself in many practical domains including being a lead singer and song writer in a 90’s art/punk rock band, a professional environmentalist, a Red Seal carpenter, an event organizer, a festival coordinator, a home inspector, a renovations project manager and an event photographer. I’m also a husband, father, and step-dad.

You see, we are all multi-faceted jewels with layers of complexity and beauty. Our stories are one-of-a-kind, and they should be told with great reverence. My deepest wish is to share the stories that need to be shared, with the hearts that need to hear them. There is great healing in such experiences.

“Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes... the ones who see things differently […] because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do. ”
— Steve jobs

A personalized Ceremony that is the perfect fit.

Whether I’m co-creating a ceremony for you for when your time comes or composing a loving celebration of life in memory of a loved one; whether within a few days or weeks of their departure or to mark an anniversary of their death, my goal is to spend as much time as is possible with you, close friends, and family members to write an accurate and meaningful honouring of the life lived. I will weave that information together to co-create a ceremony that, through story and ritual, will best portray your loved one’s personality and spirit, honouring them in the way that they would feel proud of. My service includes officiating on the day of and working with any other parties involved, advocating for your vision for the day, and allowing you this time to be present with those gathered to honour your loved one.

I will create an easy-to-follow script of the proceedings that will be accessible to anyone involved that will include:

  • A description of how the space is to be set up.

  • The speakers list.

  • instructions for any ritual elements to be included.

  • music cues for invited musicians or for pre-recorded music.

  • any pertinent information for those providing technical assistance with audio visual presentations.

Confidentiality.

I’ve yet to meet anyone who hasn’t ever experienced periods in their life that they would rather not be shared or that might be controversial among family members. Be assured that anything discussed throughout this challenging process will be met with compassion, non-judgment and a deep respect for your right to confidentiality. As the client, you will have opportunities to hear each draft and request changes until we have created the perfect ceremony for the occasion. Ultimately, you have the final say of what will and will not be included in the ceremony script.

End of life services.

The death of a loved one often catches us unprepared and we can quickly feel overwhelmed with decisions to be made, details that require your attention. It is important to know that you have options in how you chose to honour their life.

  • A funeral honours a life soon after someone has died so that their body may be present during the ceremony.

  • A Memorial honours a life after they have died and the remains have already been cared for. Since memorials allow more time to prepare, there is more room for creativity in how you would like to pay tribute to your loved one.

  • A celebration of life can happen any time after a person’s death and is often more casual and celebratory in tone. Without the time constraint of a funeral, much more creativity can be used to create a ceremony as unique and special as the life being honoured.

  • A specific ceremony created to honour the life of your loved one as they are laid to rest whether by burial, the scattering of their cremated remains, or the like. It is the final farewell to the physical presence of a loved one.

  • Why let someone else decide what sort of service they will provide for you once you have crossed the threshold? I can help create the ceremony you want while you are here to speak your wishes.

  • The grief experienced by expectant parents whose child does not make it through pregnancy is real and should be treated with the same care and support that we would offer anyone who has lost a loved one. A ceremony, whether private or public, helps to honour the natural process of grieving such a loss.

Saying goodbye to a four-legged family member?

Our beloved family furry friends can forever leave their paw prints on our hearts…

Pet loss can be devastating, grieving afterwards is entirely natural. It's an extension of saying goodbye to someone you loved. Wanting to have a pet memorial is an instinctual part of the mourning process.

It doesn’t have to be big, it doesn’t even have to involve guests, sometimes you just need someone else, who understands, be present as witness to your loss. Together we can guide you in the co-creation of a ceremony to honour this special bond.