When you are dealing with the loss of a loved one, you still have the responsibility of organizing the funeral service. It is essential to find the right celebrant or clergy to help you design a ceremony that will be the perfect reflection of the personality of your deceased loved one.

What You Need to Know

It isn't uncommon for people to realize that they haven't given sufficient thought to this aspect, until much later in the planning process. This is one of the first things you should be taking into consideration. Here are some pointers on how to choose the right celebrant or clergy for your loved one's service:

Many people confuse celebrants or clergy with funeral directors. The latter is a person that assist with all the funeral arrangements. They will help with the casket selection and coordinate all the different services such as submitting the obituary etc.

In comparison, a celebrant or clergy works alongside the family and the funeral director to coordinate the details of the ceremony. They help ensure that the deceased's wishes are kept in view while planning the service.

Things to Focus On

Some of the things that you should be taking into account while selecting a celebrant or clergy include:

• Availability
• Experience
• Reputation
• Association membership
• Attitude

When they are part of an association or church, it indicates that they are up to date with all the practices and knowledge. If they are unable to officiate at the funeral service for some reason, you would still be able to get a replacement clergy or celebrant from the association.

These are some of the basic things you should be looking at while choosing a clergy or celebrant. At Charles J. O'Shea Funeral Homes, we provide comprehensive funeral services and can help you with all aspects of the process so if you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact us.