Ceremony Support

• Families who want a celebration of life versus a traditional religious ceremony
• Families who identify themselves as “Spiritual but not religious”
• Families who do not have a minister or church affiliation
• Families who want a unique, personalized service
• Families who want a Life Tribute experience the evening before a liturgical service

A funeral celebrant is a qualified person who officiates funeral services by planning and overseeing funeral proceedings. Funeral celebrants conduct non-religious, semi-religious and spiritual funeral services. Many celebrants aim for the funeral service to be a ‘celebration of life’ that honors the person’s memory.

The training for Celebrants established by the In-Sight Institute seeks to provide the most comprehensive and sensitive training available. It is important that you and your family know that you are being served by someone who understands the process and is prepared to offer the very best service possible.

Celebrant has been specifically trained to design a service for your loved one that is completely personal, incorporating those unique stories, songs and experiences that defined the loved one.

• A Celebrant will schedule a special Family Time for your family to share memories, anecdotes and special moments in the loved one’s life. The essence of the service will be based upon the remembrances of the family.
• The Celebrant will consult with you to help design a service that best reflects and memorializes the life of your loved one.
• The Celebrant can serve at a funeral service, memorial service, graveside service, anniversary tribute, tree planting, bench dedication or any other gathering designed to honor the deceased

The celebrant will spend between 8-10 hours in preparation for your Funeral Ceremony. He will maintain a resource library and participate in on-going training. The fee for our Funeral Celebrant is $450.00.

Once you have made the decision to have our Celebrant lead your funeral ceremony, your Director will immediately be in touch with John DeGiorgio to determine is availability. John will call you to have an initial conversation. He will set up a time to meet with you and your family so that you might share with him the stories and anecdotes that are so precious to your loved one’s life. He will work with you to plan the Funeral Ceremony.

John M DeGiorgio, CFC
Certified Funeral Celebrant

John has been caring for families in grief and celebrating funerals in the Richmond area for over 25 years. He brings his expertise, care and compassion to help families plan a funeral ceremony for their loved one that is uniquely personal, incorporating the individual stories, songs and experiences that defined the life of the beloved.

John will schedule a special meeting with you and your family. He will listen to your stories and invite you and your family members to share memories, anecdotes and special moments from your loved one’s life.

John will guarantee that the needs of the family and the desires of the deceased are honored by clear and ongoing communication with the Funeral Director. With John, each funeral ceremony will venerate the life of the deceased. His time with you and your family will provide the beginning of an authentic healing process as you search to find ways to cope with and live with your grief.

“I want you to know how much we appreciated all that you did for us. Visiting us at home and listening to us sharing all of our memories and stories about Dennis made us all feel so much better. The service was lovely. I felt like you actually knew my husband. It was very uplifting and comforting for all of us. Family and friends commented how much they appreciated your kind words, especially when you stepped away from the pulpit. Please accept my heartfelt appreciation for all that you did for me and my family in our time of sorrow.”
- Anne S.

"I wanted to take a moment and thank you for the beautiful service you did for my husband Brian. Not being members of a church, I was nervous about how the service would feel, but you took the time to really talk to us about Brian and our life as a family. This thoughtfulness shined through in every word spoken and our friends and family felt Brian was special to you too. Taviston and I feel very fortunate to have crossed paths with you and it is my hope that you bring others as much peace as you have brought to us."
- Fondly, Cheryl & Taviston L.

"Your empathy, comfort and thoughtfulness captured exactly what Barb would have wanted. We especially appreciated the beautiful theme of love"
- Dorothy

"You are incredibly skilled at learning key characteristics of people simply by listening to their family members talk about the. You did it at my brother’s service and now again with my mother. Thank you!"
- Sydney

"I will never have the words to express my gratitude to you for the beautiful service you performed. He would have been so very proud and I think he would have really liked you had he had the opportunity to meet you. I had at least 30 people express what a lovely service Butch had. I have had a couple of ladies asking for your name and phone number as they would like to have you perform their services when they pass."
- Karen

"Thank for you for your care and concern, and for an excellent service. Each of us were overwhelmed with the highest level of dignity in which you delivered remarks that were so needed by all present. You impressed many in attendance as they came to speak with each of the immediate family about your dedication to the service. No funeral service we’ve ever been to was as reverent, joyful and meaningful as yours."
- Booty and Buddy

"We were deeply touched by the funeral message you delivered. Thank you for honoring him and capturing his spirit with such heartfelt words. No one could have given us the consolation you did. Our spirits were uplifted and the true beauty of heaven was reflected all through the service."
- Arlene, Jennifer and Janet

"You planned and guided us through a wonderful memorial service. You brought humor, compassion and kindness to a very difficult time. We thank you with our whole hearts. Our Dad was well remembered."
- Jay