Celebrant Q & A

A Celebrant is a person who seeks to meet the needs of families during their time of loss.  They serve by providing a funeral service that is personalized to reflect the personality and lifestyle of the deceased. 

What Does a Celebrant Offer?

*The Celebrant offers an alternative to a service provided by a clergy person for those families who are not affiliated with a church or who do not wish to have a traditional religious funeral service.

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

*The Celebrant will schedule a special “Family Time” meeting when the family can share memories, anecdotes and defining moments in the loved one’s life. The essence of the service will be based upon the remembrances of the family, and family and friends will be encouraged to participate.

*The Celebrant has developed a library of resources available for readings, music, ceremonies, and personal touches. He/She will consult with the family to help them choose the different parts of the service that reflect their loved one.

*The Celebrant is bound by a Code of Ethics for complete confidentiality in all dealings with the family.

Where does a family find a Celebrant?

*Go to Find a Celebrant on this web site for a listing of Celebrants who have specifically asked to be available to families.  If you have questions or need help finding a Celebrant, you can contact Glenda Stansbury of the In-Sight Institute at 405-810-9501 or glenda@insightbooks.com

*Some funeral homes have Funeral Directors on staff who are In-Sight Institute Certified Celebrants. Other funeral homes have selected people from the community who have completed the Celebrant training and maintain a list of Certified Celebrants from which the family can choose.

Why use a Certified Celebrant?

*The training for Celebrants, as established by In-Sight Institute, seeks to provide the most comprehensive and sensitive training available for people wishing to develop this as a profession or to add to their current job description. It is important that a family knows that they are being served by someone who understands the process and is prepared to offer the very best funeral possible.

What Does it Cost?

*The Celebrant fee is usually higher than the fees charged by clergy for performing a funeral in a specific area. This can range widely across the country from $200 to over $800 depending on type of service, location, travel and other expenses. Your Celebrant will spend approximately 10 hours in preparation for a memorial service or funeral, as well as the expenses of training and maintaining a resource library. You can discuss fees with the Celebrant or the Funeral Director.