Funeral Celebrants FAQs
Are funeral celebrants ordained ministers?
Generally speaking, no. Ordained ministers practice within the confines of their religious traditions while funeral celebrants design a service reflecting the life of the deceased and the wishes of the family. The celebrant is open to including elements of a religious service, but will also honors requests for no religious language or images at all.
Will celebrants work with ministers or other religious leaders?
If this is a need for your family, it is an excellent question to ask the celebrant you plan to hire. Celebrants are generally amenable to this request.
Are funeral celebrants a new thing? Funeral celebrants performing civil (versus religious) funerals began in 1973 in Australia with the first celebrant, Helen Grieves Francis. It wasn’t until 2003 that the USA Celebrant Foundation was created by Australians who had relocated to the United States.
In Minnesota, funeral celebrants are a relatively new concept. Historically, ordained clergy conducted funerals, but as more people leave religious institutions, the need for funeral celebrants has risen. Celebrants seek to serve those with no spiritual home who still desire to honor their deceased loved one.
My family is scattered geographically. Are funeral celebrants able to Skype, Facetime, or conference call?
This is a question for the celebrant you are interviewing -- many will have the capacity, but some won’t.
How are funeral celebrants paid? Independent celebrants usually charge an hourly fee so if a graveside services is being held instead of a full service, you’re charged accordingly. Some celebrants have a flat rate for a certain number of hours, and celebrants affiliated with a funeral home have their fees set by that funeral home and should be clearly listed on their General Price List (GPL).
Generally speaking, no. Ordained ministers practice within the confines of their religious traditions while funeral celebrants design a service reflecting the life of the deceased and the wishes of the family. The celebrant is open to including elements of a religious service, but will also honors requests for no religious language or images at all.
Will celebrants work with ministers or other religious leaders?
If this is a need for your family, it is an excellent question to ask the celebrant you plan to hire. Celebrants are generally amenable to this request.
Are funeral celebrants a new thing? Funeral celebrants performing civil (versus religious) funerals began in 1973 in Australia with the first celebrant, Helen Grieves Francis. It wasn’t until 2003 that the USA Celebrant Foundation was created by Australians who had relocated to the United States.
In Minnesota, funeral celebrants are a relatively new concept. Historically, ordained clergy conducted funerals, but as more people leave religious institutions, the need for funeral celebrants has risen. Celebrants seek to serve those with no spiritual home who still desire to honor their deceased loved one.
My family is scattered geographically. Are funeral celebrants able to Skype, Facetime, or conference call?
This is a question for the celebrant you are interviewing -- many will have the capacity, but some won’t.
How are funeral celebrants paid? Independent celebrants usually charge an hourly fee so if a graveside services is being held instead of a full service, you’re charged accordingly. Some celebrants have a flat rate for a certain number of hours, and celebrants affiliated with a funeral home have their fees set by that funeral home and should be clearly listed on their General Price List (GPL).