Below you will find testimonials and comments on Helen Waters’ work as independent civil celebrant.
*****Dear Helen
I want to thank you for such a wonderful send off and tribute you helped me put together for my lovely Aunt Kit. She would have been so full of it even through the tears it made me smile as I know she would have thoroughly enjoyed herself.
All our family and friends who were there agreed it was one of the best services and so appropriate for Aunt.
You have made it so much easier for me and when I look back at Aunts passing I smile as I know what a fun time we all had.
A big hug and a large thank you.
Xx J and A xx – 11/03/18
*****Dear Helen,
This is just a short note to thank you for conducting the funeral service for our Dad, D C, on 20th February. We were all so pleased with the way the service came together, it was a true celebration of Don’s life and captured something of his character.
We all contributed to the writing of the Eulogy to make it special, but it was you who delivered it so beautifully, with warmth, humour and professionalism and we are very grateful. Many people told us it was one of the nicest funerals they had attended, which we take as a compliment that you should also share. People made personal reference to you and we will be pleased to pass on your details to anyone who requests them in the future as needs arise.
Once again, many thanks for helping us to make a sad day positive.
The C Family 05/03/18
*****Dear Helen,
As you know when arranging a funeral there can be lots of decisions to make some more difficult than others. You are grieving anyway and that can add to the stress and upset of it all. One thing our family did not have to worry about was “how will the celebrant come across” or “will they get it right on the day”. That’s because we had you!
The moment the family met you we felt reassured. Your attentive, professional and kind nature came across. This is why the concerns never entered our minds, instead it took the burden away from us.
You conducted the service perfectly and in a sensitive, calm and friendly manner. It was as if you understood so well what John meant to us all and that you had known him yourself. I know for a fact that he would have said the same about you and although a very sad day and loss for us the service itself will remain a fond memory.
The copy of the service was so well put together and will remain a loving keep sake, one the grandchildren can read when they are old enough and want to.
Thank you Helen. We feel privileged we had you as the Celebrant and very glad A….. referred us to you.
D & S G
late J G – 20/2/2018
*****Hi Helen
I hope you are well.
I would like to thank you, on behalf of the family, for conducting the lovely funeral service to honour and celebrate dad’s life.
At a time when we were in turmoil with grief at our loss and so very worried about mum your calmness, compassion and kindness meant a great deal and helped us to ensure we included those things that meant a lot to us, in memory of dad, in a beautiful service.
You understood how each one of us was dealing with our loss and for you to mention you felt our love for dad when you first met us was lovely to hear.
You were very kind and understanding regarding the difficulties we were facing regarding mum’s ill health and how to tell her about the death of her husband.
I was determined to read my tribute to dad but as soon as I started to speak the huge wave of emotion that engulfed me was too much so thank you for taking over and reading my tribute to dad so movingly.
We received some lovely comments about the service so I think dad would have been pleased and proud.
Thank you once again.
Regards
L, S and T – 16/02/18
*****Dear Helen,
We would like to express our huge gratitude and thanks for all the hard work you put in to making Dad’s service on Friday perfect.
Your help and guidance with the Eulogy and Order of Service was so gratefully appreciated. The service was exactly what we wanted.
This truly made our sad day more bearable.
Many thanks again.
Kind regards,
D & T, A & S – 05/02/18
x
*****Dear Helen
Thank you so much for all the work and your participation in Dad’s funeral. I couldnt stop smiling throughout as I knew each part was exactly as Dad would have wanted, which gave us all great comfort.
I have spoken to most of my attending family, and friends, and they were all very complimentary of your part in it.
My family have asked me to thank you for making Dad’s funeral service so special.
Best wishes
A D and family – 20/01/18
*****Hi Helen,
I know it’s been a few weeks, but it’s all gone along so quickly.
Mum, Me, A and R wanted to say thank you so much for a really wonderful service, you made it much easier to get through the day and you made it feel like you had known dad all his life.
Dad’s best friend said to his wife when they got home that he wanted a service as nice as dad’s when it’s his time, and everyone I spoke to said how nice it was and how you captured dad perfectly.
So thanks again I hope we don’t meet again to soon, if you know what I mean (lol). We are truly grateful.
Take care
The B family xx 20/01/18
*****Dear Helen,
I just wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart for conducting a very personal and special service yesterday for Dave he would have been so proud it was just perfect.
There was not a single person that didn’t comment on how lovely it was and thankfully Dave’s daughters also were very pleased they all said that their Dad would have been very proud also.
It was a pleasure meeting you and so glad K told me about you.
Kind Regards
J – 17/01/18
*****Dear Helen.
J and myself want to say thank you for today. The service put together by yourself could not have been better The family have said it was nice to see me shed a tear or two because up until today I had not done this, but it was down to you and how you conducted the service it made me feel sad.
We may never meet again? Which is sad because you are a very nice lady and when talking to you, you come over as being very helpful, kind, and that’s what makes you a person that feels needed all the time. Once again thank you and a happy new year to you and your family.
G – 28/12/17
*****Dear Helen,
Sorry, I only opened your envelope late yesterday and found your card and scripts – many thanks!
I would just like to thank you again for helping to make Muriel’s celebration so uplifting and meaningful for us all. Feedback from the day was really positive from everyone. Even the weather could not dampen our spirits and I feel sure that Mum would have been happy with our choices.
Thank you for your sincerity, understanding and empathy. You made a very difficult time much easier for us to navigate.
Kind regards,
C 13/12/17.
*****Dear M…….,
J… P… S…. Deceased
We cannot thank you enough for recommending Helen Waters, the Celebrant who conducted our John’s funeral service.
From the moment the family met Helen, she was very understanding and very professional. She was an enormous help with John’s wishes and the preparation of the Eulogy. Helen conducted the service in the Chapel with grace and aplomb. On reflection, we are pleased that your first choice was unavailable, as we could not have wished for anyone better.
Yours sincerely
M, J, C, G and K – 23/11/17
*****Dear Helen
I just wanted to say thank you for the beautiful celebration service you gave for mum yesterday. It was wonderful and we received many fabulous comments afterwards.
You created the perfect atmosphere and, I agree, the music playing in the background while you spoke was just perfect.
You put us at our ease and made it possible for both Lou and I to say our words without falling to pieces.
We couldn’t have wished for more, including Dad. He felt what you said was spot-on. You were obviously very attentive to everything we told you and I thank you for your sensitivity.
Regards
Helen 25/10/17
*****Dear Helen,
I just want you to know how pleased and grateful I am for your care and attention to detail for the service yesterday at Vinters Crematorium for my wife Diane. Very much to your credit, several of people attending thought that you knew Diane personally because of the way you came across when speaking.
We received many comments of ‘lovely service’ and high praise to you. Everyone thought that the service was Diane to a tee.
Again thank you.
Kind regards
David ….. 25/10/17
*****Good morning Helen
Thank you so much for the lovely service you conducted for Tom. We were so pleased with the way it was done and many people commented on it afterwards. Your kindness and professionalism certainly made the darkest day of our lives a little brighter and I know he would have been so pleased with everything.
Thank you also for the copies of the funeral service, they were greatly appreciated by us all.
Life without him by my side is very hard to contemplate at the moment.
With very best wishes
Carole 05/10/17
*****Hi Helen,
I wanted to say a big thank you for giving such a beautiful delivery of Olly’s service script last Thursday, and with Leah making the service so special for Olly on his last journey.
Thank you for you printing out the service script for us, it’s really lovely and such a special keep sake.
I’ve attached a picture of a double rainbow we saw appear over the fields by our house early evening last Thursday. I’m not usually into signs, however I just imagined this to be Olly and me and Olly saying he was OK.
Thank you so much for being so lovely and sensitive through what is a very tough time and I know you will bring comfort to more people going through similar experiences.
Take Care,
Best Wishes,
Kate
xx 02/09/17
*****Hi Helen
I would just like to say Thank You for conducting dads funeral on 7th August. From the moment we met you we felt that we were in safe hands, you put us at ease and made a very difficult occasion less daunting. You managed to put together a very fitting eulogy from the snippets of information that you gleaned from us. It was a perfect balance of humour and solemnity if that makes sense. I think Dad would have be pleased with the way it went.
I would recommend you highly to anyone who is faced with the prospect of arranging a funeral service.
I have advised Pickard and Beale the funeral director that you did a fantastic job.
Kind Regards
Wendy 26/08/17
*****Dear Helen
I just wanted to say thank you so much for conducting the service for my mum last week at Charing crematorium. Everyone commented on how lovely it was and was just as she would have liked.
I can’t thank you enough for all your help
Kind Regards
Tracy 24/08/17
******Hello Helen, Thank you for the lovely service you conducted at dads funeral on Monday. It’s was all very sad, but dad is now where he wanted to be, with mum.
Many Thanks
Regards. Laurie Terry Eileen and all the family. 09/08/17
******Hello Helen,
Sorry this is belated but it comes to you with heartfelt thanks from all of Dad’s family and friends who attended his funeral service on Tuesday – especially from Andrew, Tracey, Simon and me. You did him proud!
The service went just as we hoped and was exactly what the four of us wanted for Dad. Everyone who attended was complimentary. We could not have done it without your help and expertise. Thank you. Dad would have liked you for your down-to-earth manner and kindness to him and us, which was reflected in your words and how you conducted the service.
Many thanks also for the four copies of the service. That is a lovely touch for a family. As you might imagine, I did not take in your closing remarks. It was good to be able to read the whole thing later and I will re-read it from time to time, remember and be comforted. I am sure Andrew, Tracey and Simon will do the same.
Thanks again for all your help. It sounds weird to say it was a good day but it is comforting to us all to know we gave a much-loved Dad a good send-off that we will always remember.
With very best wishes,
Deborah 06/08/17
******Hi Helen
On behalf of the whole family, I would like to say a very grateful thank you for such a beautiful service to my wonderful dad, we have had so much positive and wonderful feedback about the service and you that I felt should be passed onto yourself, I think so many people will be requesting you 😀, we was all over whelmed by how many people came to show there respect xx
I thank you once again for everything
Kind regards
Nikki and family xxx 25/7/17
******Hi Helen, Thank you for sending the script for mum’s funeral. It is absolutely superb and far exceeds any expectations I had.
R.P. 7th July 2017
******Hello Helen, I would just like to thank you so very much for your presentation of Laurie’s service. You were brilliant, I found it emotional and I know that I will miss him immensely.
L.C. 3rd July 2017.
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