When someone you love has died, the last thing you need is a service that feels like it could have been read out for anyone. The person you've lost was special. Their service should be too.
I'm Maz, an independent funeral celebrant covering Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. My job is to listen to you, get to know the person you've lost, and write a service that honours them properly.
A funeral that reflects the person, not a template.
What an Independent Funeral Celebrant Does
I sit down with you, in person or over the phone, in your own time. We talk about the person you've lost. Not just the headline facts, but the proper details. The phrases they used. The way they laughed. The things that drove them mad. The things they loved. The bits the family always tells stories about.
From that conversation, I write the service. Every word is chosen for them. Every reading, song and tribute is checked with you before the day. There's no template.
I'm here to lead the service with calm and warmth, hold space for everyone in the room, and make sure the people who loved this person leave feeling like they were honoured properly.
A Service That Feels Right
You Can Choose Your Own Celebrant
A lot of families don't realise this, so it's worth saying clearly. You don't have to use whichever celebrant your funeral director suggests. You can ask for me by name. Most funeral directors are very happy to work with whoever the family chooses.
If you'd like me to lead the service for someone you've lost, the simplest thing is to mention my name to your funeral director. They'll handle the booking from there. If you'd like to talk to me first, you're welcome to.
Religious, Non-Religious, or Somewhere In Between
An independent celebrant can include whatever feels right for the person you've lost. A hymn or two and a Bible reading, alongside a favourite Frank Sinatra song. A fully non-religious humanist-style service. A blend of faith traditions for someone with mixed heritage. Pure celebration of life with no religious content at all.
There's no fixed format. We build the service around the person. Whatever they would have wanted (or whatever you, as the family, need to hold them properly), that's what we'll do.
Where the Service Can Take Place
Most of my services are at a crematorium or a natural burial ground across Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, working alongside your funeral director. I'm also happy to lead services at:
- A graveside or natural burial ground
- Your loved one's home or garden
- A village hall or community space they were part of
- A pub, club, or somewhere they always loved
- A separate celebration of life held weeks or months after the funeral itself
If you've got an idea of where would feel right, tell me. We'll work it out together.
How We'll Work Together
- A first conversation. Usually within a day or two of you getting in touch. Phone or in person, whichever feels easiest. No pressure, no commitment.
- The family meeting. Usually at your home, with as many family members as you'd like to be there. We talk about the person you've lost. Bring photos, bring stories, bring tissues. This usually takes around 90 minutes.
- I write the service. Every word chosen specifically for them.
- You read the draft. I send it to you to check. We tweak anything that doesn't feel right until it's exactly what you want.
- The day itself. I arrive at the venue ahead of time, meet anyone who's reading or speaking, and lead the service with calm and care.
- A keepsake copy. I send you a presentation copy of the service script afterwards. Many families come back to it months and years later.
What People Notice About Working With Me
Maz would make a wonderful celebrant, thanks to her genuinely kind and supportive nature, which immediately puts people at ease. She has a beautifully calm presence that helps create a warm, meaningful atmosphere for any occasion. Anyone would feel truly cared for and understood with her guiding their special moment.
Maz is an incredibly kind, caring and warm person. She makes you feel at ease in an instant, with the ability to listen deeply, understand what makes people unique, and bring stories to life. Any ceremony led by Maz is full of empathy, compassion, laughter where appropriate, and completely personal to those involved.
Fees
My funeral package includes the family meeting, the writing of a fully personalised service, all amendments, liaison with your funeral director and venue, leading the service on the day, and a presentation copy of the service afterwards. Travel within Norfolk is included.
Everything you need, handled with care from start to finish.
A Few Things People Often Ask
How quickly can you write a service?
Funerals usually happen within 1 to 3 weeks of the death. I work to that timescale, with the family meeting typically taking place within a few days of you getting in touch.