There are always opportunities to make the last farewell as personal as you wish. And you decide who is to be the officiant.

It is the officiant who plans and leads the farewell ceremony. Since the design is very free, it is important to plan the ceremony carefully. You and the officiant should meet well in advance of the farewell to plan what the ceremony will contain.

What does an officiant do?

An officiant plays a crucial role in a farewell ceremony, as they plan and lead the ceremony itself. The officiant is responsible for most of the speaking during the ceremony, and work with the chief mourners to plan the content of the ceremony, including memories, reflections, poems, music, and other elements.

Who can be officiant?

If the ceremony takes place in a church, the officiant is always a priest. But at a secular farewell ceremony, anyone can be an officiant and the choice is entirely up to the mourners. You can choose an experienced officiant, a close mourner or someone else that you trust. 

However, the person should feel comfortable speaking in front of a group of people and have enough time to plan the ceremony.

We can help you find an officiant

In preparing for a last farewell, many people find it safe to choose an officiant who is accustomed to leading farewell ceremonies. You may need to concentrate on your grief work and then it can feel nice to have an experienced person by your side who can lighten your burden when planning the ceremony. 

We at Ars Moriendi are happy to help you find an officiant who can hold the ceremony and help you plan it. Of course, you also have the opportunity to choose someone else, or to lead the ceremony yourself, if you so wish.