About Michael O’Neill
Born and raised in South Tyneside I have lived in Hebburn with my family my whole life. With many years experience working closely with the public as a presenter and speaker I have a warm and friendly manner and a compassionate understanding of the meaningful role that I find myself in as a trained celebrant. I am dedicated to ensure that your chosen ceremony will be personal, respectful, sincere and most importantly tailored specifically to your wishes.
Humanist and Civil Funerals
An increasing number of people are choosing a civil funeral ceremony as this allows more freedom with the style and content of the ceremony and celebrates the life of a loved one in a personal, dignified and meaningful way by closely reflecting the life of the individual.
I will work closely with you to create a personal eulogy and ceremony, and naturally I encourage the participation of family or friends in the ceremony by reading their tributes and selecting appropriate music for the service if they wish. I always work closely your chosen Funeral Director to ensure that every ceremony is a celebration of the unique life that has been lived.
Civil funerals can be held almost anywhere with the exception of a church or religious building, these ceremonies are often held in a crematorium or in a non-religious burial ground.
A civil funeral tends to fall into either of these two categories:
1. A semi-religious ceremony: this acknowledges that there may be some mourners present who would take comfort from the inclusion of a religious reading, hymn or an appropriate prayer.
11. A non-religious ceremony: where no mention is made of a supreme being or an afterlife and religious symbols or signs can be covered or temporarily removed.
These ceremonies can include: readings, poems, tributes, a eulogy, a moment of reflective silence and music.
There are other options available but whichever you choose you can be assured that the ceremony will be conducted with sincerity and dignity and will be tailored specifically for you and your loved one.
A Memorial Ceremony
This is an opportunity for people to celebrate the life of the deceased at an appropriate time, when a small private funeral ceremony has taken place. This can be arranged roughly 4 to 6 weeks after the funeral and is a less formal chance for family and friends to gather and remember their loved one without the stress of the funeral day. The memorial ceremony could take place at a favourite location or to coincide with a special anniversary or at the time of the scattering of the ashes, and can also include personalised readings, tributes and music as desired.