Hiya, I’m Laura
CIVIL CELEBRANT + WORKSHOP HOST
I work with the dying, bereaved and just curious to educate and advise on the options available for funerals in Newcastle and the surrounding areas.
As a funeral celebrant, I write and lead services to reflect and remember our loved ones, in a way that is both fitting to their personality and values, and to give those around them a suitable opportunity to grieve.
Compassion and respect doesn't have to look like a top hat, tails and hearse.
Nice Out events tend to be non-religious and non-traditional, but this doesn’t mean they lack ritual and meaningful tribute.
I specialise in funerals in alternative venues to crematoria and burial grounds (where the body or ashes may or may not be present), and funerals that follow a direct cremation. This allows you to hold your ceremony or event at any time after the death.
Our conversations can be a space for getting creative and challenging tradition, but you are free to choose the elements of a funeral you would like to include.
There are so many ways to create a personalised goodbye, but it can be overwhelming. I will chat through your ideas with you, make suggestions, provide guidance and help you create an event to celebrate life.
I founded Nice Out after my mum, her partner, and my grandmother all died in the space of 18 months. I saw the difference communicating your funeral wishes can make in the worst of times. Those early days of acute grief are no time to be learning the ins and outs of a whole new industry - what is allowed, who to call. There is no government Department of Death and Funerals and no way of asking your person once they are gone.
Mum was a busy, optimistic, intelligent woman who lived to learn. She was generous with her time and knowledge, her thoughts full of birds, plants and music, politics and a long list of books she couldn’t wait to read next. I was horrified that what was assumed was wanted for a funeral was so limited and old-fashioned, not particularly environmentally-friendly. A bit gloomy and unoriginal.
We held mum’s Celebration of Life at a local nature reserve, arranging the seating for the neurodiverse among us to sneak out when overwhelmed. We displayed her amazing crochet crafts and decorated outdoor tables with pots of flowers my auntie grew, which were distributed to guests at the end of the day.
Calm and considered, yet creative and colourful.