There is something new in what has always been traditional - the funeral. After attending a training course last November, Marion Green of Sunland became a certified funeral celebrant. Realizing the need for families to provide a service for loved ones that have not participated in any traditional religion, the celebrant movement is one of the latest changes in the field of funeral services. Many people are spiritual without following any traditional religion and should not be forgotten, but honored for their beliefs. A celebrant seeks to meet the needs of families during their time of loss. They provide a service that is personalized to reflect the personality and lifestyle of the deceased.

In the past, families relied on the mortuary to provide a member of the clergy to perform the service. Most often, the clergy did not know the deceased and spent a short time with the family before doing their service. The celebrant, on the other hand spends many hours with the family gathering wonderful stories to get the true essence of the individual. Often the stories shared are ones no one ever knew and the family basks in hearing them and understanding how special and unique they are. They plan with the family, the loving tribute that every individual should be entitled to. Rather than the cookie cutter service often done, the celebrant's service embraces the memories, the music, the significant stories that make up a person's life. It is okay to laugh! Life is funny and those stories are part of our lives that should be shared. A personalized service is planned using resources that may include special music, poetry, and meaningful readings. Small wrapped packets of birdseed were given to the attendees at a recent service done for an animal lover. During that service held outside, the guests were stunned to see squirrels watching from above, sitting on the phone lines. It was an amazing moment for everyone there. At another tribute, a beautiful recorded version of Amazing Grace performed with bagpipes was played to close the service. Someone who was an incrediblecook was honored when her family gave attendees laminated bookmarks with her favorite recipe. Friends and family who attend these services absolutely feel the connection with the loved one during the service. Unlike some of the traditional services done in the past, each Celebrant's service is unique to that individual, as it should be. The person who has died has been honored with respect and love. Green stated, "we are not here because John Smith has died, we are here because John Smith has lived." People leave the service feeling they have truly touched or have been touched by the essence of the person who died.

Green became interested in this career after reading an article about another local Celebrant who was inspired to follow this vocation after the death of her sister. When certain requests her sister made were not allowed in church, she stepped in and determined that those wishes would be honored and they were. The Celebrant sang the song her sister had asked for and a videotaped message was played for her sister's students. Her sister's life was truly celebrated.

In November, Green earned her certification as Celebrant after attending a three-day training course given by The In-Sight Institute, founded by Doug Manning, a grief counselor, author and former minister and funeral director.

During her working career, always passionate about helping people, Green was a volunteer with a Hospice program. Following her retirement at the end of the year, Green decided to dedicate the new chapter of her life to helping families honor their loved ones with the celebrations of life they deserved. She is passionate in her wish for the general public to be aware that there are new options available when they plan a funeral service; they can request a Celebrant. For more information, you can go to the In-sight Foundation web site or Green's web site at www.Celebrantmarion.com.