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Terms and Definitions
Ceremony Enhancements
Financial Help
Death & Dying
Anatomical Donations
Scattering Options
Other Celebrants
Miscellaneous

TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

Sometimes it's helpful to know the exact definitions of terms used in a field you're not familiar with. This useful glossary is provided by SI Funeral Services.

You should also know that the term "funeral planning" can be confusing. Funeral Directors make "arrangements" which include legalities and the care of the body, plus — when requested — arrange for a service or other ceremony. The Funeral Director "directs" the ceremony in that she or he coordinates the timing with the location (whether at funeral home or other space) may create a memorial folder and/or photo tribute, set up the chapel, seat the family, etc. The Celebrant helps families plan the ceremony itself and then conducts it.
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CEREMONY  ENHANCEMENTS

Bagpiper Chris Buckley 503 910-9930, email: pipetech@kilts.com

Cowboy poems that are either public domain or with permission given to use for personal ceremonies — specifically for "solemn occasions and tributes."
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FINANCIAL HELP

HELPcard®is a family financing plan. According to the organization's website, "[t]he application process is simple. Virtually everyone who has the ability and willingness to pay for services on a monthly basis will be approved for The HELPcard®." An article in Funeral Business Advisor (Nov/Dec 2007) noted that the Oregon Funeral Directors Association has endorsed the HELPcard®. Ask your Funeral Director for more information.
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DEATH & DYING

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross Foundation. "To build upon the groundbreaking legacy of Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, by confronting death and inspiring life." In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Dr. Kubler-Ross began the study of death and dying by sitting at the sides of dying patients and asking them what they were going through.
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ANATOMICAL DONATIONS

Donate Life America is a not-for-profit alliance of national organizations and local coalitions across the United States dedicated to inspiring all people to save and enhance lives through organ, eye and tissue donation. The site also has a directory of local chapters.
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SCATTERING OPTIONS

Ladies in White scatter cremation ashes in "secluded scattering spots ... in the vast mountainous areas that surround wilderness, on lands adjacent to National Forests and Parks" in Montana. Ashes can be mailed by the Funeral Director or the family. You can choose region, setting, and other preferences. If you wish, you are sent a description of the journey and photographs, as well as GPS coordinates of the scattering site. (I have not worked with this organization, but I have been in touch with them and like their idea and attitude.)
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OTHER  CELEBRANTS

In-Sight Institute. Trains and certifies Certified Funeral Celebrants (CFC). In-Sight was the first to see the significance of the Civil Celebrant profession in Australian and New Zealand, and create a curriculum to teach it in North America.

If you need a Certified Funeral Celebrant outside of the area I serve, please contact me. The following are some CFCs I have worked with or who have helped me along the way:

 British Columbia:

Ceri Peacey — Oceanside Celebrant Services
Serving Mid-Vancouver Island: Parksville, Qualicum Beach, and Nanaimo
http://celebrant.ca
ceri@celebrant.ca
250 752-5639

 California:

Pam Vetter
Serving Los Angeles
818 313-9009
celebrantpam@aol.com
www.celebrantpam.com

  New Jersey:

Ruthann Disotell
Serving central New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania and willing to travel
908 238-9009
ruthann@celebrationofalifetime.com
www.celebrationofalifetime.com

  Oregon:

Dee Mitchell
Serving Portland metro area
home: 503 656-5980, cell 503 730-8702
Dee@dmcelebratealife.com
www.dmcelebratealife.com

  Washington state:

Diane Dyer
Serving greater Seattle-Tacoma area
206 437-2991
diane_dyer@comcast.net
dianedyer.com

Kate Smith
Serving Puget Sound area
206 713-1524
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MISCELLANEOUS

Tips to help with speaking at a funeral: Widow's Quest blog entry. (Please note that, as your Celebrant, I can be your backup if you'd like, as noted in Item 6.)

Gratefulness.Org, A Network for Grateful Living: home page leads to labyrinth walk, virtual candle lighting, etc. (or click on this image).
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 See more resources under Grief Support.