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Leaving Well
  • Home
  • Services
  • Funeral Celebrant
  • About Me
  • Courses
  • Contact
  • Blog/Podcast
  • Media

Every Life Has A Story. Every Story Deserves To Be Told.

Arrowleaf balsamroot grows along the Mt. Helena Ridge trail in Helena, Montana.

Funeral and Memorial Celebrant Services

When someone dies, we feel the ache of loss, and the deep desire to honor their life in a way that feels true. A ceremony can be a profound moment of connection: a time to remember, to share stories, to laugh, to cry, and to celebrate a life that mattered.


As a certified Funeral Celebrant, I help families tell those stories.


Each ceremony I create is written with care and intention, reflecting the person’s values, humor, passions, and the love they leave behind.


Your ceremony might take place in a family home, a favorite park, a community hall, a beloved brewery, or beneath the wide Montana sky. Wherever it unfolds, it will be personal, meaningful, and grounded in the stories that make each life unique.

What a Celebrant Does

A celebrant is a professional who works closely with families to design and lead personalized ceremonies that honor life and loss in authentic ways. 


Together, we can create:


  • Funerals and memorials
  • Celebrations of life  
  • Graveside services 
  • Home funerals 
  • Vigil or farewell gatherings
     

Every ceremony begins with listening.


I take time to sit with families, learn about the person who has died, and gather stories, those small, beautiful details that capture who they were. From there, I weave together words, music, readings, and rituals that bring meaning, connection, and comfort to those gathered.


Because every life tells a story.
And every story deserves to be told well.

How it Works

Our work together begins with a conversation. I’ll meet with you and your family to learn about your loved one--their life, values, and what mattered most to them. These stories and details become the foundation of a ceremony that feels deeply personal and true.

I’ll write and refine the service, ensuring every word feels right. On the day of the ceremony, I lead with care and calm, creating a space where love, memory, and meaning can come together.

For Families and Funeral Directors

I collaborate with both families and funeral professionals, ensuring that each service runs smoothly and respectfully. Whether you’re working through a funeral home or planning independently, I can guide you through ceremony design, eulogy writing, and logistical details. 

When to Reach Out

  • When a death has just occurred and you need help planning a ceremony  
  • When pre-planning your own service for peace of mind 
  • When you want to celebrate a loved one’s life in a personal, unique way

Why It Matters

Ceremony helps us process loss and make meaning. It reminds us that we are part of something larger, a circle of stories, love, and memory that continues even after death. My role is to help you express that meaning with warmth, honesty, and compassion. 

Let’s Create Something Meaningful Together

If you are seeking a funeral celebrant in the greater Helena area, or would like to learn more about personalized memorial ceremonies, I would be honored to support you. 

Pricing & Services

My fee for Funeral Celebrant services is $350. For travel outside the Helena area, the IRS Mileage Rate will be charged. The celebrant fee includes:


  • Meeting with the family to gather stories and understand who your person truly was
  • Crafting a personalized, non-religious ceremony 
  • Coordinating with the funeral home (if one is involved) 
  • Delivering the ceremony on the day of the service
  • Extending the ceremony to include a graveside farewell, if desired 


I work independently, not as an employee of any funeral home. This allows me the flexibility to serve families no matter how they choose to honor their loved one, whether you’re working through a funeral home, planning a home funeral, or holding a memorial at a later date. My goal is always the same, to help create a meaningful ceremony that reflects your loved one’s life and values.

Why gather? Why tell the story? Why make space for grief?

In this episode of Death Becomes Her, LiElla explores why rituals of remembrance matter—especially when traditional funerals don’t fit, or when no service happens. Through history, personal experience, and celebrant work, this conversation looks at how honest, story-centered gatherings give grief a place to land.

If you’re wondering what a meaningful, non-religious ceremony can look like, or why it matters for those left behind, this episode offers context, compassion, and perspective.


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