FUNERAL CELEBRANT & DEATH CARE SERVICES

FUNERAL CELEBRANT
I am qualified as a Funeral Celebrant with the Celebrants Training College. I am most happy to work with whanau for their own empowerment in their grief. I enjoy working in an ‘alternative’ milieu and I am friendly to many belief systems. LGBTI+ friendly, pagan friendly, valuing diversity, aware of privilege.  

DEATH CARE
​I have a longstanding interest in death and dying. I have been lucky enough to stand at the gate for both my parents as they passed through it. I am pleased to see some advocacy and growing awareness of ways of dying. The time between the death and the funeral is of particular interest to me, as it is a tender time for both the one who has died and those still living, and it is not always handled well. I have some training with Sarah Kerr of Soul Passages, and I am linked in with our wonderful local Death Café. I am most happy to discuss death doula or death care and support work with you. I am also keen to support those who are caring for the dying. Occasionally I lead ‘Deathly Events’ where we explore death and culture, and our own Near Death Experience.

- Funeral celebrancy
- Deathly Events where we explore death and replicate a Near Death Experience
- Death doula work, and advice to those interested in deathcare.

Karen Effie: Deathcare, Shamanic Practitioner, Funeral Celebrant

DYING AND DEATH CARE IN NEW ZEALAND

We don’t always die well in our culture. If you are reading this, you will probably share my hunch about this. We flatten death out, we ask no questions of it, we reduce it, we even deny it. Our language about death has become impoverished, through euphemism and lack of use.
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Death ceremony in New Zealand has undergone many changes. Among Pakeha, there is a move towards more personalised ceremonies. Maori tangihanga ideas are spreading into other cultures. We now talk about home funerals and eco-burials. We have more choices now, but we are often regrettably unaware of them.  Here are some perfectly legal options:

- Keeping the beloved who has died, at home
- Home funerals
- ​​Doing your own legal paperwork
​- Eco-burials in some places
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There is a gentle but exciting alternative/conscious death movement in New Zealand and I am pleased to join it as a Death Care Worker.  I am happy to link you in with change makers and supporters. 

I craft beautiful, unique ceremonies for the one who has died and their families and friends.

​I am trained with the Celebrants Training College. I have a Certificate in Funeral Celebrancy. I love words and specialise in the writing of ceremonies. Listening and taking time with you is important to me. There is always time, and I will never rush you. 

Funerals and the transitions of loss are my only interest. I do not do weddings or other celebrations. 

DEATHCARE WORK

- Advise and support options for families
- Advocate and find resources
- Educate groups about conscious dying, options for families and ceremonies
- Help facilitate life reviews and advance directives
- Plan and make ceremonies for the time of dying, and for afterwards
- Memorialize your loved one
- Work with loved pets as well as humans
- Provide trained Shamanic services to help the beloved cross over, and families grieve
- Provide the above services for any major grief or loss 

What I don’t do:
- Provide legal advice
- Help someone die
- Provide medical or any clinical services

I am based in Christchurch. However, distance is no problem. I can help online, by video link, phone or email. Shamanic services are all possible at a distance.

Conversations, advice, random thoughts: very free!

All prices are somewhat negotiable and I am happy to barter for services. 

HOW TO CONTACT ME

Tel: 022 0874849
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kareneffiedeathcare
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Email: kareneffie.deathcare@gmail.com

​Happy to work via Skype or Messenger