Funeral Celebrant in Kent
Celebrating Life with personalised funeral services and unique tributes
Funeral Celebrant in Kent Marc Lemezma
Celebrating Life & Remembering Loved Ones
Award Winning Funeral Celebrant
Marc Lemezma
Funeral Celebrant Marc Lemezma is a member of the Association of Independent Celebrants and was trained and certified by the Academy of Professional Celebrants.
Personalised Funeral Services in Kent and Beyond
When a loved one passes away a Funeral Celebrant will help you find the right way to commemorate and celebrate their life.
With years of experience as a Civil Funeral Celebrant, Marc Lemezma is dedicated to helping families, and loved ones celebrate the life of their departed with dignity, grace, and beauty.
At a time of loss, planning a funeral or a celebration of life event can be overwhelming and stressful. Marc offers personalised and compassionate services that reflect your needs and preferences. Whether you’re looking for a traditional funeral service or a unique celebration of life, Marc will work with you to create a ceremony that honours the life of your loved one and reflects their spirit and personality.
As a skilled and experienced funeral celebrant, he delivers beautiful and heartfelt eulogies that capture the essence of your loved one’s life. Every life is worth celebrating, and Marc is committed to helping you create a service that celebrates your loved one’s life beautifully.
If you have chosen a direct cremation – unattended cremation there is still an opportunity to celebrate the life of your loved one. Marc can assist in creating a unique and personalised celebration of life event at a time and place that suits you.
Based in Maidstone, Kent, Marc offers his services to families and individuals across the country.
With his experience, expertise, and dedication, Marc is here to help you celebrate the life of your loved one beautifully.
Marc is also a talented poet; his readings and poems for funerals have been read at funeral services across the globe. Here is just one example. On Marc’s Funeral Poetry you will find hundreds of examples of classic, traditional and new funeral poems to help make the correct choice for your funeral service.
In my work as a Funeral Celebrant in Kent Creating and delivering a tribute that truly honours and celebrates your loved one’s life is at the heart of what I do; I will take time to get to know the person who has passed on so we can create a truly fitting memorial.
At some funerals, a family member or friend may wish to say a few words; perhaps recite a poem; or read a passage from a book. I will help guide them and be by their side on the day to support, or take over should they need it.
Meeting With You
so that we can explore what kind of service is appropriate for your loved one, and meets your wishes.
Confirming Arrangements
I will use the information we discuss to draft a service, which I will email for your approval. I’ll also liaise with your funeral arranger at your chosen funeral director as necessary.
On The Day
Other Services
If you are planning to inter or scatter the ashes of your loved one later, I am available to help by saying a few words to mark the occasion. If you are planning a memorial or celebration of life event, I can assist too. Simply ask.
Other Support
About Funeral Celebrant in Kent Marc Lemezma
Celebrating the life of your loved one is at the heart of my work.
Writing and delivering words that move, inspire, motivate and even entertain whilst bringing comfort has been my life for over 20 years.
In 2000, following a globetrotting career in IT, I began a new life writing, performing, speaking and coaching others. Since then, I have written and published eight books; helped hundreds of people through counselling and therapy; spoken at events worldwide; entertained and motivated tens of thousands.
In 2019 my son Josh was diagnosed with leukaemia, because of this and the Pandemic, life went on hold.
Josh lost his battle in late 2020; I delivered the eulogy at his funeral and was thus inspired to take formal funeral celebrant training.
However you choose to commemorate the life of your loved one, I aim to capture their essence in a personalised tribute.
A tribute that uniquely celebrates and honours their life, one you, your family and friends will remember forever.
It was an honour to speak at Josh’s funeral; now, working as a funeral celebrant in Kent it is a privilege to help other families find the right way to celebrate and commemorate the lives of their loved ones.
Born and bred in Kent, I have lived with my wife in Maidstone for around 40 years.
My late son Josh, whose passing at just 27 inspired me to become a Funeral Celebrant
Funeral Poetry
One of the key elements of a funeral is the reading of poetry, and I am blessed my poetry is now read by hundreds of people each day, far across the world beyond my influence as a funeral celebrant in Kent.
Poetry holds profound importance in commemorating a life during a funeral, offering solace and helping express complex emotions. Poems become a source of unity, binding those who are grieving to this most poignant of moments. In their brevity, they pay homage to the departed, underscoring their timeless value in times of sorrow.
To assist you in choosing suitable poems for your loved one’s funeral, Marc has recorded a large selection of different types and styles of poems. Many of these are original and have been written by Marc upon the request of families.
Do check the funeral poetry page or visit his YouTube Channel for more.
Choosing a Funeral Celebrant?
Making Arrangements for a Funeral or Celebration of Life
When planning a funeral or celebration of life, one of the most important decisions is “Who will lead the service?”
Will it be a minister, priest or other faith leader from your community; will it be a celebrant who can also include some faith elements, perhaps a family member or friend?
Remember, there is a significant difference between a family member leading the celebration of life service and them simply reading a eulogy or poem. There will always be those critically emotional moments to get through.
If your chosen route is to have a celebrant-led service, it is wise to look online locally for a celebrant you like the look of, one you can trust and above all, someone whom you think your loved one would have liked themselves. Or you can ask your funeral arranger.
Above all remember this is your choice.
If you would like me to act as the Funeral Celebrant for you or your loved one simple email or telephone on 07904 262138 so that we can discuss arrangements. I will work closely with your Funeral Director “behind the scenes” to create a fitting service that truly celebrates the deceased person’s life.
Alternatively, the Arranger at your Funeral Director or Undertaker can contact me to engage me for your loved one’s funeral. They will collect my fee from you and pay me in due course. If you choose to book me directly, we will agree a fee based on your requirement. This covers meeting with you, writing the service and conducting it on the day. Where I write a personalised tribute I’ll provide a permanent copy you may keep as a memento.
Please contact me to discuss any other services you may require.
Funeral Celebrant in Kent
Planning the Perfect Funeral Tribute
Once the date for your loved one’s funeral has been confirmed and either you or your Funeral Director have requested I act as your Funeral Celebrant, I will contact you to arrange a meeting with you and other family members.
This is usually held face to face at your home, or perhaps at the Funeral Director’s premises; if you are not local it can be held online.
This is an opportunity for me to learn about their character, the key people, and events that made their lives. We can also discuss any wishes for the funeral style and theme; this could include any music choice, readings, poems and if appropriate prayers or hymns. If family members or friends wish to speak, I can advise on appropriate words, can help coach them in speaking and be ready to take over if emotions get the better of them.
Usually, this meeting will last about an hour and is very informal and relaxed.
Direct Cremation?
If your chosen path is to have a direct cremation or unattended cremation, with no service at the time, I am still available to help. Many families who choose this option elect to have a celebration of life service at a later date. This can be in a social setting, with some elemenst of a funeral and many moments of celebration. I will work with you to plan and deliver a perfect celebration of life service.
Bereavement Support
When we lose someone, there is a natural cycle of grief which we tend to follow. It is something we experience in our own unique way. Occasionally some of us may need a little help to see a path through.
You can find lots of help with bereavement and grief online. Often, simply talking to a friend helps the healing process. The NHS has lots of resources, talking to your GP or Nurse is a good start. The most important thing is to ask!
If your loved one was cared for by a hospice, they will have support. If they suffered from a particular disease, you might find a specific charity related to that illness who can help.
Here are some other resources you might find useful.
What to do when Someone Dies
The UK Government has a very useful page guiding you through what to do when someone in your family dies.
Bereavement Advice Centre
Anthony Nolan Bereavement Insight
After the Funeral?
A few days after a cremation service has taken place, you will be able to collect the remains or ashes of your loved one from the Funeral Director.
You then have many choices; you can keep them with you at home, or perhaps you would like to scatter them at a special place or inter them in a vault or the garden of remembrance.
Many families wish to have a small ceremony to mark the scattering or interment of ashes. I can assist by helping create a short service and attending to say a few words to help make the event a positive special memory and to create more of a sense of occasion.
If you’d like a longer memorial piece (or I was not at their funeral), I will create a small service to make that important day feel more memorable and unique.
Funeral Celebrant Marc
Testimonials & Feedback
Hi Marc, I just wanted to say a massive thank you for such a beautiful service all family and friends commented on how beautiful the service was. As you know more than I do these things are very difficult but the way you captured my sisters life and your compassion made a difficult day much easier
KM – Sellindge
‘Marc, just wanted to say thank you once again for Mums ceremony today. It was beautiful and I’m sure she would have been so pleased with it. The family all said how lovely it was, so thank you for mums lovely send off.
Testimonial for Celebrant Marc from
LR – Chatham
Marc, I wanted to thank you for all of your help with Dad’s funeral. Your support in advance of the service and your delivery of the service was fantastic and sympathetic throughout.
During the afternoon, we received so much feedback from friends and family about how perfect the service was. One particular piece of unsolicited feedback that I wanted to share with you is that it didn’t feel like you were a stranger telling us about Dad from a third party perspective, but rather that it felt like you were one of us, helping to lead the storytelling and celebration.
Testimonial for Funeral Celebrant Marc from
SH – Maidstone
Dear Marc, Thank you for all your help and guidance in arranging Dad’s funeral, both before and on the day. Your calm presence was so reassuring and helped us to get through a very difficult time.
Testimonial for Funeral Celebrant Marc from
LB – Bearsted
Testimonial for Funeral Celebrant Marc from
DV – London
Marc, thank you so very much for being our Celebrant.
You were absolutely amazing.
Everybody who attended said how you managed to talk about Dad as if you’d known him for years and how when you were talking about him they were nodding in agreement.
Thank you so much. If a funeral could be a happy time then Dad would have loved it all.
Testimonial for Funeral Celebrant Marc from
CD – Gillingham Kent
Marc, I want to express our thanks and gratitude to you for the truly wonderful service and tribute to dad.
We were not looking forward to the service at all, however, in the end, it went extremely well and I felt proud rather than sad. Many people have commented on how perfect the tribute to dad was.
Expressed in your words and format, it was indeed, a real tribute to my dad.
Thanks again Marc, for all that you have done to allow us to remember my dad in the best way possible.
Testimonial to Funeral Celebrant Marc from
IW – Purley, Surrey
To Marc, what a great guy.
Everybody said, “how did I do it?”, with a lot of help from Marc.
From the first time the family met you, I knew things were going to go better. Better to make what is a very sad day into “Tony’s Day. How he and we would have wanted it.
Thank you, for being you in all you say & do.
Testimonial to Funeral Celebrant Marc from
MP – Maidstone
Thank you very much for leading my Father’s funeral service today. Everybody commented on how lovely the service was and I was asked if you knew Dad, so you captured him very well. The service was seamless and full of lovely little touching moments, especially acknowledging the webcam when you mentioned our overseas family.
Testimonial to Funeral Celebrant Marc from
AS – Beckenham
Dear Marc – I just wanted to say a big thank you for the lovely memorial service you gave for my father today. When you spoke of him it was if you knew him personally. You really captured my father’s personality. Also, thank you for the copy of the tribute, such a nice thing to be able to treasure. Thank you again.
Testimonial to Funeral Celebrant in Kent Marc from
DM – Burham
Having to make a short speech at my Mother’s funeral was daunting. Marc was extremely supportive giving me sound advice and guidance. He helped me work out not just what to say but how to say it with meaning and how to keep some control over my emotions too. Thanks Marc we were able to give Mum a great send-off.
Testimonial to Funeral Celebrant Marc from
BG – Sevenoaks
Marc, can’t thank you enough for today at my Dad’s service, you were excellent. Just wish you had done my mum’s service before, it felt so rushed compared to your superb showing today. You are a really caring gentleman, highly recommended.
Testimonial to Celebrant Marc from
TT – Maidstone
Marc, many thanks for all you have done for me and W’s children to help us get through the last few weeks and to celebrate his life.
Many family and friends commented on how wonderfully well you spoke and we were very grateful you were there to speak for us.
Bless you. Thank you! X
Testimonial to Celebrant Marc from
AB – France
Marc I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU!
Everyone commented on what was a really lovely service you gave for dad yesterday. You read it so well with a bit of humour and it was a heart-warming ceremony. We are all very grateful to you and I am sure he was looking down and thinking to himself ” They chose the best man for the job!”
Testimonial to Funeral Celebrant Marc from
TS – Hollingbourne
Hi Marc, we just wanted to thank you for making the service so special, just how Mum and we wanted it to be.
Testimonial to Funeral Celebrant Marc from
PJ – Petts Wood
His attention to detail meant that the nuances of Dad’s life were not lost in a chronology of achievements or important dates, but still managed to touch upon the key events in their life.
Testimonial to Funeral Celebrant Marc from
CW – Durham
Testimonial to Funeral Celebrant Marc from
AC – Aylesford
Hi Marc, thank you so much for today and all your help. Everybody said what a lovely service you gave. Also thank you for the booklet of the service you have for my Mum. Once again thank you so much you made the day memorable and I know my dad would be proud.
Testimonial to Funeral Celebrant Marc from
TM – Kent
Dear Marc – Just to say another thanks for today. Everyone from the small party really appreciated your presence in my mum’s life celebration.
There aren’t many people who can do this well, so I feel so fortunate that mum had you to see her off.
It was so right. Just enough recognition of grief mixed with humour. We all headed off with smiles. And my aunt later said you turned what was a dreaded event into something to remember. Thank you!
Testimonial to Funeral Celebrant Marc from
LJ – London
Thank you for the truly wonderful eulogy you delivered at J’s funeral recently. Everyone felt it was a great tribute to him. You perfectly captured his character and added just the right amount of humour, yet kept it meaningful and emotional. I received so many comments from people who were there or watching online saying how well it summed him up.
Testimonial to Funeral Celebrant in Kent Marc from
ES – Maidstone
Hi Marc, we all just want to say a big thank you for making yesterday as perfect as it could have been.
Your tribute to Dad was amazing.
So many people asked whether you actually knew Dad which is the greatest compliment.
Thank you once again.
Testimonial to Celebrant Marc from
PR – Maidstone
I would like to express my thanks for your help and advice during a very difficult time. I have had many discussions about the service, and they are unanimous that it was perfect; your part in that was pivotal, so I can only again express my and the rest of the family’s thanks for that.
Testimonial to Celebrant Marc from
IG – Loose
Thank you Marc for the wonderful manner in which you handled my wife’s funeral service.
I have received so many compliments from family and friends across the world including Australia.
You should feel justifiably proud.
Testimonial to Funeral Celebrant Marc from
AB – Harrietsham
Thank you, Marc, for your diligent work in really capturing the essence of our Dad for his funeral service. He was a complex and original character, and you created a service that reflected him exactly.
You took the time to listen to and incorporate the many aspects of his life, family and friends into a perfect service.
We had so many comments from those who both attended in person and those who watched online saying that it really did capture him as a person.
For those who had to watch the webcast, your video on participating online was invaluable; thank you so very much.
Testimonial to Funeral Celebrant Marc from
LF – Greenhithe
Thank you very much for yesterday Marc, you were so comforting and reassuring to us. Everyone enjoyed the eulogy , it brought back a few memories for them. I think mum would have loved it! I. We’re all exhausted today so taking it easy. Thank you once again, you have been wonderful to us , lots of love x x
Testimonial to Funeral Celebrant Marc from
JC – Ashford
Hi Marc, we would like to thank you for your time and effort you put in re B’s funeral. We truly could not have done it without you. Your commitment and input was way beyond what we could have hoped for. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You are a godsend!
Testimonial to Funeral Celebrant Marc from
M&M – Maidstone
Marc, thank you for giving such a beautiful service yesterday. I have received so many texts from his family and friends abroad remarking on how the words you felt so appropriate for him. In particular your poetry seemed to capture his essence perfectly.
Testimonial to Funeral Celebrant Marc from
CM – Maidstone
Hi Marc, thank you so much for acting as celebrant for my Mum’s funeral on Monday. Mum would have wanted it to be right, all went well and she would have been pleased.
Testimonial to Funeral Celebrant Marc from
GH – West Malling
Marc spoke at the funeral for the son of my friend. A young man who had passed away far too early. He was a cheeky lad not without his problems who was loved by all. Marc took the story of this youngster’s life and made a wonderful tribute full of humour balanced with dignity. It was a proper fitting tribute.
Testimonial to Funeral Celebrant Marc from
PF – Chatham
Contact Marc
Please do get in touch to discuss planning a funeral service, a celebration of life service, or memorial service, or if you have any questions concerning a funeral I am working on for you or your family. I usually aim to respond within half a day during normal working hours. To email Marc please use the form below or message directly at marc@lemezma.com