Funerals
Dr. Helen Baumer, UK qualified funeral celebrant
The death of a loved one is always a difficult time. When it happens in a country whose customs and regulations you may be less familiar with, it can be a daunting prospect.
I create and conduct English-language funerals throughout German-speaking Switzerland. I can also help you with detailed information about procedures following a death in Switzerland and the various formalities involved.
I am a native English speaker and a funeral celebrant with professional qualifications from the UK. I would be honoured to create and lead a respectful and dignified ceremony for you that is not only conducted in the English language but also embedded in the thinking and cultural traditions of English-speaking countries.
I speak fluent High German and Swiss German and have 45 years’ experience of life in Switzerland. I have in-depth knowledge of death and funerals in German-speaking Switzerland. It would be my pleasure to support you in whatever way you require. I can inform you about the options here in Switzerland and support you in your dealings with the authorities and other professionals.
If you are considering the possibility of repatriation, I can provide you with information. If you want to know more about the different kinds of funeral, the possible venues and the costs involved, I would be happy to advise you.
I conduct personalised funeral ceremonies independent of any religious affiliation. When creating a funeral, I am guided entirely by your wishes. Together we discuss the ideas and preferences your loved one expressed before their death, as well as the wishes of bereaved family members. You can choose the music, readings and poems yourself, or you can make selections from my large collection of music and texts. Although the ceremony is non-religious, you are free to include hymns, readings or prayers with religious elements.
I record your memories of the treasured person you have lost and use them to create a funeral tribute which I will deliver at the ceremony. If they wish to, family members or good friends may also contribute.
Together we create an individual, fitting and compassionate service to celebrate the life of your loved one.
When the day of the funeral arrives, I will be responsible for ensuring that everything runs smoothly so that grieving friends and family members are free of organisational concerns. In the protected space of the funeral ceremony, those present can relive the memories of a unique life. In the community of friends and family of the person who has departed, you will know that your sorrow is shared by many of those around you.
Your funeral will be in safe hands and you will have the peace you need to grieve.
Preparing the funeral
In our initial telephone conversation, we will arrange a date and time to meet and other people may also wish to be present.
In this meeting, we discuss the funeral wishes of the deceased person and those of family members.
What music would you like for the funeral? What about a live singer or instrumentalist? Perhaps a special ritual such as lighting candles or scattering petals appeals to you? Does anyone want to read a text?
The deceased may have chosen not to have a church funeral, but still have requested that a favourite hymn be sung. He or she may have expressed clear ideas about life after death. Religious or spiritual elements such as these can certainly be integrated into an independent funeral ceremony, if the family wishes.
The family may already know where the funeral is to be held. If not, I can put forward suggestions for discussion at the meeting.
After the meeting, I prepare an order of service which brings together your wishes and those of the deceased, and I write a funeral tribute. I reserve the chapel or other venue or location, organise the musicians or make sure that there is a music system at the chosen location that can play the music chosen. I liaise with the funeral director and cemetery staff.
An order of service is created and distributed at the funeral. You receive copies of both the tribute and the order of service in advance, to check that everything is in line with your wishes.
On the day of the ceremony, I make sure I am at the location beforehand to see that all works smoothly. I meet you at the entrance, lead the ceremony and (in most cases) deliver the tribute. A funeral ceremony generally lasts about 30-45 minutes.
I will send you a copy of the entire order of service and the tribute after the funeral.