An Alresford woman has shared her journey to becoming a funeral celebrant after organising a "meaningful" ceremony for her mum.

Shoonagh Hubble, who is now a fully-fledged celebrant accredited by Humanists UK, was inspired to help others after creating a "true, meaningful tribute" for her mother who died after a long struggle with dementia.

She said: "Remarkably, organising this little ceremony really helped me process my loss.

"I came away feeling so much happier than when I had embarked on it, knowing that we had really done justice to a special person.

"It was such a positive emotion that I thought it would be great to help others process their own loss in a similar way, creating celebrations that were meaningful and appropriate for their loved ones."

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Shoonagh has become a celebrant after creating a meaningful tribute to her mum (Image: Shoonagh Hubble) Shoonagh said she looked into different options for celebrant training, but Humanists UK "really stood out for the rigour of their teaching and the support they give to their new celebrants".

The bulk of the training consisted of two residentials at the University of Warwick.

She said: "What is it about funeral celebrants that makes them such great company? I think they are genuinely interested in people, have warmth, integrity and a sense of humour. They’re also amazing listeners.

"These people came from all types of backgrounds - there was a teacher, a marketing exec, a CEO of a huge charity, two university lecturers, a professional DJ… but the thing they had in common was that they exuded empathy.

"Being with them was like being surrounded by a warm hug."

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The training itself was described as "less of a hug and more of an ice bath" with comprehensive lessons about funeral formats, humanist thinking and how to deal with funeral directors, followed by written assignments.

Shoonagh said: "Crafting the ceremony was the part I enjoyed most. Weaving funny and poignant stories into a person’s life history and trying to ensure that everyone at the ceremony would feel seen and included.

"I came to realise it is a real art, and one I’m still learning."

She said the work is "enriching in so many other ways" and that she has "witnessed abject heartbreak, dogged resilience, unfailing courage and the blackest of humour".

She added: "It has been a privilege to enter these people’s lives at a period of such intense emotion.

"Every single person I have 'celebrated' has been someone I wish I had met."