My name is Mary Hopes. I am a professionally trained, accredited and experienced Civil Funeral Celebrant.

I hold the Level 3 Diploma in Funeral Celebrancy, the highest qualification in the sector. My skills and suitability for this work were - and, through ongoing Professional Development, continue to be - very rigorously assessed.

The funeral industry makes no regulatory requirements of those who conduct end of life services. The best way to ensure a uniformly high standard for a precious, never-to-be-repeated, secular goodbye is to accept only a Celebrant who is fully qualified through a reputable training company and who, with every interaction, demonstrates an adherence to the very highest ethical and professional standards. 

Although I live in Hampshire, I often conduct funerals in adjoining counties - and regularly travel even further afield on request.

Creating and delivering high quality, bespoke ceremonies, I am guided by you. Together we'll make the service YOU want. Whether it is to be fairly traditional or something less formal, it's up to you entirely.

Being in public service for over 30 years, I often witnessed the trauma and heartbreak brought about by death, whether expected or sudden. I spent some time working as a Coroner's Officer and met many good, kind people from all walks of life who were affected by unnatural and unexplained death.

To help a person, especially when they are at their most vulnerable through bereavement, is a privilege.

My life hasn’t been without sorrow and I haven’t reached my 50s without experiencing the anguish caused by the loss of loved ones. My compassion for you is laced with understanding, though recognising and respecting that each one of us is so very different. We have each had our own unique journey.…

If you select me to conduct your most special ceremony, you can be assured of my best attention at all times. You'll be in safe hands. I review regularly to ensure that the guidance I give is current, accurate and in line with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).

I'm fully insured and DBS checked for your greater peace of mind.