Celebrate a Life Well Lived
It is such an honor to create a ceremony and officiate at a Celebration of Life. Each family is grieving and trying to seek a special Celebrant to create a meaningful tribute. Rev. Kimberley Evans has many years of experience and an intuitive understanding of how to help walk through this challenging time.
Honouring Memories with Compassion
Isabelle P was 103 when she passed peacefully. She was adored by her family and celebrated at Celebration Hall at 1:00 on February 15, 2025. Isabelle was made of very strong stuff as her family came to Canada from Italy fleeing the poverty and wars in Europe. Life in Canada was challenging too but Isabelle did everything to create a life from virtually nothing so that her family thrived. What an example of determination and love! Such an honor to have known about this inspiring woman.
On April 15, 2025 G.R. made his transition by M.A.I.D. in hospital with his wife by his side. He was buried at Heritage Gardens on May 3 2025, a green cemetery in South Surry. He was wrapped in a shroud and rested on a bower of cedar branches. After he was lowered into the grave, he was covered in cedar boughs as he so loved nature and the forest.
The C.O.L. was held at Hazelmere Golf & Tennis Club where over 50 guests listened to a lovely eulogy written by his wife which I, as the Celebrant, had the privilege to read. Several people shared their memories of G.R. and amongst the tears there were some amazing stories and laughter. Such a lovely tribute to a life well lived by people who loved him.
I just wanted to let you know that I’ve been receiving many compliments on the Celebration of Life for G. People felt relaxed, and felt it was meaningful and that it captured his essence. A number of people have commented on the Major Tom reference, thinking that was my idea, and I’ve corrected them that this was your suggestion and an example of how well we worked together.
:On February 1, 2025 family and friends gathered at the Celebration Hall at Mountain View to honor the life of Thelma. Thelma lived a private life and devoted herself to her husband and children above all else. She was married for 67 years to Ted who loved and cared for her dearly until his passing.
To Reverend Kim
Thank you for presenting a beautiful ceremony to send my mom off on her Final Journey. All the best.
“Wife, mother, grandmother, auntie and friend, Terri was celebrated on January 23, 2025 after a struggle with cancer. Her family and friends gathered at Hazelmere Golf Club to pay tribute to a fun, strong and kind woman who was like a needle and thread keeping family together as her joy.
It was my honor to create a ceremony for her as I done for her mother and sister a few short years ago. Family and friends shared their tributes and while there were tears there was gentle laughter as they recalled what a blessing Terri was in their lives.
Excerpt from I Heard Your Voice in the Wind Today. As long as the sun shines…the wind blows…and the rain falls…
You will live on inside of me forever for that’s all the heart knows.”
On August 22 2023, Doreen C. was laid to rest at Heritage Gardens Cemetery (a green cemetery environment) in Aldergrove, B.C. There was a small group of family and friends who attended as the deceased was transferred to the gravesite and laid upon a platform of cedar boughs. Everyone had an opportunity to place a red rose upon the deceased before the ceremony began. Doreen’s young grandson brought an Aero chocolate bar which was a favorite and his mother gently placed the candy among the roses. The poem by Elizabeth Frye “Do Sot Stand at my Grave and Weep” was read and greatly appreciated. The funeral staff were very professional and helpful. Afterward, we gathered a short distance away under a large tent to share beverages and treats and memories of Doreen. Good luck, Doreen, on your next adventure.
Thank you Kim. You designed and performed exactly the ceremony we desired for the small gathering of family and friends at the gravesite. Your prayers, poems and words were so appropriate even though you had never met Doreen. I recommend your poem “Do Not Stand at my Grave and Weep” to anyone, as it gave me the strength to appreciate the day and times since. Congratulations also for guiding us and overseeing the equally poignant and successful Celebration of Life. Many guests have commented on how much they appreciated the afternoon.
Over seventy family & friends gathered at Wisteria Place in Steveston on Wednesday January 18, 2023 to bid farewell to Terry Thoburn. Terry joined the military when he was only 18. He became an air cadet and when he was 19 he got his wings as the youngest flying officer in Canada at that time. He later became a commercial pilot with CP Air until he retired from Air Canada. Many people paid tribute to Terry, his retired pilot peers, his family and friends. His two grandsons lit a Memorial Candle and both read poetry to honor their grandfather and his love for flying. The facility did a stellar job and despite the sad reason to gather there was much love and laughter amongst the guests. (excerpt from Flying West by Cpt. Michael J. Larkin
“I hope there’s a place, way up in the sky,
Where pilots can go, when they have to die.
A place where a guy can buy a cold beer
For a friend and a comrade, whose memory is dear;”
On to your next adventure, Captain Terry!
“Ted Almas beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather and friend was honored in a beautiful ceremony at the Burnaby Mountain Golf & Country Club on May 30 2022 at 1:30 p:m. The life Ted lived was one full of vitality, humor and kindness. He was eulogized by his wife, Margie, brother, brother-in-law, daughter, co-worker and grandchildren. The banquet room was beautifully surrounded by the lovely lush greenery of the course. Such a wonderful man to have known and a blessing to those who did. Peace be with the family and all friends.”
Thank you, Kim, for working with us to honor and celebrate Ted’s life.
Through our meetings and phone calls you spent hours crafting a personal and meaningful service.
Your delivery was charming and sincere, making the ceremony warm and comforting for his family and friends during this difficult time.
I am grateful that you introduced us to the candle lighting, a way for our family to include and celebrate Ted in special family occasions going forward.
On Saturday September 26th, 2020 at 1:00 the family bid farewell to their Mum, sister, Grandma and friend. Dixie passed away almost a year ago October and so the farewell in her honor was a long time in coming.
Despite the inclement weather a small group gathered at Bear Creek Park in Surrey to say good-bye. Dixie was present in her Urn upon a table which was front and centre with flowers and a photo display of her long life. The service began and ended with a traditional Bell Ringing. Although unorthodox, the deceased loved Disney and so a part of the ceremony included a Disney poem which began “….Spaghetti noodles trapped Between doggie lips – In Lady and the Tramp….”. At the conclusion her son was able to read a beautiful tribute written by of Dixie’s best friends.
A sweet service and lots of love was evident.
Thank you, Kim. Your eulogy was spot on. The poems you picked out were perfect. Everyone praised you in a perfect manner! Would have hugged you pre-Covid!
Marg’s Urn was surrounded with a beautiful display of long stemmed colorful roses, which as a gardener, Marg would have a appreciated.Blessings and love to her and to all who knew her.
When our mother passed away during the time of strict Covid-19 restrictions, our family nevertheless felt a need to gather and to lay her ashes to rest. Kim met with the family in advance and helped us plan an intimate graveside interment for the closest family members. She listened carefully as each one of us expressed our thoughts about our mother and our wishes for the respectful goodbye we were seeking to process our grief. She suggested some poetry and biblical passages that appropriately captured our mother’s kind nature and love for her family. At the graveside, Kim incorporated the family’s wishes in a sober, yet lovely ceremony, and she offered some well-chosen words of comfort. It was exactly the healing gathering we needed, combining both religious and secular elements. At Kim’s suggestion, we each said a final goodbye to our beloved mom with a rose.
Thank you, Kim, for creating this memorable occasion to honor our mother!
