Truly Remembered
Every Life Deserves to Be Properly Remembered
I have been to too many funerals where the person at the front had not taken the time to find out anything about the person in the coffin. Where an entire, extraordinary life, sometimes spanning decades, is reduced to their last few years of illness leading to their death. Where the family walked out feeling like something important had been missed.
My ceremonies are never like that.
Whether you are planning a funeral or cremation service, or a separate Celebration of Life event, my role is to make sure the person you have loved is truly seen, properly remembered and genuinely celebrated. I tell the story of their life with warmth, empathy and care. Every ceremony I create is completely unique to the person it honours.
I work primarily within Charente Maritime for funeral and cremation services, due to the strict legal time constraints in France between death and burial or cremation. For celebrations of life, which take place separately and at a time of your choosing, I cover Charente Maritime, Charente, the Dordogne and the Gironde.
What is Included in
My Funeral and Celebration of Life Service
For all funeral and cremation services and celebrations of life:
- An initial consultation, with patience and compassion for the shock you may be experiencing
- Time spent with you finding out everything about your loved one: their life, their character, their passions, the things that made them laugh and the things they cared about most
- A curated selection of poems and readings
- I am able to include religious readings or prayers should the family wish it.
- A completely unique and bespoke eulogy, crafted with genuine love and care
- All drafts and revisions
- Unlimited access to me throughout the process
- Liaison with your other suppliers and the venue team
- A venue visit where relevant
- Officiating your ceremony on the day
- Travel within 40 kilometres of my home in Charente Maritime
Lovingly Crafted
How I Work With You
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For Funerals and Cremation Services
French law requires burial or cremation to take place within a very short timeframe after death. Depending on your location, this is typically between 6 and 14 consecutive days, excluding public holidays. Because of this, I need to move quickly once you contact me.
I will meet you at your home or a venue of your choice, as soon as possible after the death. I am fully aware that you will likely still be in shock, and I will bring patience and gentleness to that meeting.
Together, we talk through the tone you would like the service to take. Entirely secular, or with elements of belief woven in; I will honour whichever feels right for your family.
I will ask you as many questions as I can about your loved one, learning everything possible about their life and their story. We will agree the order of service, the music, the readings and who will read them. Where time permits, I will share the script with you beforehand.
On the day, I will meet you and your fellow mourners at the crematorium or graveside and lead the ceremony with all the warmth and dignity your loved one deserves.
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For Celebrations of Life
A Celebration of Life is a separate event, held at a venue and time of your choosing after the burial or cremation has taken place. This gives us the space and time to create something truly beautiful.
Because we are not working against the clock in the same way, I can gather more stories, involve more family members and create a ceremony that feels like a proper, loving tribute. This is the celebration your loved one deserved, and the one your family will remember.
Detail-Focused
The Right Ceremony for Your Circumstances
Every family's situation is different, and the right kind of ceremony depends on your timescales, your circumstances and what you feel your loved one would have wanted.
Some families hold a simple, dignified funeral service, and that is exactly right for them. Others want something more elaborate. Many families in France choose to hold a brief ceremony at the crematorium or graveside, within the legal timeframe, and then plan a separate Celebration of Life for a later date when family can travel and there is time to do things with the care they deserve.
I am happy to talk through both options and help you decide what feels right for your family.
I work particularly with the expat community in France, many of whom come from the UK, Australia and the United States. I understand the specific challenges that come with planning a ceremony in France when family is spread across different countries, and I have plenty of experience navigating them.
Transparent Pricing
Packages and Pricing
Funerals and Cremation Services
Funeral ceremonies at a crematorium or burial ground: €700, as per French market rates.
Areas covered: primarily Charente Maritime, due to the strict legal turnaround required under French law. If you are outside this area, please do contact me and we can discuss the options.
Payment in full is required at the time of booking. All fees are non-refundable.
Travel beyond 40km from my home is charged at 45 cents per kilometre.
Clarity & Care
Clear and Considered
Celebrations of Life
Celebrations of Life fees start from €1,250, depending on location and the elements included in the ceremony.
Areas covered: Charente Maritime, Charente, the Dordogne and the Gironde.
A booking fee of 50% is due on booking. The remaining balance is due 4 weeks before the ceremony, or sooner if the ceremony falls within that window. Ceremonies booked within 5 weeks require payment in full at the time of booking. All fees are non-refundable.
Travel beyond 40km from my home is charged at 45 cents per kilometre.
Please get in touch for a personalised quotation.
What is the difference between
a Celebration of Life Service and a Memorial Service
When a loved one passes away, families often find themselves balancing two important needs: honouring the life of the person they have lost, while also creating a space to grieve, remember, and begin to heal.
Many people are familiar with traditional memorial services or funeral ceremonies, which are often faith-based, formal, and focused on reflection and remembrance.
In comparison, I offer personalised Celebration of Life ceremonies in France that are far less formal and more centred on storytelling, connection, music, shared memories, and celebrating a life well lived.
A Celebration of Life ceremony offers a contemporary and deeply personal approach to remembrance. Rather than focusing solely on loss, it shines a light on joy, gratitude, personality, and the moments that made your loved one unforgettable.
Together, we can create a meaningful ceremony that reflects your loved one authentically — choosing how, when, and where the gathering takes place. Whether held in a family home, garden, private venue, or meaningful outdoor setting in South West France, these ceremonies are designed to feel intimate, heartfelt, and personal.
More than a traditional farewell, a Celebration of Life often feels like a gathering of the people whose lives were touched by someone special — celebrating their humour, passions, spirit, and the memories they leave behind.
As a funeral and Celebration of Life celebrant in Charente Maritime and South West France, my role is to help families create ceremonies that feel compassionate, authentic, and truly reflective of the life being honoured.
Fully Seen
Why Choose Susie Mae for This Ceremony
What I believe, with complete certainty, is that every person deserves to have their story told properly.
Not just the last chapter, but the whole thing. The adventures and the ordinary days. The laughter and the heartbreak. The things they built, the people they loved, the mark they left on the world, whether that mark was enormous or quietly, beautifully local.
I have spent a career listening to people's stories and finding the words to do those stories justice. I bring that to every funeral and Celebration of Life I create. I will not talk for half the ceremony about someone's final months of illness while barely mentioning the vibrant decades that came before. I will find out who your person really was, and I will make sure the room feels the full weight of their life.
It is my guiding principle that every person deserves to feel truly seen and heard, even when they are no longer there to hear it themselves.
Funeral and Celebration of Life FAQs
How quickly do I need to contact you after a death in France?
As quickly as possible. French law requires burial or cremation to take place within 6 to 14 consecutive days of death, depending on your location in France, and excluding public holidays. The sooner you contact me, the more time we have to create a ceremony that truly honours your loved one. Please do not hesitate to call or WhatsApp me directly.