Funeral & Memorial Officiant in Evansville, Indiana
When someone you love dies, you deserve a service that sounds like them, led by someone who took the time to learn who they were. I am so sorry for your loss, and I am here to help, often within a day or two.
A personal service, whether or not your family belongs to a church
Many families in the Evansville area are not connected to a congregation, or their loved one's beliefs were different from the family's, or the pastor who knew them has long since moved on. You should still have a service that feels true. That is what I do.
I meet with your family, listen to the stories, the quirks, the things that made your person who they were, and I write a service that reflects them. I can lead the whole service, deliver the eulogy, or simply hold the structure so family and friends can speak. Scripture, prayer and hymns are welcome if you want them. So is a service with no religious content at all.
I work alongside every funeral home, cemetery and crematory in the Tri-State and will coordinate directly with the funeral director so you have one less thing to manage.
- Available on short notice, usually within 24 to 48 hours
- In-person or phone meeting with the family
- Personalized eulogy and service written for your loved one
- Religious, non-religious, spiritual or blended
- Coordination with the funeral home, cemetery and musicians
- A printed copy of the service for the family to keep
Grief is love with nowhere to go. A good funeral gives it somewhere to go, at least for an hour.
Every kind of goodbye
- Traditional funeral services
A full service at the funeral home, church or chapel, with or without a viewing, followed by a graveside committal. Structured, dignified and still personal.
- Memorial services
A service held after burial or cremation, without the body present. Often more flexible in timing and location, which gives out-of-town family time to travel.
- Celebrations of life
A less formal gathering that leans into stories, music, laughter and the things your person loved, at a park, a backyard, a brewery, a club or a hall.
- Graveside & committal services
A brief, meaningful service at the cemetery, whether it is the only service or the final moment of a longer day.
- Cremation & scattering ceremonies
Ceremonies for the interment or scattering of ashes, at a columbarium, by the river, in a garden, or anywhere your loved one would have wanted to rest.
- Virtual & hybrid services
For families spread across the country, I can help livestream the service or lead a dedicated online memorial so no one is left out of saying goodbye.
Funerals that tell the truth about who someone was
Too many LGBTQ+ people are misnamed, misgendered or quietly edited at their own funerals. Partners get introduced as "friends." Chosen family gets seated in the back. Decades of a life get left out of the eulogy.
I will not do that. When I lead a service, your person is remembered by the name they used, the pronouns they used, and the people they loved. If you are a surviving partner or a member of chosen family navigating a difficult situation with relatives, I will help you honor your loved one with grace and firmness, including a separate memorial for friends and chosen family if the official service is not an option.
From your first call to the final words
Reach out
Call, text or send a message. Tell me the date you are working with and which funeral home, if any, you are using. I will confirm availability quickly.
We meet
I sit down with your family, in person or by phone, to hear about your loved one. Bring photos, stories and anything that captures who they were.
I lead the service
I write the service, share it with you for review, coordinate with the funeral director, and lead the day with steadiness and warmth.
Pricing
Funeral and memorial services are a flat honorarium of $300, including the family meeting, a personalized service and eulogy, coordination and travel within 30 miles of Evansville. Graveside-only committals are $175.
Please do not let cost keep you from calling. If finances are a concern, talk to me.
Planning ahead
Some people prefer to plan their own service while they are well. I am glad to meet with you, record your wishes and keep a ceremony on file so your family has one less decision to make later. See end-of-life ceremonies.
I am here when you need me
Please call or text for the fastest response. For planning ahead or less urgent questions, the contact form works well too.