Celebrant for Life Tributes-Siobhan Swartz

07/03/2026

Excellent advice for a difficult and sensitive topic.

Many parents worry about getting it wrong, but honest answers, concrete terminology and empathy go a long way, says a children's grief counsellor.

13/02/2026

A NATURAL BURIAL // In accordance with his wishes we farewelled Jim the same way that he lived his life - with minimal ecological impact. A few weeks on on from the funeral his wife, Marion, reflects on how she let him go: https://commonsenseorganics.co.nz/blog/a-natural-burial/

12/12/2025

Thinking ahead doesn’t diminish today- it strengthens it. This wonderful site provides guidance to help you understand your options, express your wishes, and create a plan that reflects your values.

Go With Grace offers resources, gentle guidance, support and peace of mind for those planning for end-of-life and for people facing the loss of a loved one.

12/12/2025

A lovely review of a Celebration of Life Service I supported the family with in October this year ❤️

‘Our family highly recommend Siobhan as a Celebrant for funerals.

When choosing someone to comfort us and help celebrate our Dad’s life, she was our first choice. From the beginning, the whole family felt completely at ease with her. She offered thoughtful advice, listened with patience and supported us as we struggled with our loss.

Siobhan truly listened to our stories and captured Dad’s personality beautifully in the words she wrote for his service- a heartfelt celebration of his life.

We cannot thank Siobhan enough for making our dad’s funeral so special. Many of those who attended shared the same sentiment.

She listened to our thoughts, guided us through an incredibly difficult time, and provided options that helped us make decisions with confidence. This was the first funeral we had ever needed to organise, and Siobhan stayed in touch throughout the entire process to make sure we were coping.

We hope it’s many years before we have another funeral to organise, but when that time comes, Siobhan will be the first person we call

Mel Le Cren

27/11/2025

A lovely review for a Celebration of Life Service I officiated in 2023 ❤️

‘We were so grateful to have Siobhan as our Funeral Celebrant. She was caring, accomodating, and genuinely supportive throughout the entire process. Although she had known us for many years, she didn’t really know our brother and son, Peter. Still, she thoughtfully crafted a service that honoured him beautifully, drawing on Mum’s memories and the reflections of each sibling.

Siobhan made the difficult act of saying farewell feel lighter and more personal. She was open to our ideas and understood exactly what we needed. Because Peter had hoped to attend Mum’s 90th Birthday but passed away a month before, we decided to hold his memorial service earlier on the same day so that, in spirit, he could still be part of the celebration.
Siobhan embraced this wholeheartedly and guided us with such compassion.

Thanks to her, the day felt meaningful, gentle, and true to both Peter and Mum. We couldn’t have asked for a more thoughtful Celebrant.’

W Gilbert and family

26/11/2025

Would you like some handy tips and information around how to give your loved one a wonderful send off, without it becoming a financial burden? If so, this is worth checking out ☺️

When organising my brothers funeral I realised I felt like a wedding planner on a compressed timeframe, so I decided to make life easier for families by compiling a Funeral Guide. This book will empower you with all the information and knowledge your family will need to give your loved one an afford...

26/10/2025

Embracing a Gentle Return to the Earth: Natural Burials in Aotearoa 🌿

As a celebrant, I’ve had the privilege of supporting families in creating deeply personal, meaningful goodbyes. One of the most beautiful and increasingly embraced choices here in Aotearoa is natural burial.

Natural burials offer a return to simplicity—a gentle farewell that honours both the person and Papatūānuku (Mother Earth). These eco-conscious burials involve biodegradable caskets or shrouds, no embalming, and shallow graves to support natural decomposition and native bush regeneration.

In New Zealand, we’re fortunate to have several certified natural burial grounds—from Auckland's Waikumete Cemetery, Wellington’s Makara Cemetery to others in places like Hamilton, Motueka, and beyond. These spaces are not only places of rest, but of life: rewilding native bush, creating sanctuaries for birdsong, and allowing loved ones to visit a living, growing memorial.

More and more people are asking: How can my death reflect my values in life? Natural burial is one answer to that—quiet, grounded, and reverent.

If you’re interested in weaving natural burial into your farewell plans—or someone else’s—I’d be honoured to help guide you through it.

💚 A farewell that gives back to the land.

07/09/2025

🫶Holding love and loss on Father's Day. 🫶

Father's Day can be a day of mixed emotions - for some it’s a time of celebration, while for others it brings tender reminders of someone who is deeply missed.

A gentle reminder
Grief is the price we pay for love. It reflects the deep bonds we share, and it’s natural to feel that love more strongly on days like this. Whether you honour your father, a child, a partner, or the dream of fatherhood, your way of remembering is valid.

Ways to care for yourself around Father’s Day
🌿 Share a story or memory that brings warmth.
🌿 Spend time in a place that feels comforting.
🌿 Maybe make dad’s favourite dish in his honour.
🌿 Allow yourself quiet space if that’s what you need.
🌿 Reach out to someone who understands.

Key things to know about grief
🌿It’s personal — there is no “right way.”
🌿It comes in waves — some days heavier than others.
🌿It affects mind, body, and spirit.
🌿It needs space — to talk, cry, or simply sit with.

On Father’s Day, we hold space for both the love and the loss. Your feelings matter, and your journey is yours to honour in your own way. 💙

If you need professional support through your grief journey please contact us or see our website for resources.

griefcentre.org.nz/resources

02/09/2025

As a Celebrant, I understand the importance of not only honouring life but also offering peace of mind during life’s challenging moments. If you’d like to learn more about how to prepare for end of life planning, ensuring that you and your loved ones are not burdened with unnecessary debt, I recommend deathwithoutdebt.org.nz

2025 Workshops & Webinars

01/09/2025

Worth checking out 😊

22/08/2025

What is a memorial service?

A memorial service is a beautiful way to honour and remember a loved one who has passed away. Unlike a traditional funeral, a memorial service typically takes place after a burial or cremation-and sometimes even weeks or months later-giving family and friends time to gather, reflect, and celebrate a life well lived.

These services are often less formal and more personal.
As a Celebrant, I work closely with families to create heartfelt ceremonies that reflect the legacy of their loved one. Whether held in a garden, hall, beach or home, a memorial service can be a deeply healing experience.

If you have questions or would like support in planning a memorial, I’m here to help.