Funerals with Annette Rose

Annette Rose

A little bit about me and how the seed was planted for me to become a Funeral Celebrant...It was 1995, I was 21 when my mother died after a long illness. What proceeded was a Catholic Funeral Service in our local church, followed by a burial. I remember it to be a lovely service, that incorporated many traditional rituals and elements. I was left with an overwhelming feeling of great respect and admiration for the whole funeral process and the funeral industry. That feeling never left me, and was always a thought in the back of my mind. 

Then 25years later, in April 2020, my Nonna, my maternal Italian grandmother died. With Covid impacting funerals at the time, rather than her funeral being a traditional Italian one, it was a small, intimate, ten person funeral service held in the chapel of the funeral home. A very different scenario to the way funerals have been conducted for many years in the Italian culture. I feel this was my grandmother's way of showing me that funeral ceremonies can be done different today! 

It was overwhelming truly warm, beautiful and befitting to my grandmother, and most importantly still honoured her and our family’s traditional Italian heritage and values. I loved the beautiful feeling of blending the traditional with the modern elements to create a truly personalised ceremony…it was her.

As her granddaughter, I was fortunate to attend and partly officiate her funeral ceremony, which left me with an immense feeling of privilege and honour. It was this experience that sparked my desire, passion and foray into the funeral industry, knowing that I too, can bring this feeling to any family. 

As I reflect, it was these two significant moments in my life that have led me onto the path here today, here to assist you, your family and friends to hold space with understanding, compassion and grace, to create a bespoke ceremony, memorial or celebration of life, that is reflective of the true essence and character of your loved one.