CUSTOM FUNERAL, MEMORIAL, CELEBRATION-OF-LIFE CEREMONIES & NATIONWIDE WRITING CEREMONY SERVICES

Serving Naples, Fort Myers, Southeast and Southwest Florida Coasts & the Chicagoland Areas

Every life tells a story, each one unique, meaningful, and unforgettable. Every goodbye should be just as personal and heartfelt. As a certified funeral celebrant, I create and lead personalized ceremonies that honor your loved one’s values, passions, beliefs, and legacy. Together, we will design a farewell as beautiful and unique as the life it celebrates.

Who Do I Serve?

My services are ideal for families of all backgrounds, whether religious, non-religious, or interfaith, seeking a ceremony that feels personal, meaningful, and true to their loved one’s life. I work with those who want to celebrate life with a focus on joy, gratitude, and legacy, whether through an intimate gathering or a larger community tribute.

I offer flexibility in style, tone, and format, guiding ceremonies in any location, including homes, beaches, country clubs, restaurants, or any location that holds special significance. For families who wish to speak themselves, I also provide eulogy writing and ceremony scripting to ensure every word honors their loved one's story.

Custom Ceremony Services

I offer a range of options, designed to meet every family's emotional and spiritual needs:

Personalized Funeral Ceremonies – Honor your loved one’s life with a service tailored to their values and traditions.
Celebrations of Life – Uplifting, story-rich ceremonies that highlight cherished memories and joyful milestones.
Memorial Services & Ash Scatterings – Thoughtful ceremonies in sacred, scenic, or meaningful spaces.
Graveside & Committal Services – Quiet, dignified farewells that bring closure and connection.
Eulogy and Ceremony Writing Services – Professional, heartfelt writing support if you or a loved one will be leading the ceremony. Eulogy and Ceremony Writing Services are available nationwide.

Why Choose Heartfelt Custom Ceremonies

A Personal, Meaningful Tribute
Every script and ceremony is crafted around the life it honors, with stories, rituals, and moments that feel authentic.
Confidence for Your Ceremony Leader
Whether you choose me or a family member, friend, or clergy to lead, every script includes transitions, readings, and rituals with care.
Complete Customization
From cultural and spiritual elements to favorite songs, poems, or symbolic rituals, your ceremony will be as unique as the life it celebrates.

CUSTOM WRITTEN & LED CEREMONY

Starting at $600

A fully personalized ceremony, professionally led with experience, heart, and compassion.

Planning a memorial or funeral ceremony can feel overwhelming, especially during a time of loss. I'm here to gently guide you through the process with care and clarity. Together, we'll explore the ceremony style that feels right for your family. Most importantly, we'll add personal touches that reflect your loved one's unique story and spirit, creating a ceremony that brings comfort, connection, and healing.

As your celebrant, I bring not only professional training but also a deep sense of care and presence to every ceremony I lead. With warmth, sensitivity, and attention to detail, I will guide your family and guests through a meaningful experience that offers both connection and comfort.

This package includes:

A 90-minute online interview to gather memories and stories of your loved one
A fully custom-written ceremony script
Professional ceremony leadership on the day of the service
Coordination with your venue or funeral provider, if needed
Up to three edits
Unlimited email/phone support during the planning process

Let's honor your loved one with a ceremony that is beautiful, personal, and deeply meaningful.

CUSTOM WRITTEN CEREMONY

$450

Why Choose a Professional Script Writer?

1. A Personalized, Meaningful Tribute
I work with you in a ceremony planning session to understand their story, personality, and what made them unforgettable. Together, we'll choose a central theme to guide the structure and tone of the ceremony.

2. Confidence for Your Ceremony Leader
Whether a close friend, family member, or clergy member is leading the service, the script provides everything they need: beautiful language, clear transitions, and gentle guidance for moments of silence, readings, or rituals.

3. Complete Customization
Include cultural or spiritual elements, favorite songs or poems, symbolic rituals, or communal reflections.

Ceremony Script Package Includes:

One virtual consultation to explore your loved one's story and your vision for the service
A fully customized script with a central theme woven throughout
One round of revisions
Stage directions, timing cues, and transitions included
A one-hour online run-through with your chosen officiant or family member
Help to select poems, readings, rituals, or music that reflect the life being honored

CUSTOM EULOGY

LIFE STORY

$300

A eulogy is more than a speech. It is a tribute, a life story, and a touchstone in the grief journey. Whether you're delivering it yourself or want someone to speak on your behalf, I work closely with you to craft a eulogy that captures the essence of your loved one: who they were, how they lived, and the mark they left on the world.

What Makes This Eulogy Service Unique?

1. Story-Driven and Heartfelt
Rather than just listing facts or dates, I shape the eulogy around a central theme and weave in personal stories, character details, and warm reflections that bring your loved one vividly to life.

2. Collaborative and Compassionate
I guide you through a gentle interview process to uncover memories, traits, and turning points that defined their journey.

3. Written for the Moment
The final piece is written in a natural, conversational voice, ready for you to read or have someone else deliver.

Eulogy Package Includes:

A 45-minute story session to explore your loved one's life and legacy
An entirely written, custom eulogy with a clear narrative and central theme
One round of edits to refine voice or structure
Optional guidance on delivery if you're reading it yourself

Let's Talk

What They Are Saying

"In my grief, I wanted to leave all the planning up to Joan. But in her gentle way, she encouraged me to think about how I wanted to best honor my husband's life."

"It wouldn't have been as special without you telling my mom's story so creatively and with heart. Everyone felt her life in the room. We're all very thankful."

"Joan speaks with such strength and groundedness. She is confident but in a gentle and calming way."

"We met today with the chaplain, and he is happy that we have a script he can use that is so personalized for my son's service. We’re very pleased with how personal the ceremony you wrote is and feel good knowing it’s so well planned."

Serving Families Near & Far

Most families are local, but I'm honored to lead ceremonies across the country. Distance is never a barrier to creating a deeply personal farewell. All travel-based and script-writing ceremonies are handled with discretion and transparency, with the utmost respect and care.

"When you're overwhelmed by grief and still in the shock of the loss of a loved one, it is very difficult to try to plan a memorial service. We lost my younger brother unexpectedly in February, and we are so glad we found Joan at Heartfelt Custom Ceremonies. She had the expertise, experience, and creativity that we needed to guide us through the process of creating a meaningful and personalized ceremony script. Joan included special touches like a candle lighting ceremony by the siblings to honor my brother's life, as well as, a section in the script for gathered family and friends to participate in responding to things we will always remember about my brother. She was able to compose a service that captured and highlighted the positive and uplifting aspects of our loved one's life at a time when we were overcome by grief. After speaking with Joan, she used the details and insight into my brother's life to write a beautiful, easy-to-follow script that was more than we could have imagined for his service. Joan was responsive, easy to communicate with, compassionate, and sincere. Her warmth and sensitivity to what we were going through made the whole process much easier. Having Joan write such a lovely ceremony script that flowed perfectly, took a huge weight off of our family so we could focus on grieving. Thank you, Joan, for creating such a beautiful and respectful service to honor my brother's life." Jennifer

"Joan created a heartfelt and personal ceremony that we used to remember my dad at his memorial service. She was thorough, interviewing several of those close to him, in creating a wonderful and personal tribute. She is kind, thoughtful and helpful and I'd recommend her services to anyone who needs some guidance through this process." Lynn

Schedule a No-Obligation Consultation

Please reach out if you're in need of a compassionate, personalized ceremony to honor and celebrate the life of your loved one.