Kerry Isted

I have had experience of helping others with bereavement, both in central government and with churches.

I have used that experience to design a personal funeral service with you.
I am a funeral celebrant with a calm, compassionate approach and a deep understanding of what families face at the most difficult times.
Before becoming a celebrant, I worked as a funeral arranger, guiding people through every stage of planning and preparation-listening carefully, explaining options clearly, and helping families feel supported and understood.

Alongside my celebrant work, I have also supported older people in a care-home setting. This role kept me grounded in the small, everyday acts of care that matter-patience, dignity, reassurance, and kindness.
It also reinforced how important it is to honour a person’s life story gently and faithfully, and to create a ceremony that feels right for those who knew and loved them.

My celebrant work is also shaped by personal experience. Sadly, I arranged and led the funeral for my own daughter. Walking that path myself has given me an honest understanding of grief how it can feel overwhelming, how it changes day to day, and how meaningful it is when someone helps you make space for love, memory, and goodbye.

I work with families of all faiths and none, taking time to learn what mattered most to the person who has died and what you need from the day. Together we can create a ceremony that is personal and heartfelt—whether that means something traditional, something simple, or something entirely unique.

My aim is always the same: to help you feel held, heard, and supported as we honour a life and say farewell.

Kerry Isted