When someone we love passes, there are so many emotions, decisions and things to organise. I believe the farewell should be one part of that process that feels personal, meaningful and truly about the person you are saying goodbye to. I conduct funerals, memorial services, farewells and celebrations of life, as well as more personal ceremonies such as ashes scattering, interment of ashes and family remembrance ceremonies. I take the time to get to know the person behind the ceremony. I want to hear the stories — the funny ones, the special memories and the little things that made them who they were. Sometimes it is those small, everyday things that tell us the most about a person. I work closely with families to create a ceremony that feels right for them. There is no one way to say goodbye, and I don't believe a farewell should feel like a standard service with someone else's words simply changed to fit. Sometimes a family wants a traditional funeral. Sometimes they want something small and private. It might be a celebration of life held somewhere special, a memorial service some time after the death, or a gathering to scatter someone's ashes in a place that meant something to them. I also conduct living funerals and living celebrations, giving someone the opportunity to be surrounded by the people they love, hear the stories and memories, and share that special time together while they are still here. And sometimes a farewell doesn't happen straight away. Families may need time before they are ready to hold a ceremony, or circumstances may mean that people couldn't be together at the time of the funeral. There is no set time for remembering someone or saying goodbye. I understand that these can be very difficult times. My role is to listen, to take care of the ceremony, and to make things a little easier for you. I will tell your loved one's story with warmth, honesty and genuine care. For me, a farewell is about remembering a life that mattered. It can be sad, but it can also be filled with laughter, love, music, memories and those stories that make everyone say, “That was so them.” I feel privileged to help families create a ceremony that is personal, heartfelt and a true reflection of the person they loved. I'm based in Murwillumbah and conduct funerals and celebrations of life across the Tweed, Byron Bay, the Gold Coast and the Northern Rivers. I can usually take a service within a few days, and I charge nothing extra for short notice or weekends. My fee is published at bestceremonies.com.au.

A Farewell A life is made up of thousands of moments. The big ones we remember, Births, weddings, birthdays, milestones and adventures, but often it is the little things that stay with us the longest. A favourite saying. The way they laughed. A story that was told so many times that everyone knew the ending. The songs they loved. The little things they did that made them completely, themselves. When we say goodbye, we don't have to leave those things behind. We can gather the stories, the memories, the laughter and the tears and bring them together to remember a life that mattered. Sometimes saying goodbye is a funeral surrounded by family and friends. Sometimes it is a quiet farewell or the scattering of ashes somewhere special. Sometimes it is a celebration of life held much later, when everyone is ready. And sometimes we have the beautiful opportunity to celebrate someone's life while they are still here to hear it. There is no right or wrong way to say goodbye. There is only your way. And sometimes, the most beautiful farewell is simply telling their story — remembering the moments, the memories, the laughter, the love, and all the little things that made them uniquely who they were. Because every life has a story worth telling.

Felicity conducted my grandmother’s memorial service and ashes scattering on the banks of the Nerang River, beside her ancestral home. It was such a special and emotional place for our family, and Felicity brought so much warmth, respect and genuine love to the ceremony. She captured the essence of exactly who my grandmother was and made the farewell feel incredibly personal. She encouraged family and friends to share their own memories and stories, and when people became emotional, she was there to gently support them through it. It was a beautiful tribute to my grandmother and a farewell that our family will always remember. Blair Young

Our dear mother passed away in May 2023 and the funeral director gave us details of a person who could conduct the service. My sister and I didn't feel that she was right for us and then we luckily remembered Felicity Best who did a great job as the Celebrant for my daughter's wedding in 2020. Felicity was the ideal choice. She was caring and compassionate, and accommodated any suggestions that we made. I will always be grateful for the grace and dignity Felicity brought to the final celebration of Mum's life. Narelle Stable