Funeral celebrancy – a growing profession

The profession of funeral celebrant has existed for more than 50 years. And yet most Swiss do not even know what a celebrant is. When I tell them I am a professional funeral celebrant,…

It’s worth taking time to create meaningful funerals, say experts on loss and bereavement.   Yet in Switzerland, most funerals take place within a week of the death of a loved person. There are important…

Philipp Schenker is a volunteer for EXIT, Switzerland’s largest assisted suicide organisation. According to EXIT, its end-of-life care is characterised above all by empathy – empathy both for the person wishing to die and…

Are you planning to hold the funeral of your loved one back home with family and friends? If he or she died in Switzerland, that means sending their ashes or their coffin back to…

More and more people are planning their farewell ceremonies in advance. A case in point was Elizabeth. It was a beautiful summer’s day when I met Elizabeth. She was serene and happy despite knowing…

What do you do if a loved one dies in England or the US? Well, just like in Switzerland, your first reaction will probably be profound shock, even if the death had been expected….