Alison Stobbs Celebrant
Your service, your way.
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About Me.
I’m Ali, a fully qualified funeral celebrant based in Littleborough. My work extends across Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Greater Manchester, and I’m open to traveling farther if needed.
Having experienced personal loss, including being widowed in my thirties, I turned to a celebrant to create a heartfelt ceremony for my husband. This experience inspired me to become a funeral celebrant myself.
Beyond my work, I cherish life’s moments. Whether exploring scenic spots with my Weimaraner companion, Loki, or immersing myself in music festivals, I strive to embrace each day fully with my partner, friends and family.
Funeral services provide an opportunity to celebrate the unique qualities of our loved ones. Everyone deserves a ceremony that reflects their essence as a person. Even amidst sadness, it’s okay to smile and remember the best of days. My goal is to create occasions that bring people together in both joy and grief, with the hope that a beautiful ceremony can initiate the healing process.
Education
2022
Level 3 Diploma in Funeral Celebrancy
Civil Ceremonies Ltd
This level three course took six months to complete with a mixture of distance learning and a residential assessed element. We learned about the history of funerals in the UK, visited funeral directors and a range of burial sites and researched the huge variety of funeral traditions that exist. Tribute and ceremony writing, interview techniques, knowledge of music and poetry and presentation of a funeral ceremony were all assessed.
1989-1993
BEd (hons) Secondary
De Montfort University
I completed a four year programme of study to become a dance teacher in secondary schools. There were units on Dance history, Ethnic dances from around the world, ballet, contemporary, physical theatre and jazz techniques, community dance and choreography as well as professional studies for the pedagogy of teaching.
Get Inspired
Crematorium or Chapel service including committal
£239
Scattering of Ashes
Complimentary if I have created your funeral service. If this is a new client -
£50
Pre-Need Planning
Meet with you and write your own funeral service ahead of time
£239
Custom Funeral, Celebration of Life or Memorial Service
From £250
Crematorium or Chapel Service
Included in this service is a meeting with the close family. This can last around two hours and it helps if you've given some thought to what kind of content you would like to include. I will make copious notes about your loved one and write a tribute worthy of them for you to check for accuracy within two working days. If you need help to choose appropriate music, poetry or readings I will guide you once I know a little about your person.
The service will then be written and presented in partnership with your chosen funeral director and you will be presented with a souvenir copy of the script on leaving.
Please be aware that most chapels and crematoria have strict time limits on their services (usually twenty or thirty minutes). If you feel that you need more time than this there are options; you could ask your funeral director to book a double slot at your chosen chapel or crematorium or you could book a custom service with me that could take place at a venue of your choosing with no time constraints followed by a direct cremation or private family only service.
Scattering of Ashes
I will perform a short scattering of ashes ceremony free of charge if I have previously created the crematorium service. You must ensure that you have the permission of the landowner before scattering or interring ashes.
If I have not already performed the funeral service the fee will be £50
Pre-Need Planning
You may feel that you want to be in control of the arrangements when your own time comes. I would meet you in the same way I would meet with the family after the death of a loved one. We would then write your eulogy and design a service for you for when the time comes.
I will endeavour to be the person that delivers your service after your death but in case I am not available you will be given a full copy of the service. I have a trusted circle of colleagues that will step in to deliver the service should I be unable to.
You would be invoiced 50% of the fee at the time of writing with the balance to be paid to the celebrant who conducts the service.
Custom Funerals and Celebrations of Life
Make a Lasting Impression
Through strategic partnerships formed over years, I’ve learned to be flexible and accommodating to each family’s unique needs and preferences. Religious? Spiritual? Meaningful? As an independent civil celebrant I can design a ceremony that fits you perfectly with religious content or without.
Don't feel that you have to be constrained by a thirty minute crematorium slot. You can choose to hold your service wherever you want. A favourite local pub, beauty spot, historic building or in your own garden are all beautiful options for your service. We can build an event as unique as the person you want to honour with music, words and rituals that mean something to you. Leave all the stress and worries to me.
The fee for custom events starts at £250 and I will give you a no-obligation quote once we have discussed your requirements.
Quote
Vincent Van Gogh
“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together”
What to do When Someone Dies
When someone dies, you may find yourself dealing with an unfamiliar situation with no idea where to start. The points below are a good starting point if you're not sure what to do first.
1
Expected death at home
Call GP and nearest relative (if it isn't you)
Contact a funeral director
2
Unexpected death at home
Call 999 - if the cause is unclear and the person hasn't been seen by their doctor during their last illness the police will need to attend, they will advise you of the next steps
3
Hospital or nursing home death
A medical examiner will check the cause of death.
Staff will advise you
4
Register the Death
5
Tell the essential people and companies
Banks, Mortage providers, employer, friends and relatives
6
Local Celebrant for Local People
Outstanding Commitment
I do this 'job' because I love it. My heart belongs in the North of England and I'm continually inspired by the people, their grit and their stories. My commitment to you is to work with you, to listen and help you get through this difficult time in the best way possible.
Please make use of the attached links if you're in need of extra support at this difficult time:
I maybe should have waited till the morning to read that !!.
Am in absolute bits crying, that is an absolutely beautiful service Alison, you have encapsulated it perfectly.
Thank you
I can’t get over how perfect it is, no words can express how much I would like to thank you for it really
Just want to say thank you again for the most perfect service we could have possibly had. Everything was just amazing and you did a fantastic job.
Hi Ali just a big thankyou for today, mum’s tribute was lovely and you made a difficult day so much easier.
There have been lots of comments from people at the service singing your praises, quite rightly so.
Thank you again from all of us, take care and keep doing what you are doing.
It's been 2 weeks since you did the beautiful service for us to say goodbye to my mum and I just wanted to thank you for such a genuine, touching service.
It touched alot of people and some said it was the nicest funeral they had been to and what a lovely service you did.
I would just like to thank you for making the worst day of my life a little more manageable !!!!
My friend who is training to be a celebrant said she thought you were fantastic and she'd love to end up as good as you , so I just can't thank you enough .
You were amazing
All our love
This is absolutely fabulous Thank you - we think the piece is wonderful
Jill has asked me to thank you very much for conducting Donald’s funeral yesterday. She was really pleased how smoothly and efficiently everything went, which helped her get through the day
I just wanted to email to say a massive "Thank You" for your wonderful presentation of Mick's celebration of life service on Friday, it was perfect and your care and attention was a great comfort to us all.