Your Experienced Funeral Celebrant is Gerald Fierst of Montclair, New Jersey, USA
It is difficult to conceive of a person better equipped to co-create a funeral ceremony than funeral celebrant Gerry Fierst. Each life is set in an historical context, so it is essential that the celebrant know history. To get the right words and music for this once-only-chance occasion one must have a wide and sensitive knowledge knowledge of music, poetry, and literature. He must have the skill to aptly tell the story of the person to whose life we pay tribute. He must be aware of the symbols which bring forth from the unconscious, an awareness of a person that thousands of words could not do. Gerry has these skills.
Composed and prepared, even an excellent ceremony must be delivered with feeling and the right amount of understanding, emotion and sincere empathy.
Look at Gerry Fierst and his record - he has had a sound general education, crowned with a distinguished long term career as an actor (e.g Whole Theatre, Montclair NJ) and a degree from one of the finest universities in the world (Yale) and he is a proud graduate of the best celebrancy course on the planet (International College of Celebrancy). As for his ability to research and deliver the ceremony, he is a renowned author (The Heart of the Wedding), and an international story teller -- in demand from diverse institutions and schools from as far afield as Alaska, Hong Kong, Spain, Israel, Singapore and Australia.
He sees his work as funeral celebrant as a creative privilege at the service of anyone he can assist at this important time. I am proud to fully recommend him.
Dally Messenger, Principal, International College of Celebrancy.
I am Located at:
259 Park Street
Montclair, NJ 07043
My contact details are:
gerald@geraldfierst.com
w) 973 746 4608
m) 973 464 1374
Places which I service easily as a celebrant
Northern New Jersey,
New York
My General Qualifications are:
from Yale University
My Celebrancy Qualifications are:
Diploma in Marriage Celebrancy
For my Celebrancy qualification I was Trained by:
International College of Celebrancy
My Associations are:
Member: International College of Celebrancy Alumni and Friends
Celebrant USA Foundation
This website is about the Following Ceremonies:
Funerals (including State Funerals and VIP Funerals)
Memorial ceremonies
Scattering or Interment of Ashes
(If possible, please contact me first before you contact the Funeral Home. I can advise you about time needed to prepare and associated issues)
I also do weddings and other other ceremonies please see --
geraldfierst.com
theheartofthewedding.com
About Me:
One major contribution I have made to Civil Celebrancy revolves around my authorship of the acclaimed book - The Heart of the Wedding - to be released early in 2011.
I have been a practising celebrant since 2002.
The normal procedure for preparing a funeral ceremony.
1. It usually happens that I receive a phone call from the family of the person who has died, or who is dying, or from the Funeral Home, on behalf of the family.
2. I then visit the family usually in their own home.
3. In an unhurried interview/ discussion, which normally varies from an hour to three hours, I listen to every member of the family tell me about the person and the chronology of his/her life. I take extensive notes.
4. I then go home and write the main eulogy and plan the ceremony as a whole (music, quotations, symbols, reminiscences of family and friends etc).
5. I then, usually by email, send a draft back to the family, or a chosen representative, and dialogue about the contents until everyone is agreed that it is factually correct and suitable.
6. Very important. I arrange a final check every word back with the family to ensure there are no errors. (Sometimes this involves a rehearsal)
7. On the appointed day I take charge of the ceremony and organise it according to what has been agreed.
My Attitude To the Funeral Ceremony
I have tried since I became a celebrant to hold to, and develop, the original ideals of Lionel Murphy’s commission to the civil funeral celebrant. Each ceremony should be unique to each person. (In the many funeral (or wedding) ceremonies I have created, I can honestly say I have never delivered two ceremonies, which are the same.)
The substance of the ceremony, and especially the eulogy, should be totally authentic for the person. The music, the poetry and the quotations should be painstakingly prepared relevant to the person and an illumination of his or her life.
The celebrant should be educated in his role. I believe I should work closely with the next-of-kin and family - and selected friends.
Kaizen, Ceremony and Personalisation
Like all graduates of the International College of Celebrancy I attempt to live by the principle of Kaizen – namely, that every ceremony I deliver is a little bit better than the last one. I have observed, and I believe, that what makes Celebrant ceremonies the very best in the world is our ideal of personalization – e.g. the story of the person’s life - the chronology of their personal journey through life, and the poetry, prose, music, symbols that are most appropriate. Sometimes photographs and videos are shown as part of the ceremony - sometimes before or after.
Secular Spirituality
I keep in mind that my prime constituency are persons without religious affiliation – secular people - though I am very happy to adapt to people of faith if they wish a personal and partially religious ceremony.
I consider many of my secular clients are very spiritual - I observe a wonderful secular spirituality – meaning the highest ideals, the best moral principles of living, a dedication to goodness, and devotion to relationships. A lot more could be said - but you understand where I am coming from.
Fees and Value:
Celebrancy is one area of life you really get what you pay for. I am not talking about myself here – nothing personal – but the best investment for a funeral or memorial service or any other ceremony - should be in the celebrant and the ceremony. This is one area in which you should not try to “save”.
There is no such thing as a short cut to a good funeral. I cling to the idealistic notion that a worthy life cannot be dismissed by a one-size-fits-all funeral completed, quite often, in a few minutes. I also believe that the funeral ceremony is the most important part of the arrangement and proceedings.
Funeral Fees:
New York and New Jersey, I usually spend between 10 - 30 hours preparing and delivering a funeral. I can’t remember the last time I spent less than 10 hours. Eulogy, appropriate readings, symbols and photos, and music - all take care, preparation time and checking back time to make sure it is right.
In my opinion the only fair way to pay a Funeral Celebrant is by an hourly rate.
I can invoice you direct or you can pay me through the Funeral Home.
More than 20 miles from Montclair, travel fees apply.
For long distance travel I negotiate airfares and reasonable accommodation. My fee is $85 hour. (Ball Park figure $850 to $2550 or more per Funeral/ Memorial service). For State Funerals or VIP Funerals, due to the increased responsibility, the per hour rate will be higher.
I reserve the right to discount my usual fee for people with limited or low incomes. Prompt payment is always appreciated.