Fancy some fireworks at your funeral?
Did you know you could be buried in a Lego coffin or have your funeral on a boat?
Wellington mother-of-three Annouschka Martinsen is the managing director of new website Celebrate Me, the country’s only online directory of everything you need to organise a funeral.
Her website lists everything from flowers and music to celebrants and fireworks displays, stationery and pet funerals.
Martinsen says inspiration for the site came to her last July as she was reflecting on what she wanted to do with her life.
Her dad had died unexpectedly at age 47 and, after talking to her mum and many other families, she realised that most people would do a funeral differently if they got the chance.
‘‘The purpose of the site is basically just to provide all the information in one location ...
‘‘What I want people to be able to do is have a look through that information and when they contact their funeral director to organise a service, that they’re the ones that are actually saying ’this is what I want’.
‘‘Psychologically, from a grief perspective, it helps families quite a lot in dealing what they have to deal with the more they feel like they’ve given the person the right farewell.’’
Celebrate Me also offers inspirational ideas and information on support services, which Martinsen says is important because there is more to a farewell than just a 90-minute service.
‘‘When we were first trying to have children, I miscarried my first baby and at the time I was very grief stricken about it … I wasn’t expecting it but I also didn’t know how to deal with it.’’
‘‘But one of the things I did do is I bought a lemon tree ... every time we look at the lemon tree that reminds me, and it’s not a negative thing. It’s just nice to have something that’s in memory.’’
The website currently features 600 businesses and Martinsen is working hard to increase this.
‘‘It’s a labour of love thing for me, so I work on it every day.’’
Martinsen knows funerals aren’t a popular topic of discussion but says that making sure people are aware they have options is important to her.
‘‘To know their loved one’s wishes are being fulfilled and that their life is being celebrated in a personal and loving way is a healthy step in the process of grieving.’’