Here are some dates to pop in your diary for 2026 Zoom sessions for funeral celebrants, new Celebrants Aotearoa members and all-member open sessions:
Funeral Celebrant Zoom meetings - with National Executive member Libby Carson.
Tuesday 10 February 2026
Tuesday 2 June 2026
Tuesday 6 October 2026
(Please see topics below)
All-member open Zoom meetings - with President Anna Flanagan
Wednesday 13 May 2026
Wednesday 14 October 2026
New member Zoom meetings - with President Anna Flanagan
Monday 2 March 2026
Monday 8 June 2026
Monday 7 September 2026
Monday 7 December 2026
Funeral Celebrant Zoom meetings - topics:
Tuesday 10 February 2026 - Behind the Scenes with a Funeral Director - what actually happens from the time a funeral director is engaged to the time of burial or cremation. Funeral directors and celebrants work in sync with one another but there's a lot that celebrants may not know about what a funeral director does.
For example, what actually happens when a funeral director goes to a site where there is a deceased person. What if the deceased is located in an awkward position or difficult to move? What does the embalming process actually entail? Or if there is no embalming process, what does that mean? What are the rules around burials, i.e., why can't I just do it myself out the back of my property? How does a funeral director choose a celebrant? What can the funeral director do and can't do? What do they find useful from the celebrant? What actually happens at a cremation - is it true the handles are removed and reused? What can you put in a casket? This and so many more questions will be answered.
Tuesday 2 June 2026 - Difficult Funerals - how do you manage a difficult funeral? Where you may be farewelling a baby, someone who has taken their own life, someone whose life has been taken, difficult members of the congregation, drunkenness, family disputes, etc. We'll talk through some of these scenarios and we welcome any examples you might like to bring to the conversation. A free flowing conversation between celebrants about their experiences, their advice, and how they dealt with difficult situations.
Tuesday 6 October 2026 - Funerals 101 - this session covers everything from the first phone call, to meeting the family, to using technology to help you write funeral services, to accounting practices, marketing yourself, and how to take care of yourself before and after a funeral service, and so much more. Great for those who are starting their careers as a funeral celebrant as well as those more seasoned celebrants who may learn something new. An open forum where celebrants can share their stories and what works for them.
You will find all of our events listed here on our website.
