Heart And Soul Funerals

19/02/2026

You don’t always realize how heavy it is while you’re in it.

When someone you love is nearing the end of life, you just keep going. Making decisions. Holding space. Trying to be strong. You tell yourself you’re managing.

It’s often later, when things quieten down, that the truth settles in. You were carrying far more than anyone should have to carry alone.

If you’re in that space now, or you’ve walked it before, please be gentle with yourself. Reaching for support isn’t a weakness. It’s care.

If this speaks to you, you’re welcome to share it with someone who might need it

10/02/2026

Grief is personal.
It doesn’t follow rules, timelines, or neat stages.

There’s no pressure to answer.
But if you want to, the comments are open and we are here for you.

09/02/2026

Several spaces left for this Saturday’s free Death Cafe event in Newtown that I am running. Always interesting! RSVP by text to Mel on 0425213338

09/02/2026

Sharing this exquisitely beautiful and profound performance that describes the messy, conflicted love we can have for the person dying and how we can bend truth to accommodate our pain…

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1F435VQ3tA/?mibextid=wwXIfr

07/02/2026

Loss doesn’t always arrive loudly.
Sometimes it sits quietly beside everyday moments, while life keeps moving.

So much can be managed on the outside, while inside you’re already carrying the weight of goodbye.
It can feel incredibly lonely, especially when you’re trying to stay steady for everyone else.

If this feels familiar, you’re welcome to pause here.
And if you feel like sharing, you can. 🩵

03/02/2026

When you’re losing someone you love,
not knowing what to do is part of it.

There are no perfect answers.
Just one moment, then the next.
I’m here to listen 🩵

19/01/2026

I’m excited to be interviewed on Community Radio Skid Row in Marrickville tomorrow as part of an Inner West Council Seniors initiative.

We’ll be discussing the role of End of Life Doulas and the importance of planning for your end of life with Diana Bragg.

I’ll share more information soon once the broadcast date is confirmed.

20/11/2023

You are warmly invited to my next Death Cafe on Tuesday 12/12/23 at the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre 9.45 am for 10 am start to 1 2 (1 pm if you’re happy to stay and be interviewed by SBS who are filming it afterwards). RSVP to Mel at 0425213338

📸 Look at this post on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/v/eZWa1kgXcQaLh3h4/?mibextid=WC7FNe

16/05/2022

Steve’s Farewell @ Lotus Pavilion 16/05/22 was a huge musical and visual feast and creative collaboration ( only 3 hours sleep a day for the 3 days prior as I needed to get it right as planner and celebrant for the family’s sake!) that included his wife Esther, twin daughters Bridie and Shannon and his global friends and family around the world.

Steve Connellan was clearly a master in his field as a broadcast design engineer working on every major sporting event in every major country from the Olympics to FIFA world cup and for every TV channel but always coming back to the ABC for whom he had great loyalty.

Apart from his love of Japanese culture, music, photography, sailing, meditation, 10 minute drum solos, his cat Mischa and his family, we heard from every speaker how he was also one of the kindest people you will ever meet.
Guests lit incense, heard tributes, laughed, cried and adorned Steve’s coffin with sprigs of eucalyptus before taking home photo cards with shots by Steve and hand made origami paper cranes folded by the family.
The Lotus Pavilion space was perfect with its open plan, surrounded by nature and lush green which the gardener and aesthete in Steve would have appreciated. RIP Steve

21/03/2022

I work with Picaluna Funerals and will be posting about families we have helped or advice regarding planning your funeral. This is about a local Coogee surfer…

https://www.facebook.com/groups/picalunaoperations/permalink/3256826807883096/

14/01/2022

Very well written article on the debate re embalming a body.

Without realizing it, many of us make it harder than it must be