End of Life Rituals: The Connected Way

End of Life Rituals are absolutely essential to the grieving process and I have seen them done well and not-so-well, which can really support (or not support) the transition of a love done and also you in transitioning your relationship.

I am honored to support people in the often incredibly challenging moments of loss following a death. It is my mission to provide comfort and spiritual support to those navigating these transitions while also truly honoring the Spirit, Life and Memory of your departed love one. I work with people who want an End of Life Ritual (Celebration of Life, Funeral, any name works) that really embodies the spirit of their Loved One, and who want to honor the Both / And - the love and joy of their loved one’s spirit and life AND the grief and sadness in their absence, and those who want to feel more connected to all who loved their Loved One and all guests in attendance.

“Devin somehow wove together all the elements so seamlessly - she truly channeled and brought forth the spirit of the departed, myth-busted to create clarity, honored the grief and experience of all present, providing spiritual guidance and insights into life and death, all while making it seem like she was there speaking to each person on a very relatable level.

I have no idea how she does it but I cannot imagine a better Celebration of Life and I don’t know what we would have done without her in this incredibly difficult time.”

Creating a Custom End-of-Life Ritual

There are so many ways to honor a Spirit, their life and their death. What matters is that you find the ways that feel right for you. And that you feel supported on the journey.

Whether you are planning a Ritual that will be held shortly after your loved one has passed or months in advance, or if you’re planning your own End-of-Life Ritual, the process is the same and also built to suit your exact needs:

  • I offer a free 30-minute consult for us to discuss your situation and needs and for you to get to know me a bit.

  • Once we determine we will work together, we set up a time to meet for a few hours (in person if near Portland, ME or on zoom if not) - we discuss the spirit, life and death of your Loved One, their spirituality and your spirituality, and what options there are for the ritual

  • From there, I provide options and thoughts on the outline, flow and ritual elements that could be included. I also have readings to inspire you and to choose from as well as guidance on personal remarks/eulogies as well as memorial elements for the reception to keep your loved ones memory alive

  • We work together on coming up with the perfect flow for your ritual

  • I work with any speakers, readers or others involved in the ritual

  • I spend time connecting with the memory and spirit of your loved one and craft a ceremony and remarks that truly suit your loved one.

  • I lead a ritual that is designed specifically to honor the Spirit, Life, and Death of your loved one, while also honoring the transition you are navigating in their absence.

  • Throughout it all, I provide you with support for the Ritual but also the transition you’re navigating.

  • I get as involved as you’d like me to be. I can support you with guiding the event planning process, designing a program, slideshow development, building you a website, and more. I’m here to help.

Investment is dependent on many factors so I work with you to understand your needs and what support you need and then I provide a proposal from there.

Meet your Minister (Rev Dev)

I am not your traditional minister. I am a spiritual person who loves to support others in experiences of transition. You can call me Devin or Rev Dev (or whatever suits you). Here are some things you should know:

  • I am spiritual, but that doesn’t mean your ritual needs to be. I design rituals to suit the Spirit and beliefs of those involved including your departed loved one and your own beliefs - this is your ritual, not mine. 

  • I am intuitive. I pick up on things quickly. I get to know someone through hearing about them, which helps me to support you in creating a ritual that embodies your loved one’s spirit.

  • I am inclusive. I work with people of all backgrounds, races, faiths, genders, sexual orientations. I am here to be an instrument of love and connection for anyone and everyone. All are welcome.

  • I’m deeply loving. I truly feel called to support families and individuals in these challenging times of transition. This can be an incredibly emotional experience and I am here for all of it. You’ll also likely get more than a couple hugs (if you want, of course).

A Bit about My Beliefs

A few of my core beliefs that are relevant to End of Life are that we are all spiritual beings having a human experience. And that we are connected to, accepted by, loved by, come from and return to a spiritual energy source that emanates unconditional Love stronger than anything we could ever imagine.

My beliefs, practices and teachings come from my own experiences, the personal recounting of others’ mystical experiences, as well as many different faith traditions and spiritual teachings. I am personally most drawn to Near Death & Mystical Experiences, Indigenous, Pagan and other Earth-based cultures and teachings, Quantum Physics, and Eastern teachings. 

As an Interspiritual & Interfaith Minister, I am committed to supporting anyone and everyone. Those who find me often consider themselves “spiritual but not religious” or “connection-oriented” (even if they don’t know that yet). I will support and work with anyone, with the exception of those married to practices, structures or beliefs that are harmful, exclusionary or fear-based. In fact, I am passionate about helping people to heal from those beliefs, communities and experiences, and helping people to find a sense of connection that is supportive, expansive and non-dogmatic.

“We’re all just walking each other home.”

— Ram Dass

Additional Wedding Services

In addition to helping with the End of Life Ritual, I am also able to support you in other ways. These can be included in our work together on your ritual, or provided to families who are working with another Ritualist.

A Custom Memorial Website

We can develop a custom memorial website that honors your Loved Ones memory and becomes a home base for all who loved them. This practice is especially beneficial for tragic and/or young loss. Contact me for website examples.

Spiritual & Personal Support

Mourning and Grief can be incredibly challenging to navigate. As a Minister and an Intuitive Coach, I offer sessions to support you on your journey - being a place for you to feel all your feelings, ask all the questions, process the experience and witness and companion you on the journey. If conflict arises within the family, I also offer Conflict Transformation (Mediation & Relationship Coaching).

Crafting your Remarks / Eulogy

I work with you to craft heartfelt, authentic, and memorable remarks that truly honor your loved one and the tone of the ritual.

Ritual Development Consulting

If you are working with someone else to lead your Ritual, Celebration of Life, Funeral, etc. but would like support in making it the best representation for your Loved One, I am happy to support you.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • I think so, but it’s completely up to you. I am an ordained Interfaith/Interspiritual minister. I am open to supporting people of all faith backgrounds and bring different spiritual traditions and teachings into my work. I will honor your loved one, what they (and you believe) believe and what feels important for you to include in your ceremony (spiritual or not). I do not bring any traditionally religious concepts or language into a ceremony unless it is requested and aligned for your ceremony.

    I also don’t talk like the ministers of your past. I am a contemporary version of a minister which means I show up genuinely as myself, I just happen to be an ordained minister.

    You can learn more about what I believe and feel comfortable with here.

  • My end-of-life ritual services are unique to each situation. They range anywhere from $500 - $10,000 but tend to be around $1500-$3000.

    I know how expensive End of Life rituals can be and that a lot is spent on arrangements, the venue, food & beverage. Those are important elements to a ritual, but I believe there is also incredible value in prioritizing the investment in the ritual itself and the honoring the transition.

    There is a lot that goes into designing and creating a personalized, heartfelt and unique End of Life Ritual that really honors your loved one and all involved. Our work together will support you in your grief process, which every client I’ve ever worked with says is an investment that is worth its weight in gold.

  • I work anywhere and everywhere. I typically work in the New England area, but I do travel when desired by the family. In those cases, all travel costs and additional time fees are in addition to service fees.

    Any venue that is more than 15 miles from downtown Portland incurs a $0.70/mile roundtrip fee. And any wedding more than 80 miles away requires additional travel costs for overnight room & board for at least one night.