Honoring the Life of a Loved One
Whether someone's loss was expected or not, it is never easy to say goodbye. Amidst the grieving process, families must also plan the farewell ceremony and tie up logistical loose ends for their beloved. It is common and natural for emotions to run high and to need support outside of the family to help plan and facilitate a memorial service or ‘celebration of life’.
As a chaplain and ceremonial musician team, we would be honored to help you create the most meaningful end of life ceremony for you and your family, offer bereavement counseling, and interpersonal support during this time.
About Us
We are Simcha and Jen, a husband and wife team who value ritual, human connection and honoring the end of life in a way that is deeply meaningful to each family. Simcha is an ordained Interfaith Chaplain through the Chaplaincy Institute in Berkeley, CA. He has worked as a resident chaplain at John Muir Hospital and also with in-home hospice patients for Vitas Healthcare. Jen is a songwriter, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist specializing in ceremonial and folk music. We have two beautiful children together and raise our family with Jewish and Interfaith traditions. We reside in Sonoma County, California and work with families throughout the wider Bay Area. We would be honored to support you at this significant threshold in your lives.
Our Offerings:
- Memorial Ceremonies specializing in Interfaith, Secular, Spiritual, and Jewish families
- Compassionate Care + Grief Support
- Personalized Live Music for the ceremony
Many families these days, especially those unaffiliated with a particular religious institution, prefer Memorial Ceremonies or Celebration of Life Ceremonies over traditional funeral proceedings. These ceremonies offer a special opportunity for friends and family to reflect on the life of their loved one, share music and poetry, express gratitude, and cater the experience exactly how they would like it.
If you choose to onboard us as your memorial service officiants, we will meet and discuss what the most fitting ceremony will be for you and your loved one. We make sure to include every family member or friend who will be instrumental in the event and those whose wishes must be held dear in the planning.
To contact us, send an email to connect@shiningstarceremonies.com