Patrick Grogan Funeral Celebrant
PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
About Patrick Grogan Celebrant
Patrick Grogan became a *registered celebrant in 2010. It wasn’t long before a funeral home partner asked whether he would be interested in officiating at funeral services in the future. About a year later, he contacted the funeral home and met with the owners and their human resources manager. After the meeting, a completely unexpected offer was made to Patrick to join the firm to manage and develop one of their dormant brands, which they wanted to promote and grow. After a month resisting the offers, eventually there was an offer too good to refuse and, so it was, he became the manager of the brand, which he successfully grew, and it became a well-known name in the Perth funeral market.
As it happened, Patrick did not officiate as a celebrant in that time, but he gained a very good understanding of how the funeral business operates. He also arranged about 135 funerals for bereaved families, and he found this very rewarding, especially assisting people in difficult times. After leaving the funeral home, Patrick was asked to officiate at the funeral of a family member. With his experience in the funeral home, the process was easily managed by him and soon Patrick turned his attention to working as a funeral celebrant.
While it was parttime work, Patrick officiated at hundreds of funerals in Perth and the Peel region.
Asked if the work is depressing, Patrick said, “Being a funeral celebrant has never made me feel depressed, but I sure do feel sad, sometimes very sad.” He believes that if he didn’t feel sadness, he would know it was time to quit.
Patrick says people often joke there is no repeat business in funerals, and the clients can never complain. He understands this thought, but quickly points out that his ‘clients’ are those who remain and are grieving, not the one who has passed. In response to the lack of repeat business, he says this is not true, because often families request his services because they were impressed by his handling of previous funerals. One family has used his services three times and others have named Patrick as their preferred celebrant on their pre-planned funerals. Of course, he appreciates the relationship with funeral arrangers who recommend Patrick because of his professional and caring approach to their families. If you have an immediate need for a funeral celebrant for the funeral service of a family member or friend, or you are in the process of preplanning a funeral, contact Patrick on 0419 497 432 to discuss your needs. *In 2021, Patrick surrendered his marriage celebrant registration to focus on funerals, such is his calling.
As it happened, Patrick did not officiate as a celebrant in that time, but he gained a very good understanding of how the funeral business operates. He also arranged about 135 funerals for bereaved families, and he found this very rewarding, especially assisting people in difficult times. After leaving the funeral home, Patrick was asked to officiate at the funeral of a family member. With his experience in the funeral home, the process was easily managed by him and soon Patrick turned his attention to working as a funeral celebrant.
While it was parttime work, Patrick officiated at hundreds of funerals in Perth and the Peel region.
Asked if the work is depressing, Patrick said, “Being a funeral celebrant has never made me feel depressed, but I sure do feel sad, sometimes very sad.” He believes that if he didn’t feel sadness, he would know it was time to quit.
Patrick says people often joke there is no repeat business in funerals, and the clients can never complain. He understands this thought, but quickly points out that his ‘clients’ are those who remain and are grieving, not the one who has passed. In response to the lack of repeat business, he says this is not true, because often families request his services because they were impressed by his handling of previous funerals. One family has used his services three times and others have named Patrick as their preferred celebrant on their pre-planned funerals. Of course, he appreciates the relationship with funeral arrangers who recommend Patrick because of his professional and caring approach to their families. If you have an immediate need for a funeral celebrant for the funeral service of a family member or friend, or you are in the process of preplanning a funeral, contact Patrick on 0419 497 432 to discuss your needs. *In 2021, Patrick surrendered his marriage celebrant registration to focus on funerals, such is his calling.
.png)