“When my brother-in-law became very fragile… it was wonderful to observe how Margaret coped with such gentleness, but great strength and understanding of what was required. Her skill and compassion enabled a very strong-minded old gentleman, with high ideals, but no religious attachment, to end his life comfortably and at peace.”

Bibi

“Those hours we sat together, Margaret, not saying much, just being with E. were very special to me. If you hadn’t been there those times would have been very different. That brought me comfort.”

Bob R.

“Margaret has a deep personal trust in the process of living and dying. She respects the dying person’s needs, and is led by them for timing and intervention. Her blend of practical sense, objectivity, caring, calm presence, and humour, smooth the process for all concerned.”

Joanna

“When my wife died we didn’t use a funeral director. I wanted to “keep it in the family” and Margaret helped make this possible. I knew I wanted to have my wife’s body at home, and had a room ready to bring her home to. It just felt like the right thing to do. Having Margaret alongside me and the family was very helpful and made it all quite effortless really . I felt very comforted and happy, even, that we were giving Ellen the best possible farewell. I have come out the other side of my wife’s death, funeral and natural burial feeling justifiably proud. We did whatever we could to take good care of her, and to give her a farewell that was perfectly fitting.”

Bob Roborgh

“Within the last year I have attended two funerals where Margaret was the celebrant. Both times I was touched by her gentle presence and skillful facilitation. She has a gift to bring both respect and authenticity, celebration and mourning, into the sacred space where a loved one is farewelled. I’m grateful that she is in our community, where she offers her skills at such an reasonable rate.”

Irma Jager

“Margaret has an affinity for people’s end-of-life journey. It does not frighten or intimidate her. She also has a wonderful sense for the flow of a funeral and how poignant such occasions are for family and friends. We were fortunate that her skills in this regard presented themselves at just the time when my wife’s mother had died and we were putting together a memorial service for her.”

M C (Motueka)

“The ‘Being with Dying” series with Margaret was a simple but potent process. It allowed me to pause with others and consider many different aspects of the physical and spiritual dying process that I hadn’t thought about previously. It helped me trust that something wise in me, or through me, will know what to do and say as my mother journeys through dementia. I feel more relaxed about her dying process now. Margaret has the most powerfully gentle presence that I feel so safe to be my true self around. I highly recommend this series to anyone who feels the pull to learn more about dying.”

Penelope Brown, Motueka

“The change I noticed from the beginning to the end of the day was a lightness – the heavy, sad element had shifted. So, though grief is inevitably still part of death and funerals, there is a lightness about it – more humour and simplicity. Now I’m keen to make my funeral box, to gather poems, pictures, ideas, and to knit a shroud to be wrapped in.”

Sheila

“Margaret’s curiosity shines through her eyes and smile. I am touched by her ways of bringing clarity with kindness flavours.
Margaret carries the beauty in her vulnerability when she shares her stories, the poems, the experiences and her learnings. I am honoured to have shared space and time in this topic of death with Margaret, It has sparkle more life in me.”

Teresa Araújo

“Exploring dying and death via the personal stories Margaret offers through her book gave a rich starting point for our weekly discussions. These blossomed into deep sharing of participants’ own life experiences, both as contribution and to open to and receive support from others. I love Margaret’s gentle and clear way, not so much a teacher-student relationship, but rather a respectful space of mutual participation.”

Vikki

“The workshop helped open up the whole topic for me in a way that makes me feel totally comfortable talking with others about death, dying and funerals. It also showed me the incredible choices we have in celebrating the end of one’s physical life.”

Jen

“Margaret is very professional and dedicated; she is totally reliable and takes the time to find out exactly what your requirements are before the event. She is very personable and genuinely creates a reaction of interest in those listening.”

David Williams, Head of Goldsmith Management Centre, Letchworth, UK