Who We Are
My name is Karen Chivers, and I am a seasoned, certified celebrant with an ardent dedication to assisting individuals, families, and support networks in planning unique, personalised end-of-life ceremonies.
My passion for this profession grew from personal experiences, where I found myself organising, planning, writing, and presenting ceremonies for several family members who passed away suddenly. During these challenging times, I discovered the transformative power of ceremonies, which, through the beautiful intertwining of storytelling, rituals, music, setting, and poetry/prose, serve not only to honour a person’s essence, but also to bring comfort and healing to those left behind.
My experience in caring for my father-in-law after his wife’s passing, while he himself was managing a terminal illness, opened my eyes to the critical importance of preparing for and communicating how we wish to live and leave this life. This experience inspired me to become a trained Death Doula, extending my services beyond traditional celebrancy to provide more comprehensive end-of-life planning.
From here, EO Life Planning was born.
My Experience in the Field
My journey in this field has allowed me to:
- Collaborate with families and funeral home staff to co-create personalised ceremonies that honour loved ones in unique ways, weaving together spoken words, rituals, symbols, and audio-visual displays to truly capture and reflect an individual’s essence.
- Have the privilege of working with renowned organisations like Purslowe Chipper Funerals, Oakwood Funerals, Gift of Grace Funerals, and Bowra & O’Dea, Greenfields Funerals
- Assist individuals and their loved ones in capturing their life stories – creating eulogies for both those who have passed and those still with us.
- Guide families through the process of end-of-life planning, including the completion of Advance Health Directives, Power of Guardianship and funeral planning documents.
- Provide support for individuals overwhelmed by coordinating decluttering and organisation of spaces within homes, either before or after the death of a loved one.
My expertise is complemented by decades of professional experience working across Australia in various roles within education (both public and NFP sectors), my own business and in volunteering roles where I’ve supported individuals with diverse and complex needs (cognitive, physical, mental, social, medical) across the lifespan, from preschool to elderly individuals.
My strength lies in compassionately applying a person-centred, strength-based approach to positively enhance the lives of individuals from all walks of life.
My Qualifications
My qualifications include:
- Funeral Celebrancy Certificate
- Death Doula Certificate
- Understanding Dementia Certificate
- Aged care training (current Caregiver in Aged Care sector)
- Palliative Care Training (current volunteer at a Palliative Care Unit)
- Master of Education – Applied Behaviour Analysis (with distinction)
- Bachelor of Education (Special Needs)
- Bachelor of Arts (Primary Education)
- Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
- Growth Coaching Advanced Leadership
Clearances:
- National Police Clearance
- Working With Children
Contact Us Today
With a wealth of personal lived experience as a mother, a partner of a Defence Force Member, a volunteer, an advocate, and a caregiver for elderly relatives, I bring a unique perspective to my work.
I look forward to assisting you and your loved ones in navigating this essential part of life’s journey with compassion, respect, and love.
If you would like more information, please get in touch today.