I am a certified celebrant who believes in the power of ceremony to help us remember and reconnect.

My role is part writer, part guide, and part MC. I’ll work with you to create a highly personalized service that tells your person’s unique story. I bring comfort and care to ceremonies across all beliefs and traditions, always listening closely to what matters most to you and your family.

About My Work

Abigail Pribbenow is a with white curly hair and red glasses writing in a notebook, sitting at a table with a mug and a beige table runner.

I believe that coming together after a loss helps us process the passing and make sense of what it means to be human in all its beauty, complexity, and sorrow. Each of us is shaped by a constellation of experiences - where we’ve lived, the people who have cared for us, the traditions we’ve held. These memories, both ordinary and profound, help tell the story of a life.

When we come together for a memorial, we bring these memories and we bring our hearts. This carrying together is part of how we move forward. 

The stories matter - let’s make space for them.

How We’ll Work Together

Two people sitting at a table with mugs, a small vase with leaves, and a beige table runner.

Step One:
Begin With a Conversation

We start with a simple phone call to learn about the person you’ve lost.

This is a time to talk, share, and begin to explore what kind of ceremony feels right for your loved one.

Abigail Pribbenow meets with a client seeking a memorial service. Two people having a conversation at a table in a bright, modern setting. One person with glasses is facing the other.

Step Two:
Gather Stories and Memories

I’ll listen deeply to you, and to the people who knew your person across the seasons of their life.

I put together the story of a life by speaking with 3-4 family members, friends, neighbors, or co-workers to understand the richness of their story.

Person writing in a notebook with a pen next to a blue and black mug on a table.

Step Three:
Shape the Ceremony

I prepare the eulogy and craft a service that reflects your values and the life you’re honoring.

I pay attention to important family, cultural, religious, or other traditions that you and I identify. I can help you identify poetry and prayers that help give meaning to the arc of your loved one’s life. 

Abigail Pribbenow has curly gray hair and red glasses, holding an open notebook, standing in front of a white curtain.

Step Four:
Hold the Space

On the day of the service, I act as your celebrant — guiding the ceremony, introducing speakers, and holding space with care and presence.

I deliver the eulogy or work with another who will do so. I’m there to support you if tears come, and to make sure every voice is heard.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • A funeral or memorial celebrant works with you to create a service that honors your loved one and tells their unique story.

    Each of us is the sum of many parts — where we’ve lived, who has loved us. These parts, along with the small moments (“she grew morning glories in the front yard”, “he never missed a holiday game”) help shape the story of a life.

  • A funeral or a memorial service is a time to slow down to witness the stories and memories that matter. When we gather for the sharing of stories at a service of remembrance, we connect to what is larger than ourselves, we are reminded of our commonalities and can delight in what is unique.

    What I’ve seen in my work as a celebrant is that the intentional coming together to honor our dead is a human custom that helps marks the passage of time and connects us with the people most important to us.

  • We will work together to create a service that is highly personalized to your loved one. I put energy and care into interviewing 3-4 people from various seasons of life to create a custom service. I ask questions like - “What grounded them?” and “What are the family’s traditions?” .

  • A Celebration of Life Service is $500.

    I want to serve as many people as I can because I believe in the healing power of ritual and community. Let’s talk about what you need.

    See the Pricing page for more information.

Ready to begin?
Curious about something specific?
I’d be honored to speak with you.

Contact Abigail