How My Sister’s Death at Four Shaped My Life

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What happens when death touches your family before you even understand what it means?

In this episode of Don’t Be Caught Dead, I sit down with funeral celebrant Leonie Fletcher Adams, whose life was profoundly shaped when her sister died at just four years old. That childhood loss not only shaped her family but also planted the seed for a lifelong journey of spirituality, honesty, and connection.

Leonie shares her path from nursing and acting to becoming a funeral celebrant, weaving in her belief in spiritual guides, the importance of rituals, and why every funeral deserves to be an honest reflection of the person who has died. We talk about how grief is often unacknowledged in siblings, why including children in funerals matters, and how simple touches — like jellybeans in the cupboard or roses from the garden — can make ceremonies deeply personal.

This isn’t just about organising funerals. It’s about truth, spirituality, and finding ways to honour life while facing the reality of death. Leonie’s insights are raw, deeply human, and grounded in decades of experience with families at their most vulnerable.

In this episode, we cover:

• How losing her sister as a child shaped Leonie’s family and her life’s purpose
• The role of spirituality and spiritual guides in navigating grief and creating funerals
• Why honesty is central to meaningful end-of-life rituals
• How rituals, music, and personal touches create space for healing
• The challenges of grief after the funeral is over — and why anniversaries matter
• The importance of preparing funeral wishes as an act of love for those left behind

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