For more than thirty years, Celebrant Blane Ellsworth has brought comfort, meaning, and grace to families throughout Northern California as they honor those they love. As the founder of Honoring Lifetimes, Blane created a sanctuary for remembrance — a place where every life can be celebrated with authenticity, warmth, and beauty.
With decades of experience as a minister and hospice spiritual care provider, Blane offers far more than ceremony leadership. He brings emotional intelligence, empathy, and finely tuned intuition to help families find peace and clarity during one of life’s most tender passages. Each celebration of life he designs is deeply personal, reflecting the essence of the individual and the love that endures beyond loss.
Blane’s ceremonies are known for their balance of heart and structure. He guides families through the planning process with calm professionalism — coordinating music, readings, and the order of service — while holding space for laughter, tears, and remembrance. His presence is both grounding and inspiring, allowing families to move through grief into gratitude.
Every service Blane creates honors not only a life but also the living — those who gather to remember, reconnect, and begin to heal. Whether the ceremony unfolds in a chapel, garden, vineyard, or private home, Blane transforms the experience into something luminous and healing — a true celebration of life.
Over 30 years of experience in officiating and coordinating celebration of life services
Founder of Honoring Lifetimes, a service dedicated solely to meaningful memorials
Deep understanding of grief, healing, and remembrance
Calm, compassionate guidance throughout the planning process
Heartfelt personalization — every ceremony is unique and authentic
Inclusive approach for all faiths, philosophies, and family traditions
“A celebration of life should not be an ending, but a reflection — a gentle turning of the heart toward gratitude.
My work is to remind families that love is not gone; it simply changes form and continues to surround us in ways both seen and unseen.”