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More About Dorry

Growing up, I instinctively performed ceremonies; from burying birds that fell from their nests to initiating dedication rites for the assorted clubs I created with the neighborhood kids on my block. With the given name of Bless, it comes as no surprise that I spent a considerable amount of my life as a spiritual seeker and was eventually drawn to this work. I also credit my past professional background as a corporate meeting planner and talent executive for high profile events in theatre and politics; as well as volunteering for various organizations in my community as seeding the ground for my dedication and commitment to practicing celebrancy. 

I earned a Bachelor of Arts from the State University of New York at Albany in Rhetoric and Communication in 1979. I graduated from the Celebrant Foundation and Institute in 2006 and presently serve on their faculty. I work as a volunteer for the hospice organization in my town. In addition, I am also certified as an animal pet loss and bereavement counselor.

I live in a stone farm house on the Musconetcong River (which means ‘quiet waters’) in the Delaware River Valley with Howard, my husband of twenty years; and Orli, our teen-age daughter. The animal members in our family are; DJ Shaman Jones, a Labradoodle; Patsy Moksha O’Brien, an English Springer Spaniel and in our hearts --the late Willie Dekembe Mutumbo, a Quaker parrot. Occasionally, some wild turkeys, guinea hens and fox drop by. A few animals have actually shown up right at my office door -- a Canadian goose, a snake and three cows. Not all at the same time. The purpose of their visit was never completely clear. Perhaps, they just wanted to see the lady who writes the ceremonies.

-- Circle of Life Ceremonies Press

“You cannot truly listen to anyone and do anything else at the same time.”
M. Scott Peck