Paola Minussi

YOUR CELEBRANT

I live in Como with a husband, two children and 3 cats. I was born in Como on a Saturday in Springtime. It was the year 1971. Since 2000 I work in Basel at the Musikakademie der Statd Basel where I teach classical guitar. As soon as I can, I travel to Portugal, I dream of moving to Lisbon one day and passing all my free time listening to the Fado (tradizional Portuguese music), and reading the poetry of Fernando Pessoa and raising hens for company.

Why lay celebrancy?

I decided to become a lay celebrant after my father’s funeral: the religious rite with which I said goodbye to him left me with a huge sense of loss. I heard words that were hollow, impersonal and cold, which didn’t describe anything about who my father had been, of what he was leaving of himself in my heart and in the memories of those who had known him.
I decided to do something, so that no one would have to feel the same sense of desolation and could celebrate the important moments of their lives, happy or sad, in their unrepeatable and personal uniqueness. I am an accredited celebrant of the National Association Uaar.

I dream of a world that is more colourful, more hospitable and more supportive. I live, and am committed to a humanist lay society, that makes diversity a strength and richness to share.
I am convinced that celebrating in light of the most important moments of our lives a welcoming, a union or a leave-taking (but not only!), – can really make a difference and help us to build a better world.

Words, music and gestures

I have studied Latin and Greek, Philosophy and Literature, History and Esthetics and Theatre. I have a degree in Economics and Organisation of Performance from the Università degli Studi di Milano.
From the age of six I have studied Music, Harmony and Song and I have a diploma in Classical Guitar from the Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi di Milano.

I have spent years dedicating myself to classical music and I have travelled the world giving concerts as a soloist, duo and with different ensembles.

I am fascinated by the cultures and languages of the world: I speak English, German and Portuguese.

I have been – and still am – a curious and tireless reader.
But most of all I love writing and telling stories.

The first stories that I wrote, I dedicated to my children. I’m an adoptive mother and I know well what it means to find the right words to make sense of one’s life and be able to take flight towards one’s future, with awareness, enthusiasm and levity.

I am passionate about anything to do with communication and sharing.

I have great enthusiasm for creating networks between people who share projects, wishes and dreams and who try to fulfill them; for this reason I founded the Women in White – Society, an association which does social promotion of which I am President. It has the mission to promote female culture and thinking in society, for a world which is more colourful, hospitable and respectful of diversity (not only that of gender).