The Kind of Laugh That Filled a Room - A Reflection on a Life Lived Loudly

Carina Quinn
Nov 12
4 min read

Death is for the Living banner with native Australian flowers in soft focus, featuring Carina Quinn, Perth Celebration of Life Celebrant — tagline celebrating stories of lives well lived and holding space for those who carry them forward

(A Life Legacy Reflection — names and identifying details have been gently changed to preserve privacy.)

There are some people whose laughter becomes the soundtrack of every space they enter.The kind of laugh that rolls out big and bold — the kind that makes everyone else laugh just because she did.

This was a gorgeous Perth-based celebration of life and this story belongs to one of those people.

She lived a life that didn’t tiptoe. She worked hard, loved fiercely, and never missed a chance to turn an ordinary day into an adventure.

She was the sort of woman who could walk into a room of strangers and leave with a circle of friends — and probably a few new stories to tell.

More joy than ceremony

Her farewell wasn’t about silence or solemnity. It was about sunshine, open sky, and laughter echoing through the trees.Held in a gorgeous well known Perth garden that sat halfway between her two homes — the same halfway point where love had so often brought her back to centre.

Friends stood shoulder to shoulder, uniforms beside casual clothes, family beside colleagues, all bound by the same thing: she had made their worlds brighter.

A legacy of laughter

Her stories were legendary — childhood antics that still made her sister laugh until she cried, and workplace mischief that became folklore.Even in hospital, she had the nurses laughing. Even in the hardest weeks, she found a way to make humour feel like defiance — her way of saying, I’m still here.

She believed that life wasn’t something to perfect — it was something to live.To speak your truth. To have the cheesecake. To laugh at your own joke, even if no one else did.

Love without rules

For more than a decade, she and her partner built a love story that never fit the mould — two homes, two routines, one heart between them.They met in the most modern of ways and created a life that was anything but ordinary: equal parts loyalty, humour, and gentle independence.

The place they chose for her farewell wasn’t random. It was where the city met the bush.A halfway place. A homecoming.

A life full of connection

Her world was vast — colleagues, family, teammates, and an ever-growing menagerie of animals.She was as loyal to her workmates as she was to her dogs, and as mischievous with her friends as she was compassionate with strangers.

She had a knack for noticing when someone was struggling and would quietly do something kind — a snack left on a desk, a card in the post, a pun delivered at exactly the right (or wrong) time.

And somehow, even now, that kindness keeps circling back.

Celebrating a Life in Perth — A Modern ApproachPerth families are increasingly choosing celebration-of-life ceremonies instead of traditional funerals. These gatherings focus on laughter, love, and authenticity — exactly like this one — showing how modern Perth farewells can feel both heartfelt and healing.

"Grief and laughter aren’t opposites.They live side by side — one keeps the other human."

What she taught us

In her final days, she made her wishes clear: no sadness.She wanted stories told, laughter shared, mischief remembered.And that’s exactly what happened.

Her story reminds us that grief and laughter aren’t opposites.They live side by side — one keeps the other human.

Because the best goodbyes don’t hide from joy; they hold it.And the best lives don’t play small; they live loud.

"The best lives don’t play small; they live loud."

In memory

This reflection is for every person who brings laughter into a room and light into a life. It’s a reminder that even after the laughter fades, the echo remains — soft, steady, and unforgettable.

Her story lives on in every smile she sparked, every friendship she forged, and every person who now laughs a little louder because of her.

If you’re planning a heartfelt farewell in Perth, this kind of ceremony shows how laughter can be part of healing.

FAQ

What is a celebration of life ceremony?

A celebration of life is a modern, story-led farewell that focuses on connection, laughter, and love rather than formality. In Perth, many families choose this kind of ceremony because it feels real — a reflection of who their person truly was, not just the moment they said goodbye.

How is a celebration of life different from a traditional funeral?

Funerals often follow formal religious or cultural traditions, while celebration-of-life ceremonies are completely flexible. In Perth, these gatherings might happen outdoors in a favourite park, by the coast, or in a family garden — anywhere that feels personal and meaningful. They can include music, storytelling, humour, and heartfelt reflection in equal measure.

How do I plan a celebration of life in Perth?

Start with the person — their stories, passions, music, and favourite places. Then find a celebrant who can bring that to life with warmth and authenticity. I create modern, heartfelt Perth ceremonies that help families celebrate the person behind the story — because love, laughter, and legacy all belong in the same space.