Curtain Call founder and CEO Clare Keenan was inspired to launch Curtain Call after seeing first-hand the extreme stress that families can be placed under when trying to organise a funeral for which no prior planning has taken place. Curtain Call’s approach reflects Clare’s light touch, deep understanding, unshockable nature and respect for discretion.

Clare’s background in trauma and crisis counselling, coupled with her extensive experience with international emergency evacuation management and her broad international network of contacts and associates, makes her ideally suited to the funeral and memorial planning arena. Curtain Call was launched in 2008 with the aim of providing high-end VIP services across a range of end-of-life considerations.

Clare has lived and worked in Africa, South America, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Australia, France and New Zealand. She has a background in event and hospitality management, has provided advice to the highest levels of government, and has been a speechwriter to national leaders. In 1999, she was given the inaugural ‘Building a Better South Africa Award’ for commitment to furthering trauma survivors’ rights.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Classical Civilization, a Certificate in French from the Sorbonne and a Masters degree in Public Policy.

Clare Keenan
Founder and CEO
Curtain Call International

“I want a huge celebration with all my friends there. Much as I love them, if I left it to my parents I’d have a funeral that wouldn’t reflect me at all.”

– JJ, 41, designer, Sydney, Australia

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