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“As Tears Go By”
A melancholy tune about contemplating the past, became a career calling card for Marianne Faithfull, whose life story gave it gravitas.Marianne Faithfull, the English singer, actress and 1960s “It” Girl, died in January at the age of 78. She was perhaps most famous for her UK 1964 hit single “As Tears Go By,” a melancholy song that contemplates the passage of time. She also famously dated Mick Jagger, had memorable roles in several films and…
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“The Sea”
Retreating to a small seaside Irish village, a man confronts the recent death of his wife from cancer in this novel about grief and memory.John Banville’s 2005 novel “The Sea” is not an easy read. Not emotionally. Not mentally. But, like grief itself, it is best approached with the right tools and an openness to fully experiencing it. In the case of this brilliantly weighty novel, one of those tools is probably a dictionary (having dictionary.com open on your…
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Our Monthly Tip: Funeral Favors Offer Visitors a Tangible Memento
A growing number of families are giving out funeral favors with the name, birth and death dates of the person who has died.Immediate family members aren’t the only ones who might want a keepsake by which to remember your loved one. Just as it’s become customary to give out wedding favors printed or engraved with the names and date of the event, a growing number of families are giving out funeral favors with the name, birth and…
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“Comeback”
Prince wrote the song “Comeback” after the death of his infant son Amiir. It’s expression of hope is ideal for a funeral.One of the greatest multitalented musicians of the last 40-odd years, Prince, crafted a ballad titled “Comeback” following the death of his week-old son, Amiir, in 1996. The song, a poignant reflection of his grief, was made available only on a special fan club release. “The first time I heard ‘Comeback,’ which he recorded at…
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“Other Side”
A deeply moving documentary about a woman’s courageous fight for the right to end her life when and how she chooses.When it comes to our wishes for how we die, most of us want three things: to die in our homes with loved ones around us, and with as little pain as possible. But many people don’t have that kind of death, particularly those that are terminally ill. Not so for Lynda Bluestein. In “Other…
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The Other Death in the Family
Eco-friendly pet burials and memorial ideas offer new ways for families to honor companion animals after death with multiple options and funeral customs.With a growing number of people recognizing pets as cherished members of the family, an industry of innovative, eco-friendly pet burial options has risen to meet the needs of cat and dog parents confronting the prospect of eventually honoring their lost fur-babies. But, as with all family members, that means it can be difficult to…
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Having an Estate Plan Is Essential – So Is Discussing It With Your Children
Creating an estate plan and being open about your intentions with your beneficiaries helps maintain family harmony and a smooth transfer of assets.Reading-of-the-will scenes have become a fixture on TV and in films because of the sure-fire drama they can unleash. And experts warn that if you don’t discuss your estate plan in advance, you may be setting up your would-be beneficiaries for a little drama of their own when they learn what you have — or…
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Chanelle Jefferson Creates Visual Art with “The Grief Project”
A visual artist turns her own grief, and that of others, into beautiful visual art with The Grief Project. Read more — or commission — Chanelle Jefferson.One visual artist in Canada has been soliciting other’s grief stories to create uniquely beautiful visual art — her own offering of healing. Nova Scotia-based artist Chanelle Jefferson first experienced grief when her parents divorced. As she explained on her website: “Because I didn’t experience the most common form of Grief — death… The loss…
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The Healing Sound of Singing Bowls (Interview)
Jesse Stark, founder of Singing Bowl Healing, explains how the modality can help us access old trauma, and prepare us to better face life and death.SevenPonds is rerunning some of its readers’ favorite interviews. This originally was published in November 2022. Jesse Stark’s first exposure to singing bowls occurred roughly a decade ago when his mother brought a good-sized crystal singing bowl over to his Santa Rosa apartment. They put it down in the middle of his living room, and…
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