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Long Unclaimed Ashes Finally Receive a Veterans’ Burial
Two Oregon women sort through thousands of cremains to honor those who servedEncountering unclaimed cremated ashes is, unfortunately, not unique. Finding volunteers willing to sort through thousands of them to uncover those that belong to veterans — and thus earn a veterans’ burial — is nearly unheard of. Yet that’s the story of Carolyn Arntson and Denise Hatch of Portland, Oregon, who spent 10 years sifting through…
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De-Stigmatizing Suicide and Suicide-Loss Survivors’ Grief (Interview)
Sara Murphy debunks the myths surrounding America’s suicide epidemicAfter 18 years as a suicidologist, Sara Murphy, Ph.D., FT, is pleased to note that contemporary culture is beginning to shift – albeit slowly – to reflect a better understanding of the causes and effects of suicide. Murphy, a certified thanatologist and death educator, is certainly doing her part: she has taught more than 60…
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Our Monthly Tip: Create an Annual Ritual to Celebrate the Birthday of Your Child Who Died
A heartfelt way to honor the child’s life, and process grief in a positive wayOur Tip of the Month The loss of a child is a uniquely devastating experience which often leaves parents feeling isolated in their grief. One way to cut through that feeling of isolation is to invite friends and loved ones to honor the child’s birthday in an annual ritual.
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“I’m Not a Mourning Person”
A memoir exploring how a cancer thriver meets her father’s death with candor, humor, and wisdomBest-selling author, Kris Carr’s book, “I’m Not a Mourning Person” is a hybrid of a few genres. Part memoir, part grief guide and part self-help book, Carr explores her own experience with grief and relays the lessons she learned along the way. She sprinkles quotes from well-known authors about grief, backs up advice with research…
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17 Quotes About the Gifts of Aging
Getting older is a privilege we sometimes forget to acknowledgeAging often gets a bad rap, but there is a beautiful side to growing older that deserves celebration. As we age, we gain wisdom, experience and a deeper appreciation for the nuances of life. In this article, we’ve gathered 17 uplifting quotes about aging that highlight its brighter aspects. These quotes remind us that aging…
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Tex-Mex Chain’s “Big Burrito Challenge” Offers Chance to Win a Burial Plot
Promotion warns that consuming the massive creation may induce a “food coma”Everyone from death doulas to spiritual guides have preached the benefits of contemplating your death as a way to live better in the present. In an off-handed way, the bizarre “Big Burrito Challenge” in Australia is encouraging people to do just that.
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“Together Again”
The superstar approaches death and remembrance in celebration modeJanet Jackson needs no introduction. Nor (depending on when you last listened to pop radio) does her chart-topping 1998 hit “Together Again.” The song — and indeed, the concept, through Janet’s eyes — is back in the limelight as her current tour, extended through October 2024, is called the Together Again Tour, embracing the lasting…
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The Death Care Industry is Going “Greener”
Traditional burial methods are hugely problematic from an environmental perspective, but the industry is changing for the betterIn case you haven’t noticed: it’s hot outside. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2023 was the warmest year since global records began in 1850. In fact, the 10 warmest years in our 174 years of recording global temperatures have all occurred during the last decade (2014-2023). It’s getting harder to ignore the…
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“Legacies” by Nikki Giovanni
Poem explores one generation’s transmission to anotherher grandmother called her from the playground“yes, ma’am”“i want chu to learn how to make rolls” said the old woman proudlybut the little girl didn’t want to learn how because she knew even if she couldn’t say it that that would mean when the old one died she would be less dependent on her spirit…
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