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Our Monthly Tip: Use Crowdfunding to Help with Funeral Expenses
Online fundraising platforms can help ease the financial burden of funerals, memorials, and burialsOur Tip of the Month When a loved one dies, the cost of a funeral, memorial service and burial can be a significant burden in an already trying time. Because of this, many families are now turning to crowdfunding sites like GoFundMe and JustGiving to help cover the costs of funeral arrangements. The average cost…
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My Mom Died of Alcoholism, Denial and Despair
Too ashamed to ask for help when her marriage fell apart, she self-medicated with alcohol until cirrhosis took her lifeThis is Kathleen’s story as told by her. Our “Opening Our Hearts” stories are based on people’s real-life experiences. By sharing these experiences publicly, we hope to help our readers feel less alone in their grief and, ultimately, to aid them in their healing process. In this story, Kathleen talks about how her parents’ dysfunctional…
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“I Care a Lot”
A film with an important message hidden in an absurdly implausible plotI have to admit that I wanted to like “I Care a Lot” a lot more than I actually did. Touted by critics as a fast-moving dark comedy/action thriller, its basic premise is an interesting one. A black-hearted entrepreneur by the name of Marla Grayson (played flawlessly by British actress Rosamund Pike) is a gold-digger…
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Experience of Old Age May Be Driven by Beliefs
Researchers say that how we think about old age predicts how we becomeMost people want to be healthy, engaged and vibrant in old age — but many factors can prevent them from realizing this aim. Yet researchers say there is one influence people may have some control over: their beliefs. A recent study from Oregon State University found that how someone perceives their future older self impacts…
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In 2020, COVID-19 Decreased US Life Expectancy by a Year
Despite the dark trend, the long-term outlook on human longevity appears positive2020 was a strange year for all of us and a difficult year for most. For some, it was more difficult than others. Since the initial outbreak of COVID-19, over 2.46 million people have succumbed to the illness, over 500,000 of them in the U.S. Many more have spent weeks recovering from serious cases in…
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“Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding”
British rocker blends instrumental piece with dynamic contemplation on deathThose searching for an emphatic way to commemorate their loved ones need look no further than “Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding” by Elton John. The two songs, written separately but recorded together, open John’s iconic 1973 album “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.” Often, the British rock star has used the duo as a…
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“Speaking Grief,” Directed by Lindsey Whissel Fenton
An hour-long documentary takes a closer look at the meaning of grief“Speaking Grief,” a 2020 documentary produced by WPSU Penn State, gets real about the process of loss and grieving. True to its title, the film addresses the emotions that occur following loss as more of a language to learn than a one-size-fits-all experience. A Mix of Information and Relatability While it’s easy to find firsthand…
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Our Monthly Tip: Create a Celestial Celebration of Life
A solar system-themed remembrance event can draw from both science and spiritualityOur Tip of the Month A celestial-themed remembrance event can be a unique way to celebrate your loved one’s life with family and friends. By using decorations and activities that feature the stars, sun, moon and planets, you can honor the spiritual — and scientific — connection between our human life cycle and the cosmic…
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“The Body Walks Through Grief Towards God”
Nigerian poet explores the ongoing impact of grief in touching poemIn a dark room/ where the skirl of an angel’s hosanna/ heavedinside the walls like the shadows of a myth/ I pulled out my heart/ & searched for the knoll of grief/ the paralytic mound of an ache/that widens into a dark nill/ I’ve been trudging the trails of my life/ On my voyage/ magpies…
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