-
Our Monthly Tip: Add Clouds to a Celebration of Life for a Heavenly Event
A poetic design idea can set an uplifting toneOur Tip of the Month Add love and light in the tribute to your loved one by adding clouds to your celebration of life. Nothing suggests peace or conjures soulful sentiments like soft, cottony clouds as they inspire the imagination to dream and even recall images of youth. This month’s playful design tip is inspired by…
/
-
What Does It Mean To Die Well? (Interview)
Bioethicist Dr. Lydia Dugdale reflects on preparing ourselves for the end of lifeIn her book “The Lost Art of Dying,” bioethicist Dr. Lydia Dugdale explores the ways in which humans have prepared for death throughout history, and how we might apply that wisdom to the end-of-life experience today. Dugdale is a practicing internist as well as a professor of medicine at Columbia University, and she directs Columbia’s…
/
-
What Does the Film Seven Pounds Have to Do With Our Site SevenPonds?
We debunk 7 myths about the movie and its relationship to our siteEvery once in awhile, when someone tries to say “SevenPonds,” they accidentally say “Seven Pounds”, referring to the film. Initially, before the film’s release, the producers intentionally put the name out there as a mystery mechanism to build suspense for the film. It fit well, since the film is a bit more on the arty…
/
-
Green Goodbyes: Market Offers Options for Eco-Friendly Caskets
More consumers seek ways to reduce their ecological footprint, even in deathAs concerns about environmental challenges grow, more consumers are looking for ways to reduce their ecological footprint, even in death. According to the 2021 Green Funerals and Burial Survey, published in American Funeral Director magazine, 63% of respondents would consider a “green” funeral that incorporates eco-friendly practices. This applies to coffins, too: nearly 56% of…
/
-
“Medical Aid in Dying: A Guide for Patients and Their Supporters”
Booklet is a valuable resource for anyone considering or curious about aid in dying.Medical Aid in Dying: A Guide for Patients and Their Supporters was born out of Dr. Lonny Shavelson’s years of firsthand experience, medical research and patient care in this evolving field. The 79-page booklet outlines the who, what, where, when and how medical aid in dying serves terminally ill patients as a justifiable means to…
/
-
Whole Body Organ Donation Raises Ethical Considerations
Many types of research can be rapidly advanced with the practice, but the process might give some pause.In its May 1, 2025 issue, Science magazine published a research article written by neurologists and a bioethicist discussing the potential research benefits — and the subsequent delicate ethical considerations — of using “physiologically maintained deceased” organ donors, or PMDs, for research into new drug therapies. As the team explains, PMDs are “deceased humans in…
/
-
Study Suggests Pets Say Goodbye Before They Die
First-of-its-kind paper explores stories of dogs, cats and others exhibiting behaviors similar to those of humans in their final daysIn countless households, pets are family members. When our furry and feathered friends pass away, one wonders if they understand how important they have been to us, and how loved they were and will always be. Many pet owners have struggled to know when to let go, and what that beloved four-legged creature is thinking. …
/
-
Is Your Dying Loved One Craving Sweets? Let Them Eat Cake!
Sweets and other favorite treats can nourish the soul when the body is shutting downWhen asked what she wanted for lunch, Shirley quickly replied, “Ice cream!” She winced when her daughter reprimanded her. “Mom, you know you have to watch your sweets. You have to eat something healthy.” At age 92, Shirley was dying of heart failure. For the past eight years, her daughter had provided meticulous caregiving and…
/
-
16 Quotes Reflecting on Death Through Metaphors
Sometimes a metaphor can best help those who have lost loved ones capture feelings about life and death.Clouds in the sky, dew on a leaf, flight into the sky: Death can be difficult to comprehend in many ways. Sometimes a metaphor can best help those who have lost loved ones capture feelings about life and death. 1.“Let your life lightly dance on the edges of time like dew on the tip of…
/
Want an Easier Way to Plan a Memorial Event? Get our FREE guide
“7 Ways to Create an Amazing Celebration of Life”
