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“A Ghost Story”
Follow a ghost through time in this haunting film as he confronts his existence as a memoryCapturing the unique emotional experience of grief poses a challenge for any filmmaker. Typical movies attempting to depict grief and loss often feature a sympathetic protagonist—a mother facing her child’s terminal illness, an elderly man coping with his wife’s dementia, or a sibling mourning a brother or sister—and explore how they find meaning after enduring…
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Death Doulas Are Gaining in Popularity
These death “midwives” ease clients through the process of dying and grievingDeath doulas offer emotional and practical support to both the dying and their loved ones. Credit: Alexander Grey The title “death doula” may still be a novel term for many people. But these death midwives, as they are sometimes described, are growing in number and acceptance as more people discover their value in navigating end-of-life…
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KAAN Architecten’s New Visitor Center at the Netherlands American Cemetery
A new edifice adds to the cemetery site while enhancing its original purpose: Honoring America’s wartime deadIn the southernmost region of the Netherlands, in the village of Margraten, is a cemetery dedicated to American soldiers who died in World War II. Originally built as a temporary repository for war dead in the waning days of 1944, so that no Americans would remain buried in enemy territory, the memorial has since become…
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“Prayer”
Singer-songwriter reminds us that our loved ones live on in the sun and rainNamed Breakout Artist of the Year by AOL and Entertainment Weekly in 2003, Lizzie West is largely unknown today. Yet she created some beautiful music, including “Prayer,” an ode to those who’ve died, and a reminder to their loved ones left behind. The song begins with these lines, in West’s scratchy voice: Do not stand…
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Rutgers Health Study May Improve End-of-Life Care
Medicare data analysis finds that people typically follow one of nine pathsA recent Rutgers Health study could lay the foundation for improvements in end-of-life care by identifying the nine paths that most Americans follow in the last three years of their lives. “Our study not only identifies different patterns of care but also sheds light on the clinical and policy factors that dictate where and when…
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“Heavy”
The poet eloquently conveys the dizzying effect of lossThat timeI thought I could notgo any closer to griefwithout dying I went closer,and I did not die.Surely Godhad his hand in this, as well as friends.Still, I was bent,and my laughter,as the poet said, was nowhere to be found.Then said my friend Daniel,(brave even among lions),“It’s not the weight you carry but how you…
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Did Our Ancestors Leave Behind a Map of the Afterlife?
Archaeological discoveries suggest link between ancient monuments and burial sitesLife is a journey. That may also be true for the afterlife. Archaeologists have unearthed prehistoric remains that they believe could have been used as a map to guide souls from life to the afterlife.
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My Dear Cousin Is Still an Angel at My Side
The story of a young woman who, at 12-years-old, lost a cousin who was also a best friendThis is Natalie’s story, as told by Jeanette Summers. Our “Opening Our Hearts” stories are based on people’s real-life experiences with loss. By sharing these experiences publicly, we hope to help our readers feel less alone in their grief and ultimately aid them in their healing processes. In this article, we tell the story of…
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“The Boy and the Heron”
Studio Ghibli portrays a young boy’s grief in this mystical filmThe Boy and the Heron is the most recent movie from Studio Ghibli and its legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki. The works of Miyazaki are known for their whimsical storylines; beautiful, hand-drawn animation; and themes of environmentalism and pacifism. “The Boy and the Heron” continues in this vein, but also offers a fantastical exploration of grief…
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