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Recent Study Shows Physicians Choose Much Different Treatment Options for Themselves vs. Their Patients
Doctors often prefer to refuse invasive medical interventions if faced with their own terminal illnessesWhile most physicians indicated that they would not prefer invasive treatments regarding end-of-life care, these same treatments are routinely administered to their patients. Credit: sjobjio on Unsplash A 2025 international study published in the Journal of Medical Ethics and reported by Medscape revealed a surprising disconnect in end-of-life care for physicians between what they offer…
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On Loss and Absence: Textiles of Mourning and Survival at the Art Institute of Chicago
Fiber art across many centuries and cultures highlights both cultural and personal lossIn Chicago, threads of memory and grief are woven over time in a new exhibit that started in September 2025. Titled “On Loss and Absence: Textiles of Mourning and Survival,” it examines how people have used art, specifically fabric art, to process grief, honor memories, and heal from personal and cultural trauma. The exhibit at…
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Historic French Cemeteries Offer Resting Places Amongst the Famous, But Only To A Select Few
Thirty gravesites were recently made available to Parisians willing to restore abandoned headstones in disrepair, and the response was overwhelmingParis’s historic cemeteries have been full since the beginning of the 20th century, so burial plots are mostly unavailable for today’s inhabitants. But in April of 2025, the Paris Council came up with a “compromise” between preserving funerary heritage — as it is strictly protected by law — and giving residents of the capital the…
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The Timing of Death
Finding Meaning in the MysteryJoin SevenPonds each month as Tani Bahti, RN, CT, CHPN offers practical hands-on guidance in an attempt to demystify the dying process. An RN since 1976, Tani has been working to empower families and healthcare professionals to have the best end-of-life experience possible through education and the development of helpful tools and resources. The current Director of Pathways, Tani is also the author of…
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Our Monthly Tip: Plan a Secret Santa Gift Exchange to Commemorate a Loved One
Provide the opportunity for guests to share memories and mementos in keeping with the holiday spiritThe holiday season can be especially poignant when it coincides with remembering a loved one who has passed, but it also offers a meaningful opportunity to celebrate their life in a spirit of warmth and togetherness. One thoughtful idea is to incorporate a Secret Santa gift exchange into a Celebration of Life ceremony. By sharing…
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Farewell Vessels
My husband’s mysterious death and the beautiful ways we chose to healThis is Stacy’s story, as told by Aurora Wells, about navigating the loss of her husband, who drowned in Lake Huron. Our “Opening Our Hearts” stories are based on people’s real-life experiences with grief and loss. By sharing these experiences, we hope to help our readers feel less alone in their grief, and ultimately aid them…
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20 Quotes on The Nature and Meaning of Death
A collection of thoughtful reflections on mortality, legacy, and the mystery of what lies beyondDeath is a subject most of us hope to avoid—though none of us will be entirely successful at this evasion. It is, however, a moving, though stern teacher, admonishing us to pay closer attention to the seemingly meaningless moments that fill out our days and give definition to our lives. Just as a work of…
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Our Monthly Tip: Is There Anything as Enchanting as the Meaning of Flowers?
Today an old fashioned nosegay is a new way of offering sympathy flowersI’ve always had a fascination with the meaning of flowers. Back in the Victorian days each flower had a meaning attached as a form of expressive comunication. Flowers were offered in dainty, informal, often hand-picked arrangements called a tussie-mussie, that of a small floral bouquet with symbolic messages intended for any type of occasion. Fashionable during Queen Victoria’s reign, tussie-mussie, or what’s…
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