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  • 25 Jokey Quotes About Courage and Bravery in Facing DeathLaughing in the Face of the Inevitable, One Joke at a Time

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    Caitlin Manner

    25 Jokey Quotes About Courage and Bravery in Facing Death
    Laughing in the Face of the Inevitable, One Joke at a Time

  • 14 Quotes About Time, Life and DeathLive for the now, but appreciate the passage of time as well

    14 Quotes About Time, Life and Death
    Live for the now, but appreciate the passage of time as well

    We should live in the here and now, say many. As a former president of Uruguay put it, life only gets shorter. An actress called time “priceless.  Your time is limited, said the founder of Apple. In fact, Steve Jobs thought a lot about time; he’s quoted twice in the list below of contemplations from…

    JamieAGold

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  • Family-Directed Home Funerals Are Having a Resurgence (Interview)Heidi Boucher discusses how an age-old practice has been revived for our modern world

    Family-Directed Home Funerals Are Having a Resurgence (Interview)
    Heidi Boucher discusses how an age-old practice has been revived for our modern world

    Heidi Boucher is a home funeral guide who has helped more than 100 families say goodbye to their loved ones, in their homes. It’s a practice that emphasizes a hands-on approach guided by intimacy, love and spirituality. She began learning how to care for the dead as a teenager while living in Sacramento with Nancy…

    Caitlin Manner

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  • Increased Demand for Organ Transplants Leads to Frightening Deathbed ScenesInvestigation finds instances of premature attempts to harvest organs from potential donors.

    Increased Demand for Organ Transplants Leads to Frightening Deathbed Scenes
    Investigation finds instances of premature attempts to harvest organs from potential donors.

    The New York Times in July reported a rise in disturbing cases of organ donation after circulatory death, in which would-be organ donors were prepared for organ harvesting under questionable circumstances. In addition to numerous harrowing stories detailed in the article, 55 medical workers in 19 states said they had witnessed at least one “disturbing…

    Caitlin Manner

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  • The Death Rattle — Not Music to Your Ears?The death rattle can be unnerving and scary for loved ones, but adding overriding noise can help.

    The Death Rattle — Not Music to Your Ears?
    The death rattle can be unnerving and scary for loved ones, but adding overriding noise can help.

    As a person gets closer to death, they can begin a type of noisy breathing that sounds like a wet snore. Called the “death rattle,” it can be difficult to listen to. Thankfully, it is not too common. Because it’s not a nice sound, the family can fear that the dying person is struggling to…

    Tani Bahti

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  • Have an Obituary To Write? Some Turn to ChatGPTAI is changing the end-of-life industry by helping generate obituaries.

    Have an Obituary To Write? Some Turn to ChatGPT
    AI is changing the end-of-life industry by helping generate obituaries.

    Let’s face it — AI is disrupting many industries, and that includes the end-of-life sector. In the news recently, examples have popped up, including the case of Michael Bommer, who found out he was terminally ill. In 2024, he told NPR, he made an AI copy of himself to leave behind for his family. Not…

    Maria Mocerino

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  • “With a Little Help From My Friends”This vulnerable and touching song shows gratitude for community.

    “With a Little Help From My Friends”
    This vulnerable and touching song shows gratitude for community.

    The song, “With a Little Help From My Friends,” written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and originally sung by The Beatles, was famously covered by Joe Cocker on his album released in 1969. The tempo of the Beatles’ 1967 version was upbeat, but Cocker’s gritty, raw and emotional rendition solidified its place in music…

    Maria Mocerino

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  • Spinning Out of ControlLife doesn’t stop because someone in the family is terminally ill.

    Spinning Out of Control
    Life doesn’t stop because someone in the family is terminally ill.

    One of the difficulties that people living with a terminal illness must deal with is the fact that life goes on much as it did before. Despite the “new normal” of doctor appointments and lab tests and physical changes associated with the illness, the need to maintain some semblance of an orderly existence remains. Children…

    Kathleen Clohessy

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  • “Homegoings”In this PBS documentary, what is not fairly revealed is how their remaining preference for traditional funeral services are typically over-the-top costly

    “Homegoings”
    In this PBS documentary, what is not fairly revealed is how their remaining preference for traditional funeral services are typically over-the-top costly

    Quite frankly, I was a bit peeved to see recent critics bestow accolades on “Homegoings”, a PBS documentary film by director Christine Turner. The film’s pitch states: “Through the eyes of funeral director Isaiah Owens, the beauty and grace of African-American funerals are brought to life.” Critics from the New York Times, The Chicago Tribune and…

    Suzette Sherman

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  • Increased Rates of Earlier Death Shown for Those Who Experience Intense GriefFindings from study suggest you can actually die from a broken heart.

    Increased Rates of Earlier Death Shown for Those Who Experience Intense Grief
    Findings from study suggest you can actually die from a broken heart.

    Doctors have known about broken heart syndrome, or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM), for a while. First reported by a Japanese cardiovascular specialist in 1990, TCM is when a part of the heart becomes suddenly stunned or weakened after intense grief or severe physical stress. This temporary condition is treatable with medication, and most people with TCM…

    Caitlin Manner

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