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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. …
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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…
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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…
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Looking for an Eco-Friendly Burial Option? Coral Reef Memorials Support New Life
Resting Reef plans to create coral reef structures out of human remainsA growing number of people are searching for environmentally conscious burial options. Indeed, according to the National Funeral Directors Association in 2024, “68% would be interested in exploring ‘green’ funeral options … up from 55.7% in 2021.” A recent entry into the green burial market is Resting Reef, whose mission is “to provide an environmentally…
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“Tears” by Kay WalkingStick
A Cherokee artist re-creates a beautiful funeral scaffold mourning both her dead husband and her peopleKay WalkingStick has experienced her fair share of loss. As a member of the Cherokee Nation, her ancestors were victims of the genocide and forced relocation of Indigenous peoples by new settlers to the continent. Over a fifth of the Cherokee population is estimated to have died along the Trail of Tears. Such a profound…
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Since When Does Cremation Not Include Fire?
Hey Cremation Association of North America (CANA), what’s up with the new definition of “cremation”?I write this with the greatest of disappointment. As a former CANA (Cremation Association of North America) member for many years, I’m discouraged by the organization having allowed a redefinition of “cremation” to sometimes not include fire. Come on CANA members, really – why are you not up in arms about this? Going in opposition…
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“The Nights”
Singer provides a lively ode to making the most of one’s time on EarthThe Swedish songwriter Avicii, born Tim Bergling, was well known for his quick rise to fame in the electronic dance music scene and his untimely death from suicide. Despite fast tempos and catchy hooks, most of his songs explored morality, the brevity of youth, and life’s internal struggles. “The Nights” is a song that reflects…
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National Cremation Growth Rate Is Slowing
An annual report predicts steady growth in cremation rates, despite the recent decelerationIn its 2025 Annual Statistics Report, the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) confirms that after decades of rapid growth in the United States, the national cremation growth rate is starting to slow, after reaching 61.8% in 2024. The organization predicts that by 2029, the cremation rate in the U.S. will be 67.9%. And, as…
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Bill Would Allow Veterans Options in Burial
The Loved Ones Interment Act would end policy that prevents those who receive urns or plaques from being interred in national cemeteriesU.S. Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA) has introduced the Loved Ones Interment Act, a bill that would allow veterans who are cremated and receive an urn or plaque from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to be buried in a national cemetery. Under the current law, a family is not allowed to do both. The…
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