End of Life Planning

Today, photographing the dead is making a comeback. But this time it’s not only the deceased who are being photographed – it’s the entire funeral service. Candid shots of the somber rituals, loved ones embracing, mourners comforting…

Simona was despairing “I’ve been left such a mess, I can’t believe it! How do I even begin, when it’s the very last thing I want to do!” She was expressing her horror at the myriad of things she was having to deal with after her mother had died…

I actually hate that question. My first impression is that it implies my worth as a human being – regardless of my accomplishments – will rarely be enough. I read a Facebook post recently that struck a chord in me as a woman. It was in regard…

I will never forget my call to Sheila. Sheila and her husband, David, were clients in their late 50s. They were the salt of the earth’ folk. It was a Monday afternoon. I figured Sheila would probably still be at work, so I would leave a message for her…

We humans have an understandable tendency to take action on things that are important to us in the moment. And until we have something happen in our lives that reminds us that our risk of mortality is 100%, we often leave the “when I’m gone” wishes…

Cremation urns have come a long way from the days of ornate, claw-footed brass urns with intricate gothic carvings. Today, there are myriad choices to select from, in a variety of materials, styles, colors, and themes. There are urns for nature lovers…

There are two words that, generally speaking, in the Western world we don’t like to mention much. One of them you will probably not be surprised by. But the other you might well be. Given my specialty is end of life planning, you can easily imagine what…

Life is full of surprises, changes, and adventures we often never dreamed would happen. These events are not always happy times but become part of the facts of our lives regardless. As women, for various reasons (death, divorce, choice)…

Families often view cremation as a final disposition, like burial or entombment. It is not, and that means some important decisions must be made. Unfortunately, families often put off deciding what to do with the cremated remains…