Our world has changed so much: we are all multicultural now, with all the richness and confusion that creates. One area where this creates a challenge is when it comes to making response around a death. Co-worker, family connection, fellow student: we may be uncertain what is culturally appropriate when encountering the death of someone Read more . . .
I had a clergy friend who was once contacted by a funeral home to do a funeral for a man he had never met. He agreed and proceeded to contact the widow and to arrange a funeral-planning session with her and any other close family. As was his custom (mine, too, when planning a funeral), Read more . . .
I’m not sure there is ever a perfect thing to say to someone who is mourning a death. If there were, no doubt even the most sympathetic person could turn up tongue-tied just because so much emotion attaches to the situation. Luckily, at least some of the time, words aren’t needed: a hug, your own Read more . . .
In many cultures the gift of flowers is common upon the occasion of a death. Flowers, whether sent to the home of the bereaved or to the place the funeral is held, provide a spot of beauty as well as serving as a reminder to mourners of the regard and sympathy of others. Fruit baskets, Read more . . .
I believe that the purpose of a funeral or memorial service is first and foremost to offer a ministry of compassionate care to the bereaved. Whatever your particular tradition teaches about life, death or life after death, the spiritual care professional has before them a circle of family and friends who have endured a loss, Read more . . .
Jack Layton died on August 22nd at the age of 61 and left a nation bereft. He was a good human being, a brilliant political leader, a great Canadian and a principled humanitarian. His death, like his life, has been very public and his farewell will consist of what is fairly rare in Canada: namely, Read more . . .
ADVANCE DIRECTIVE? EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES? COLUMBARIUM? DNR? TPN? PALLIATIVE CARE? Need help finding your way through the maze of words and phrases relating to death and dying?. This new 100% FREE ebook may be just what you need. To download your FREE copy, just click here. Most of us don’t need to use or understand these Read more . . .
I have been a member of the clergy. Many times my advice was sought as to whether or not a child should attend a funeral after a death in the family. Based on my own study and observation over years, I became persuaded that the thing to do, with school-aged children at least, was to Read more . . .
As a member of the clergy, I encountered situations where the close circle of family and friends of someone who had died were faced with a distressing quandary: that person had left absolutely clear directions for their own funeral. The problem? The directions left did not meet the needs of those who were bereaved. They Read more . . .
Funeral customs have varied throughout history, in different parts of the world and in the context of religious or non-religious observance. From what we can tell, all peoples in organized societies have evolved funeral rites of some kind and protocols for the disposal of the dead body. In fact, it is a good thing this Read more . . .