people

Stephen lives on

Stephen's Grandchildren

This week my friend Ellen’s deceased brother’s second grandchild was born. This little person was not just the physical expression of Stephen but there was something of his soul present as well. I felt the connection to Stephen even more strongly than the first time.

Birth is a beginning and death a destination…

My colleague and neighbour Andrew Casey was buried today, after a beautiful Jewish funeral service. His brother John observed that he still had his mop of rich brown hair – but lamented that he wished Andrew had lived long enough to go grey. Simple wisdoms flowed from the Old Testament, … Read more

Ambos give one last trip to the beach

This one might be familiar to some…but it’s a lovely story to repeat at Christmas time. Thank you Paul E for sharing. Two Queensland paramedics who went out of their way to fulfil the final wishes of a dying patient say they’re humbled by the worldwide attention they’ve received, after … Read more

The Kiwi Coffin Club

Kiwi Coffin Club - A group of rebellious, creative Kiwi seniors give death the finger, one crazy coffin at a time. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Love the way these baby-boomers are rethinking the end, turning old ideas on their head, the way they always have – while making friends and tap-dancing.

Book review: The Museum Of Words

When I got back from my recent travels in country NSW with family, I found this posting to her followers from Susan Wyndham. Thank you for sharing your thoughts Susan. The genre of reflecting on death and what it means, continues to grow. From Susan: “You might be interested in … Read more

Facebook etiquette when someone dies

by Rachel Thompson, Mashable. When someone you love passes away, turning to Facebook can be a profoundly helpful way of processing that loss and expressing your grief. But, for the deceased’s nearest and dearest, social media can be deeply overwhelming and upsetting in the immediate aftermath and even the long … Read more

A great description of palliative care

Palliative care: Provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms Affirms life and regards dying as a normal process Intends to neither hasten nor postpone death Integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care Offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death. I … Read more

Remembering mothers today

A photo of my mother just with me – something very rare. It’s Mother’s Day in Australia – a chance to reflect on all the lovely mothers who have gone before us. I’m loving seeing my friends tributes splashed across social media. I love especially the photos of women taken … Read more

At her window

It’s easy to miss the practical companioning aspect to the care of the dying in our modern, acute-care oriented health system.  Creativity and Life coach Helen Carmichael lives in a Bondi flat with a view over that iconic Sydney beach and she watched from her window as an elderly neighbour lay … Read more

New life

“Grief is in two parts. The first is loss. The second is the remaking of life.” – Anne Roiphe Thankfully, with the birth of a new grandchild, I can take this wise comment literally. Although it is hard, after grief it is important to remember to seek out moments of … Read more

Palliative care appalling – expert

Palliative care in regional NSW at 1960s standards, expert tells ABC News By Liz Farquhar ABC News   One of Australia’s first specialist palliative care doctors has accused New South Wales health authorities of dropping the ball when it comes to end of life care. Yvonne McMaster said regional areas … Read more

The Conversation project

The Conversation Project is dedicated to helping people talk about their wishes for end-of-life care. Statistics show that everything Ellen Goodman says about the American experience is the same in Australia. That is, we have the same gap between the death people say they want and the death they have. … Read more