Death Education
If we’re going to Do Death Differently, we have to educate ourselves and consider all the options. From what to say to somebody who is grieving to weighing the best options for your unique end-of-life experience, The Death Network is committed to offering fact-based information so you can explore and consider what is best for you.
Navigating Grief During the Holidays: Coping Strategies and Support
The holiday season is often portrayed as a time of joy, togetherness, and celebration. However, for those experiencing grief, this time can feel especially heavy, bringing a mix of sorrow, isolation, and emotional overwhelm. Whether it's the loss of a loved one, the absence of a familiar tradition, or a major life change, grief can intensify during the holidays. In this article, we’ll explore why grief feels heavier during this season, how to cope with it, ways to ask for help, and practical tips to manage it.
Human Composting: A New Frontier in Eco-Friendly End-of-Life Care
Natural organic reduction involves placing a deceased body in a controlled environment where it decomposes naturally over time. The process is often facilitated in specialized facilities using biodegradable materials and a blend of organic elements like wood chips, straw, and alfalfa to promote decomposition. Natural organic reduction relies on the organic materials that are readily available locally, Mother-Earth has provided all that we need within our local environment to ensure that our bodies can be reduced naturally, no matter where we live.
Death Cafe: A Conversation About Life, Death, and Everything In Between
At its core, a Death Cafe is a simple concept: people—often strangers—come together in a comfortable setting to have open, informal conversations about death. There’s tea, there are treats, and there’s no set agenda or expert panel guiding the discussion. The goal? To encourage greater awareness of death, which in turn can help us live more fully in the time we have.
Embracing the Joy and Beauty of a Life Well-Lived: The Concept of a Living Farewell
Death is an integral part of the circle of life, yet our culture rarely addresses it in this context. Instead, we often view it as a dark, somber event. It's time to flip the script and celebrate those we love authentically—before they are gone. Sharing love, words of affirmation, and precious memories shouldn't be reserved for after someone has passed away. It should happen while they are still alive and able to receive these blessings. Whether facing a terminal diagnosis or nearing the end of life, planning a living funeral or living wake can be a profound and meaningful way to honor a life.
Funeral Attire for Kids: Selecting Appropriate Outfits for Young Attendees
When it comes to dressing children for funerals, many parents find themselves in unfamiliar territory. It's a delicate balance between respecting the solemnity of the occasion and ensuring that children are comfortable. This comprehensive guide aims to provide insights on appropriate funeral attire for kids.
End of Life Planning: The Unfinished Business Checklist for Your Family
No one wants to leave this world with unfinished business. But in all reality, it happens. We never know when it is our time to die. It could be tomorrow, or it could be many decades from now. What do you want to leave your friends and family when you are gone?
Family is often left scrambling after the death of a loved one, whether it is an expected death or not. Why? Because there was unfinished business that was not considered. Unfortunately, your family is left to wrap up your life when you are gone and finish what you cannot. Make sure they are left with the best possible instructions to do so.
Women's Summer Funeral Attire: A Super Detailed Handbook for Balancing Respect and Comfort
Summer funerals present unique challenges, particularly for women seeking to balance respect, comfort, and style. This ultimate guide explores how to navigate this delicate situation with grace and sensitivity, offering detailed advice on selecting appropriate attire for such occasions.
The Reality of Building a Death Doula Practice
Community death care is the foundation for the work of death doulas, yet if the community is not aware of the role of a death doula, it can be challenging to secure employment. As a San Diego death doula I am concerned that there will be a bottleneck of certified death doulas who leave the profession due to the difficulty of establishing themselves within the mainstream funeral industry.
What to Say to Someone Who is Grieving: Condolence and Comfort in Action
Many philosophies and ways of life see learning empathy as we grow a cornerstone of the human experience, or claim that the meaning of life is to ease the suffering of others. If humans can be categorized as communal creatures, it makes sense that we'd want to help when we see our family, friends, or community members suffering. Even more so in the face of death, loss, and grief.
Medical Aid in Dying (MAID)
Medical aid in dying (MAID) is when a medical professional prescribes medications to a consenting patient who then takes them willingly to speed up their dying process. This concept has been a widely controversial topic. Should doctors and medical providers interfere in any way with the dying process? We are told doctors should do no harm. But what does that mean exactly?
The Profound Meaning Behind Memorial Day
Each year as Memorial Day approaches, a solemn remembrance washes over the nation. Americans pause to reflect on the ultimate sacrifices made by fallen heroes - courageous individuals who laid down their lives while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Memorial Day stands as a poignant reminder of the immense debt owed to those who safeguarded the nation's freedoms at the highest cost.
Advance Care Planning: How to Plan for Your Medical Care
We never know when an emergency is going to strike. You may be left physically or mentally unable to speak for yourself and communicate your wishes. Who is left to make those important decisions about your healthcare?
Funeral Cost: A Comprehensive Guide to Funeral Expenses
Death is an inevitable part of life's journey, and while it's a difficult topic to confront, it's essential to plan for the associated expenses. This comprehensive guide aims to provide valuable insights into the various components of funeral expenses, enabling you to make informed decisions and plan accordingly.
Funeral Food: Comfort and Remembrance in Times of Grief
The right funeral food can make all the difference in easing the burden of loss. A carefully curated spread of familiar, comforting dishes can provide solace, nourishment, and a sense of community when it's needed most. Whether it's a hearty casserole, a platter of finger foods, or grandma's famous pecan pie, the act of coming together over a shared meal can be truly healing.
Home Funeral: A more meaningful send-off at the end of life
Home funerals present an opportunity for your community to come together in honor of your life, to share emotions and support one another, and to do so with a fraction of the cost of a “traditional” funeral.
The Increased Need For a Death Doula
Many factors affect the rising popularity of death doulas, with probably the most important one being a growing awareness of limitations present in our current healthcare systems in addressing the emotional and spiritual needs of anyone facing death. Sometimes, traditional medical care can feel cold or impersonal while an individual may want more of a warm and personable approach to their end of life. This sense of disillusionment can lead people to seek out decision-making and planning that aims to navigate the complexities of modern death.
What to Say in a Eulogy
Whether tasked or asked, writing and delivering a funeral speech can feel like a daunting responsibility. Chances are if you’re the one giving the speech, you might have more than a passing connection to the deceased, and summing up their entire life and accurately painting them as they meant to many different people can seem impossible to do justice, or perhaps you have your own complex feelings and struggle to find a place to get started, In the wake of grief loss, and death, a wide range of emotions are normal, expected, and welcome.
Grief Yoga: Unraveling the Path of Healing
Grief is an inevitable part of the human experience. When you are grieving, it can be hard to take care of yourself mentally, physically, and spiritually. This is where Grief Yoga emerges as a powerful ally, offering a holistic approach to processing emotions, cultivating resilience, and finding solace amidst sorrow.
Navigating the Diverse Careers of the Funeral Industry
Death is an inescapable part of the human experience, and our society has developed profound rituals and practices to honor and commemorate the lives of those who have passed. At the heart of this sacred tradition lies the funeral industry, a realm that offers a diverse array of career paths for those seeking to provide solace, guidance, and dignity during life's most challenging transitions.
19 Unique Remembrance Gifts: Heartfelt Keepsakes to Honor Cherished Memories
When mourning the loss of a loved one, it is natural to want something meaningful to remember them by. Special remembrance gifts can offer a profound connection to the extraordinary individuals we have lost, providing a tangible embrace of their enduring presence in our lives.
Helpful Resources
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![Mesothelioma life expectancy resource guide]()
Mesothelioma
Life Expectancy Guide
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![Wake Louisiana LGBTQ+ end of life guide]()
Wake Education
LGBTQ+ End of Life Guide
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![When you die digital resources for death and dying]()
When You Die
Digital Resources for Death & Dying
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![Hospice Foundation of America - A caregiver's guide to the dying process]()
Hospice Foundation of America
A Caregiver’s Guide to the Dying Process
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![ALS Living with ALS resource guide]()
ALS Association
Living with ALS
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![Looking up out of a gravesite into the open sky.]()
Disposition Options
What To Do With Your Body After Death
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![Five Wishes End of Life Advance Care Planning]()
Five Wishes Advance Care Planning
Planning Guide
