Category Archives: end of life

People’s Memorial Association – May Newsletter

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Dying Is No Reason to Stop Fighting

This article is an opinion op-ed from the NYT. Thanks to Pam P for sending it in. “Ady Barkan rolled into Washington this week in a motorized wheelchair, unable to talk or to chew food or to lift his arm to scratch … Continue reading

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Seinfeld – Kramer’s deliberation on when to “pull the plug”

Ed note: One day in my office a Microsoft programmer told me, “Hey, if anything happens just pull the plug.” Then he smiled and went on, “But quickly plug me back in, because I’m likely to reboot.” I hope you … Continue reading

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ECO-FRIENDLY PET AFTERCARE AND DISPOSITION

A different type of pet aftercare is now available – see https://restingwaters.com/ Thanks to Pam P for sending this information along.

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The funeral as we know it is becoming a relic — just in time for a death boom

By Karen Heller April 15 (in the Washington Post – thanks to Frank C for sending this in) Dayna West knows how to throw a fabulous memorial shindig. She hired Los Angeles celebration-of-life planner Alison Bossert — yes, those now exist — … Continue reading

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Meet the surgeon Buffett, Bezos and Dimon trust to fix health care

Ed note: Atul Gawande is aware of the problems in the health care system – access, quality and cost. He has now teamed up with Buffett, Bezos and Dimon to try to bring these runaway problems under control. If anyone … Continue reading

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Seattle, It’s Time to Talk About Death

There are many things we want to talk about with family and friends; death isn’t usually one of them. But from Death Salons to Death Cafes and dinners, there are plenty of signs in Seattle that this is changing BY: JEN … Continue reading

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Washington could become the first state to legalize human composting

Washington residents “are very excited about the prospect of becoming a tree or having a different alternative,” state Sen. Jamie Pedersen said. A process known as “recomposition” reduces human remains to compost. CAHNRS Communications / Washington State UniversityDec. 29, 2018, 10:06 … Continue reading

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What the psychic saw

When the US filmmaker Matthew Palmer’s mother was 28 and childless, she received an unsettling prediction from a psychic: she would have a son, and her husband would die when their son was 13, but it would be ‘okay’. Uninterested … Continue reading

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What Doctors Know About CPR

We are all signed up for CPR unless we indicate otherwise. I think we all wish for a peaceful end, much like that of President George H. W. Bush – with caring family and friends at our bedside. The alternative … Continue reading

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“Tour of Grief”

From the NYT sent in by Pamela P The Orca, Her Dead Calf and Us Among the many quirks of human nature, one that has always struck me as particularly worthwhile is the tendency to project our own feelings onto … Continue reading

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Do we die?

“When the body is no longer able to continue to function in the natural world, a person is said to die. Yet they do not die, but are only separated from the body which was of use to them in … Continue reading

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Loving Legacy Video

At a conference today I met the owner/filmmaker of Seattle based Loving Legacy Video today. He noted, “Your kids don’t want your stuff, they want your stories!” Connect generations of your family members Have a profound impact on your life … Continue reading

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Lawsuit for “Wrongful Life” after unwanted but successful CPR

Ed note: Do you have that POLST form stored where 911 and your loved ones can find it? We can have all the documents completed but what happens if they don’t pay attention to them. Now lawsuits are springing up … Continue reading

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Barack Obama honors John McCain

Wonderful memorial tribute by President Obama.

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George W. Bush tribute to John McCain

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A place for hope

It’s been a while since Barbara Bush, former First Lady of the United States, passed away in the spring, but a lot of people still are living on the hope she bequeathed to them. Throughout their long lives in the … Continue reading

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Saying “Turn it off” after a pacemaker or implanted defibrillator is in place

Ed note: With technology it’s often easier to say “yes” rather than “no” – or worse, saying “stop” after you said “yes.” As an ethics committee consultant, I was asked to see a dying patient on hospice who wanted his … Continue reading

Posted in Advance Directives, Aging Sites, end of life, Science and Technology | 1 Comment

Is it moral to respect the wishes of the dead, above the living?

Trillions of dollars are involved. Should personal wealth be passed unfettered to the family? What are the moral obligations to our country, our institutions and our fellow man. I know a family who left a trust giving $1M to each … Continue reading

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“Speaking of Dying” with Trudy James – Wednesday, at 3:30 PM

    Wednesday, at 3:30 PM Trudy James presented her film here. Trudy is a chaplain deeply committed to advocacy and education about end of life choices. After the 30 minute film Trudy, Jim deMaine, Elizabeth Graham and Jeannie Fessenden will … Continue reading

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Ellyn Goodman’s “The Conversation Project” on ABC

Click here for more information about The Conversation Project.

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“What Cancer Can Do” by Michael Shirk

Michael Shirk died at age 60 from prostate cancer. The poetry he wrote during his battle with cancer was published by Make a Wish Foundation. His mother, Ardis, shared the book with me after the poem called “What Cancer Cannot Do” … Continue reading

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Advance Directives for Dementia – new frontier

One of the greatest fears many have is progressive dementia. The common advance directives including the POLST form don’t effectively address these fears. A few years ago, End of Life Washington developed a fairly complicated Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Mental Health … Continue reading

Posted in Advance Directives, end of life, Health | 2 Comments

How, or how not, to choose your health care proxy

Ed note: This video clip is from Ellyn Goodman’s the conversation project. Click here to learn more about conversations and choices.

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Do you have a favorite epitaph?

In thinking about a legacy, many notable people left interesting epitaphs.  The tone varies widely with strains of lament, humor, religiosity, hope and peace. Do you have a favorite? What would you write for yourself or a loved one? Here … Continue reading

Posted in end of life, Essays | 3 Comments