Quote of the day
Gianni Agnelli’s funeral As scion of the Fiat family, Gianni Agnelli was both a multi-millionaire and one of Italy’s most influential figures, and among the men least likely to accept being relegated to the sidelines. His best friend was Stavros Niarchos, the shipping tycoon known as “the Golden Greek”. When he died in 1996, his […]
What about those Interfaithers?
Another controversial post by Richard Rawlinson When religion is broached here in relation to secular funerals, I observe a few commentators opining the fact religion in this context tends to be referring to Judeo-Christian monotheism rather than wider discussion of faiths from New Age sects to Buddhism and Hinduism. I’d also welcome informed bloggers across […]
Quote of the day
For many, working with corpses is a job reserved for the very brave, or very desperate, as a last resort when there are no other jobs available. Source
Thoughts of a funeral-goer
Posted by Lyra Mollington Not long after I had decided on a burial shroud made of wool, lo and behold, up pops a woollen coffin – at the funeral of an elderly lady who loved knitting! I have to confess that, yet again, I did not know the deceased. I happened to be in the […]
Allowing death to arrive naturally, as desired
The sage doctor who stood at the bedside as I held my dying grandmother said, “We seem to die one organ at a time.” I, however, have come to believe that we are too focused on the failing of the organs to rightly perceive the dying of the person. Death comes in many different ways, […]
Psychoactive drugs and death terror
Posted by Charles If you are interested in knowing more about how psilocybin, the ingredient in magic mushrooms, can reduce, even eliminate, depression, anxiety and terror in end-stage cancer patients, you should read this article in the New York Times. One patient, Pam Sauda, spoke of how “‘I began to realize that all of this […]
Funerals from around the world – Swaziland
Whoops! Should have posted this yesterday. NGUDZENI – The funeral of King Maja II, leader of the Mamba clan was unique in more ways than one. He was buried in the morning yesterday inside a cattle byre. Secondly, his body was carried in a specially designed casket worth E25 000, bought from Dups Funeral Home Services. King Maja II, whose […]
How to Talk End-of-Life Care with a Dying Patient – Atul Gawande
Four questions a doctor needs to ask a person who is dying: 1. Do you know your prognosis? 2. What are your fears about what is to come? 3. What are your goals? What would you like to do as time runs short? 4. What tradeoffs are you willing to make? How much suffering are […]
Funerals from around the world — South Africa
Francis Rasuge, a police officer, was killed by her lover in 2004. Her body was not found until earlier this year, buried in the yard of her lover’s house. Francis Nyadi Rasuge was finally laid to rest yesterday afternoon at the Horingnestkrans Cemetery in Pretoria North. There was a touch of sad bitterness at the […]
Funerals from around the world – Kathmandu
On the river bank opposite, a small funeral procession arrived, carrying a bright red coffin. A group of men, followed by women in saris, stood around for a while chatting, then opened the coffin and pulled out a body, wrapped in a white sheet. The mourners lugged it down to the river, where they left […]
