The options available to the consumer of funeral services in Alberta are limited. I would like to draw attention to new methods of final disposition – which is how we refer to the final resting options for a body - that should be available for Albertans, and that may spark your desire for change. I will also share some information about how we can instigate revisions to provincial law.

There are different courses of action required depending on whether the death was unexpected or expected. In this post, I will share details about how to plan for death at home, as well as what you will need to do once loss of life occurs.

April is Advanced Care Planning month – a great time to talk about documenting final wishes. Advanced care planning is a big topic and I won’t be covering all that it encompasses in this post. What I really want to highlight are the parts that seem to get missed: parts related to final death care arrangements.

At our recent Death Warmed Over Cafe, we chatted about bucket lists. Although bucket lists are not something that I have been hugely motivated by, I thought this topic might deserve a closer examination. In this post, I will dig into what a bucket list is, what kind of things can be included, how they can help us and when we might want to make one.

As 2022 came to a close, I reflected on how this work is all about connections. I connect with people who need support as they deal with loss. Connecting with and to clients who need a safe space to process their need for the resources necessary to create a meaningful plan, one that will honour their loved one.

Our culture and our families are having trouble trying to figure out how we might talk about death, dying and end of life. What if we could take some of the mystery and fear out of death? What if we could even enjoy the experience? This fall, I’m leading an uncommon adventure: a cemetery bus tour through Strathcona County.

When someone passes, the last thing you want to expend energy on is navigating the extensive technical terminology around death. Death houses a whole dictionary’s worth of confusing terms. These are just a few. Let’s clarify them, and talk about why I use some terms over others. In addition, let’s cover the phrases that may provide comfort to someone who is grieving.

Celebrants are sensitive and respectful individuals who collaborate with family members closely to ensure the ceremony is personalized to your needs.

When we’re born, our first experience is to be swaddled – wrapped in a cozy cloth that offers a sense of care and comfort. A burial shroud is pretty much the same experience - for the other end of life.

There are several different terms we in the field of death care use to discuss burial options. Let’s look at four terms we use around body burial and how are they the same and how are they differ: traditional burial, green burial, natural burial and shrouding.

On November 1 and 2, Mexico (and elsewhere) observes the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos), where families and friends gather to remember and celebrate loved ones who have passed away.

Cremation is the final disposition of choice for more than 75% of Albertan deaths.

The pandemic has placed great restrictions on how we say goodbye so many families are rethinking what the whole “saying farewell” ritual or ceremony is about. Who is it about and for? What are we going to do with the remains? How do we scatter? Where can we scatter?

If you know much about me, you know I’m a big music fan. It’s common knowledge in close family circles that Dennis and Bonnie’s favourite Saturday night is at home, tuned in to CKUA Radio with a couple of adult beverages. If you listen to CKUA or have attended music festivals in Canada, you’ll know Danny Michele as a great Canadian musician. He penned a tune called, “Who’s Gonna Miss You When You’re Gone?”