Tag: memorial

EOLPodcast

Ep. 555 Funeral Photography as an Act of Service and Love with Nell Aburto

kwyattmd

Learn about the value of preserving photographic memories of funeral services for grief and bereavement.

About my guest:

Today’s guest is Nell Aburto, a portrait photographer based in Minneapolis MN who offers funeral and memorial photography, which is largely unheard of in this industry. She discusses why people might want to consider hiring a photographer for a funeral service, the benefits of having a photographic record of such a celebration, and what it’s like to work in this profession. Learn more at her website:

mnfuneralphotography.com

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

In this episode:

  • How Nell was inspired to specialize in funeral photography
  • Why it’s nearly impossible for family members to take photographs of a funeral or memorial service
  • How it is still considered taboo by some people to take photos at funerals
  • The benefits she experiences from this work
  • How photographs are an important part of family history
  • How funeral photography can help us normalize death as part of life
  • Why funerals can be a time of transformation and healing

Links mentioned in this episode:

Resources:

Related episodes:

Other links:

Transcript:

Nell Aburto InterviewDownload
EOLPodcast

Ep. 475 Tree vs. Tombstone: Better Place Forests with Gillian Nye

kwyattmd

Learn about a beautiful, sustainable option for disposition of ashes after death at the base of a memorial tree.

My guest Gillian Nye has served at the Forest Memorials Manager at Better Place Forests for the past 6 years. She helps families create meaningful, nature-centered ceremonies that honor their loved ones in a unique and sustainable manner. She will tell us how and why to choose a special tree as a memorial for ourselves or those we love. If you love trees (as I do) and want to learn about sustainable options for disposition after death don’t miss this conversation! Learn more at the website:

betterplaceforests.com

YouTube Channel

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • The story behind how Better Place Forests got started
  • Where the forests are located
  • The process for choosing a memorial tree (online or in-forest)
  • Reforestation of other forests through partnership with Arbor Day Foundation
  • How families can return over time to visit the tree they’ve chosen
  • Examples of nature-centered ceremonies that have taken place in the forests
  • How families benefit from choosing a tree as a memorial (rather than a tombstone)
  • The “spreading grove” as a less-expensive forest option for disposition

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu. Also thank you to James M. Schultz for buying me a cup of coffee and to Sue Julian who joined the $10 for 10 Years Campaign! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

EOLPodcast

Ep. 431 “No Story Lost”: Preserving Meaning and Memories with Andrew Hall

kwyattmd

Learn about a service to create a beautiful “coffee table book” to preserve the cherished stories of a loved one.

My guest Andrew Hall is the co-founder of “No Story Lost” – a service to help families capture their loved one’s stories and photos into a beautiful print memoir book. He’ll discuss the value of preserving memories, both before and after death, and how he and his cousin decided to create a business helping people do that. Learn more at the website:

https://nostorylost.com

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • How No Story Lost gathers and preserves stories for their clients
  • Why our stories and memories matter when we want to leave a legacy for others
  • How memorial projects have benefitted families as they grieve the death of a loved one
  • The significance of “memento mori” and how it informs Andrew’s work
  • How legacy and memorial projects help people find meaning at the end of life
  • How transformation and healing might occur through the process of creating a memorial book

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu, especially my newest supporter Akhila Murphy and to those who’ve bought me a coffee! Also many thanks to all of you who joined the $10 for 10 Years Campaign including Stacy Ann Bussy! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

EOLPodcast

Ep. 218 Living Reef Memorials: Saving the Ocean One Funeral at a Time with Rob Sarnie and David Stubbers

kwyattmd

Learn about an ecological alternative to traditional burial the supports the health of the ocean.

PodcastReef

My guests Rob Sarnie and David Stubbers of Living Reef Memorial offer a unique and  “green” option for after-death disposition that rejuvenates the ocean habitat in the process. They will share with us how cremains are used to create living reefs that increase marine biodiversity and heal parts of the ocean where coral reefs have been destroyed. This is a fascinating example of using creativity to make the world a better place and offer alternative means of disposition at the same time. Learn more about this work at their website:

www.livingreefmemorial.com

Listen here:

 

This episode includes:

  • How a living reef  rehabilitates marine habitat and increases biodiversity
  • How cremains are utilized in the building of a reef
  • How a living reef can be memorialized for a loved one
  • Options for holding a memorial service or funeral during the deployment of a reef
  • Who might choose a living reef for disposition of a loved one
  • Why a living reef memorial might be preferable to a full-body burial at sea or scattering of ashes
  • How to make arrangements now for your own living reef after you die
  • How profits from living reef memorials are being used to save baby sea turtles

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes! Thanks again to all supporters on Patreon.com/eolu, especially my newest Patron Beverly Brodsky, your contributions mean everything to me!

 

End of Life, EOLPodcast, Grief

Ep. 97 Tribute to Jon Underwood, Founder of the Death Cafe Movement

kwyattmd

In memory of Jon’s contributions to positive conversations about death through Death Cafe.

PodcastUnderwood

deathcupThis episode is dedicated to the memory of Jon Underwood who died suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 44 on June 27, 2017. I share an interview with Jon from 2015 about Death Cafe, why he started the movement, and his dreams of creating an actual Death Cafe in London. Thank you Jon for changing how the world talks about death! Learn more at DeathCafe.com.

 

A crowdfunding campaign has been started to help support Jon’s family and you can learn more about it at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/jon-underwood. 

Watch a video about the campaign here: https://youtu.be/o6-6LyUf2do

Please consider making a donation as a way of thanking Jon posthumously for his work!

Patreonbecome2xThis podcast is supported through generous donations at Patreon.com/eolu. Thank you to my latest supporter John Wadsworth who is the founder and creative director of Art of Dying Magazine (go to ArtofDying.net to learn more.) If you would like to become a donor go to Patreon.com/eolu to learn more.

About the 2015 interview with Jon Underwood:

When Jon Underwood and his Mom, Sue Barsky Reid, hosted the very first Death Cafe in his home in London in September 2011, they had no idea they were creating a movement that would sweep across the world.

In this interview Dr. Karen Wyatt and Jon Underwood will talk about the past, present and future of Death Cafe. You will learn how you can be part of the Death Cafe movement whether you would like to attend a Cafe, start your own, or support Jon’s future dream of opening a real Death Cafe in London!

We can learn from Jon’s story that it is possible for one person with a simple idea to create big changes in the world!

Thank you Jon creating those big changes for all of us! We wish that we had more time to be inspired by you but you have always taught that life is fleeting. You enjoyed each moment just as each of us must learn to do.

If you want to learn more about the new textbook The Death Cafe Movement go to this link: http://www.springer.com/us/book/9783319542553

Tune in every Monday for a new episode! Until the next time:

Face Your Fears.                     BE Ready.                      Love Your Life!

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