There is a profound difference between the older ways of caring for our dead and the modern systems that have replaced them. Traditionally death was understood as a natural human experience. When possible, people died at home, surrounded by those who loved them. Family and friends tended the body, sat vigil, dug graves, carried caskets, and returned the body to…
This article was written by Reena Lazaar from Willow End-of-Life Educators, summarized by Margaret Verschuur When someone dies, this is how it often unfolds: A number is called. Often it’s a funeral provider the family already knows, or the one the hospital suggests. Someone arrives. Your person is taken away. And then—silence. For many families, the next time they see…
This article is summarized from “A Practical Guide for the Worst Day of Your Life” written by Christa Ovenell, Death’s Apprentice Education & Planning. I hope you never need the information in this article. But if you’re reading it in the midst of a loss — or preparing yourself just in case — I want you to have a steadying…
Jewish traditions surrounding death and mourning are deeply rooted in reverence, compassion, and community. They offer a structured yet tender way to honour life, acknowledge loss, and accompany the bereaved through their grief. These practices are both ancient and timeless, reflecting a belief that death is a natural part of life’s sacred continuity. When someone dies, care begins immediately. The…
Tending to a Body at Home In British Columbia, it is entirely legal for families and friends to care for a body at home after death. You may sit with the body, wash and dress it, build a casket, make arrangements for burial or cremation, and transport the body to the cemetery or crematorium. There is no legal requirement…
When someone dies suddenly, especially here on Cortes, it can be difficult to know what to expect. Unless there’s a Notification of Expected Death in the Home or No CPR form already in place, all deaths are treated as unexpected, and the first step is to call 911. This connects you with BC Emergency Health Services, who coordinate the response…
When we lose someone dear to us, how do we say goodbye? For centuries, families tended to their deceased loved ones at home, embracing the rituals and tasks of care as a natural part of life. Today, most turn to funeral homes for assistance. However, a growing number of people are rediscovering the intimacy and connection of home funerals. While…
This information was mainly extracted from a video by Sarah Kerr from the Centre for Sacred Death Care. A funeral service is a focused intentional ritual that facilitates healing. When done well, it serves the person who has died, the close family and friends, and the larger community. This requires a structure able to hold the depth of grief and…
As you think about being kind to those you leave behind, consider the question of what a “good death” might look like for you. Would you prefer to die at home, surrounded by friends and family, if that were possible? Or would you like just one or two people by your side, and if so, who? If there is pain…
A death doula is a non-medical person trained to care for someone holistically (physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually) at the end-of-life. They recognize death as a natural, accepted, and honoured part of life. Death doulas are also known as end-of-life coaches, transition guides, and end-of-life doulas. Although we’ve been dying for thousands of years, it is only in the last…