Mary Oliver writes in Snow Geese Oh, to love what is lovely and will not last! What a task to ask of anything, or anyone, yet it is ours, and not by the century or the year, but by the hours. Everything we love in this world will not last. We will not last. “It’s never too late,” we say, smiling…
A Representation Agreement Section 9 (RA9) is a legally enforceable document for authorizing someone—a Representative—to assist you or to act on your behalf for health and personal care matters. The RA9 covers decisions about living arrangements, lifestyle preferences, minor and major health care, and the choice of life support. The RA9 does not cover financial or legal affairs; for this you…
A significant number of people will experience a coma in the process of dying. As people approach death, they often enter more or less remote states of consciousness for varying periods of time. These states may appear painful for the one dying and cause grief in loved ones. But coma therapists believe that altered states present opportunities, including a chance…
The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Death Benefit is a one-time payment, payable to the estate or other eligible individuals, on behalf of a deceased CPP contributor. To qualify for the death benefit, the deceased must have made contributions to the CPP for a sufficient period of time, and if so, the benefit could be as much as $2,500. It must be applied for, preferably within 60 days after the…
From the UBC website: The Body Donation Program in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia (UBC) has been in service since 1950. Over the years many individuals have donated their bodies for the purpose of anatomical study and medical research, making a very special and valuable contribution to the education of our health care professionals and the…
As our living has become more complex, so has our dying. End-of-life planning is more important than ever. It’s a big job, and takes considerable time and thought. Ultimately, someone has to do it. The effort you put in now can save others incalculable time, money, heartache, and disagreements later. In broad strokes, there are two categories that need your…
Excerpts from a magazine article by Alan Wolfelt were summarized by Margaret Verschuur. For people who have experienced the death of someone they love, holidays can be particularly difficult. What is intended to be a time of joy, family togetherness, and thankfulness instead brings feelings of sadness, loss, and emptiness. When someone you love dies, the full sense of this…
Before the 1860’s, families and communities took care of their own dead. Historian Mark Harris noted in his book, Grave Matters, that it was after the American Civil War this changed. The bodies of fallen soldiers were routinely embalmed before being transported back to their families in the north. In 1865, Abraham Lincoln’s embalmed body was viewed publicly for two weeks…
Power of Attorney (POA) is a legal document. It gives someone you trust the power to look after your legal and financial affairs. This might include paying bills, depositing or withdrawing money from your bank account, investing your money, or selling your home. The person you give this power to is called the attorney. In this case “attorney” doesn’t mean…
After a loved one dies, why keep the body at home? What advantages are there to undertaking the death related tasks ourselves? Don Morris, a death educator from Victoria and one of our teachers, has written the following: Enhances participation – Home funeral vigils offer opportunities for participation which fosters healing from grief. Rochelle Martin of Ontario’s Home Funeral Alternatives says, “family…