Reena Lazar, co-founder and CEO of Willow End-of-Life Education and Planning, sent a group email which I’ve summarized in this article. Earlier this week, I received an email from Reena Lazar, who had been reflecting on the recent deaths of two remarkable women: Dolly Parton and Gloria Steinem. As Reena thought about the lives of these two very different women,…
A perspective from Suzanne B. O’Brien RN, Founder & CEO Doulagivers Institute For much of human history, death was understood as a natural part of life — something families and communities experienced together. People died at home, surrounded by loved ones, rituals, and care. But over the past century, death has increasingly moved into hospitals and institutions, becoming hidden, medicalized,…
This is a summary of an article from the The Washington Post, April 2, 2026 Death doulas—non-medical professionals who support people and their families through the dying process—offer a unique perspective on what the end of life can look like. Their work is grounded in presence, compassion, and practical support, whether that means advocating within the healthcare system, sitting quietly…
How we think about death is not fixed—it’s shaped by the stories our culture tells us about what it means to live and what it means to end. The way a society understands death reveals much about what it values in life. In our modern Western world, death is often seen as a full stop, an end point, a curtain…
From an article by Hospice Care of the Lowcountry, SC, USA, citing Dr. Atul Gawande’s book Being Mortal, summarized by Margaret Verschuur. Facing the end of life is never easy, but asking the right questions can bring clarity, comfort, and a sense of control during one of life’s most uncertain chapters. A growing movement in healthcare is shifting the focus…
Near-death experiences (NDEs) are vivid, often life-changing events reported by people who have come close to dying—whether through illness, accident, or trauma. These experiences often include perceptions beyond ordinary awareness: floating above the body, passing through a tunnel, encountering a bright light, or feeling a profound sense of peace. While no two accounts are exactly alike, researchers have found striking…
After a heartfelt and moving presentation at our monthly community meeting, I asked Kira to write a story about her mother’s death. May this sharing touch you and expand your awareness about what is possible. “Happy, happy, happy dead.” These were the words of my mother, Kathryn MacDuffee, spoken a few years ago as she shared her vision and…
Karen Wyatt MD is a family physician and the founder of End of Life University (eolupodcast.com). She spent much of her 25 year medical career working with patients in challenging settings, such as hospice, nursing homes and indigent clinics. In a blog post, Dr. Wyatt writes: These are the fundamental truths of death and dying that should be taught to every…
Following is the script from a School of Life YouTube video titled Reasons to Remember Death. The School of Life is a global organization helping people to lead more fulfilled lives through useful resources and tools. The fast-paced video is directed to those of us who are not actively dying. This is about death, our death, and how useful it…
The Cortes Island DeathCaring Collective works to integrate death as a natural part of community life by initiating conversations, providing education, and encouraging people to plan ahead on issues related to end-of-life, and empowering, guiding, and supporting the practice and process of caring for our own dead and dying, in community. The DeathCaring Collective began on Cortes in 2019, inspired…