In the previous blog, the subject was Grieving Now or Later—It’s Up to You. The point was that we don’t apply the model of grieving that we’ve been given.
There are a few typical reasons why. The first is that we’re so busy being strong when others are around [...] Continue Reading…
Our society hasn’t set us up to grieve well. We say silly things, like, “Real men don’t cry.” This makes no sense—are emotions now a sign of weakness? We compliment the widow with inane words, like, “Look how wonderfully strong she’s been.” Why would you choose a time [...] Continue Reading…
We have that image from the movies: it’s a quiet room, people that come in speak no louder than a whisper, and they tip-toe in and tip-toe out so as not to disturb the loved one, who seems to be resting peacefully and doesn’t respond to anything or anyone.
Is [...] Continue Reading…
After too little sleep and too much caffeine, nobody wants to say the words out loud, but they’re all thinking it as they keep vigil over their loved one. Meanwhile, this shell of a human, who now hardly bears any resemblance to the person that has meant so much, [...] Continue Reading…
Bill loved the great outdoors. Hunting, fishing, skiing, hiking, camping, boating—you name it, he got out and did it.
So when Bill died, the family decided it was only fitting to have Bill’s body cremated and his ashes spread over the same stretch of land that Bill enjoyed so much [...] Continue Reading…
What a lot we lost when we stopped writing letters. You can’t reread a phone call. ~Liz Carpenter
Have you ever gone through the attic—you know, wiping aside the cobwebs, scooting past the front half of the snowmobile (and wondering how anybody ever got half of a snowmobile [...] Continue Reading…
“More men are choosing to become hospice volunteers as they see other men struggle with end of life issues,” said Dottie Hildebrand, hospice volunteer coordinator. Tony Sagare is one of those volunteers who believes in ‘hands on’ work.
Tony grew up in England and moved to Yakima [...] Continue Reading…
“No, thanks, I don’t need a chaplain.”
We in hospice hear this sentiment expressed frequently.
And I admit: If I was eligible for hospice, and a nurse and social worker came to officially admit me to the hospice program, and I was told that a chaplain would be contacting me [...] Continue Reading…
Talking with Kids about Loss
Joanne was 12 years old when her mom died. She was not allowed in her mother’s bedroom those last days of her mother’s life. When it came time for the funeral, an aunt (whom Joanne had never met) stayed with Joanne while the adults went [...] Continue Reading…
“Hospice volunteers play a myriad of roles in the holistic hospice setting,” said Mark Young, hospice development director. Henny Gasparac is one of those volunteers who goes beyond the expectations – always giving so freely of herself and her talents.
Henny grew up in the Yakima Valley and [...] Continue Reading…
