The Blog
Leave Love, Not Stress: The Power of Planning Ahead
Ok, I get it – thinking about the end of your life isn’t exactly the first thing on your to-do list. But taking time to get your affairs in order now can make a world of difference for the people you care about most. You can start by organizing your finances. No need to overhaul…
Embracing Swedish Death Cleaning as an Intentional Act of Love
Have you ever opened a closet to find one item, only to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff inside? Over a lifetime, we accumulate possessions that hold sentimental value or seem too useful to discard. Swedish Death Cleaning, or döstädning, offers a thoughtful way to declutter, simplify life, and ease the burden on…
Doing Death Different: Special Event October 27th
On October 27th, 2024 The Victoria Holistic Death Care Community is hosting our second annual Doing Death Different event! This is a community marketplace event held at the Royal Canadian Legion (411 Gorge Rd East) from 1 – 4pm. A year ago, a handful of death-caring folks, myself included, got a table at a trade…
The Empowered Estate: A new approach to end-of-life planning
When I became a funeral director 15 years ago I wanted to help families navigate the loss of a loved one. Since then I’ve met with hundreds of families. While I was able to assist them with the care of their deceased loved one, I started to notice where there were gaps in what I…
Zombie Culture and Our Disconnect From Death
Here in North America, we live in an era where death is often sanitized, occurring behind hospital curtains and mortuary walls, yet the undead continue to captivate our imaginations. Zombie culture has skyrocketed in popularity, prevalent in our movies, TV shows and video games. While the undead may seem like harmless fictional creatures, I think…
Death is not a medical emergency – it is possible to slow down.
There is no incorrect way to approach death, there are only options and instincts. That said, when a person dies in BC there are standard steps that need to be taken. This content was inspired by Emily Bootle’s work at DeathCare BC and gratefully shared with her permission. The first few moments: Be present There is a strong…
Top 3 Books About Death I Read in 2022
There are more death positive books on the shelves these days and that’s so encouraging! It can also be overwhelming. Here are some of my favourites, chosen because I find them to be approachable and not too “out there”. Easy to read and empowering – because the best remedy to overcome fear is knowledge! We…
Death Over Dinner
“The dinner table is the most forgiving place for difficult conversation. The ritual of breaking bread creates warmth and connection, and puts us in touch with our humanity. It offers an environment that is more suitable than the usual places we discuss end of life.” Michael Webb, co-creator of Death over Dinner What is a…
Green Burial – Death Nourishing Life
Burying our dead is possibly the most earthly expression of our grief. An open graves confronts mourners with a stark reminder of the reality of loss. In our death denying culture, this is a rare sight, but with green burial there is often a comforting sense that we are honouring our loved one’s earthly shell…