Remembering Together: Dec. 5 Monthly Topic Class

Ceremonies of Bereavement & Remembrance

Ten years after my father’s death I wrote the eulogy he’d never had.

How do we honor, and strengthen, the continuity of relationships across the veil of life and death?

Join me December 5th for the third of my new Befriending Mortality Monthly Topic Classes. Along with remembering, together, those we are missing, we’ll share inspiring examples of creative ceremonies of bereavement and remembrance, including:

NEW ADDITION! MONTHLY DEATH CAFE: January–March I will host an optional, no-cost, open-format conversation for class participants to share with each other what’s up regarding befriending mortality. Dates and Zoom link will be sent to those registered for monthly classes.

Read More

Befriending Mortality Monthly Topic Classes

New Offering! Monthly “Befriending Mortality” classes via Zoom

WHAT: Attend the monthly classes of your choice. Sessions are 75 minutes long and include information, reflection, and group participation centered on a rotating topic. See topics below.

WHEN: The first Tuesday of each month at 5pm pacific (2nd Tuesday in January):

  • Befriending Mortality – October 3, 2023
  • Final Disposition – November 7, 2023
  • Remembering Together – December 5, 2023
  • The Dying Time – January 9 (2nd Tuesday), 2024
  • From Death to Disposition – February 6, 2024
  • Making a Death Plan – March 5, 2024

Scroll down for topic descriptions.

WHERE: Via Zoom

HOW MUCH: Sliding scale $20 – $45/ class; $120 – $270 for the series

NEW ADDITION! MONTHLY DEATH CAFE: Between each Monthly Topic Class I will host an optional, no-cost, open-format conversation for class and cohort members to share with each other what’s up regarding befriending mortality. Dates and Zoom link will be sent to those registered for monthly classes.

Pre-registration for each monthly class is required via Eventbrite:

Read More

Final Disposition: Nov. 7 Monthly Topic Class

Final Disposition

Meet my friend Mark, seen here shrouded in the back of the ‘62 Suburban that served as his hearse. Mark died in his sleep five months shy of turning 50. He’d often told his beloved wife Phyllis, “If I die, pack me on ice and take me to our family’s pioneer cemetery.” As Phyllis says, “It turns out it’s more complicated than that.” But with the help of friends, she made it happen.

Learning death, before our own — what will happen to your body once you die? How will your death certificate be filled out when it comes to your final disposition?

Join me November 7th for the second of my new Befriending Mortality Monthly Topic Classes. We’ll consider the full range of final disposition options including:

  • Home burials like those of newborn Vera Luna or lavender-lover Jamie
  • Green burials chosen by Marcy and Jake as they anticipated their impending deaths and by Linda as she prepared for the death of her daughter Heather
  • Green burials arranged against all odds, as by Keelia after the death of her son Max, Zaakera after the death of her daughter Mikaela, and Phyllis for her husband Mark
  • Natural organic reduction aka human composting made possible in part through the pioneering choice made by Briar
  • Donating your body to science and other conventional and emerging options
  • (Familiarize yourself with these and dozens of other deathcare terms by browsing the Oregon Funeral Resources & Education Glossary)

NEW ADDITION! MONTHLY DEATH CAFE: Between each Monthly Topic Class I will host an optional, no-cost, open-format conversation for class and cohort members to share with each other what’s up regarding befriending mortality. Dates and Zoom link will be sent to those registered for monthly classes.

Read More

Befriending Mortality 6-Week Cohort

This fall I’m launching a series of Befriending Mortality Monthly Topic Classes, along with the committed six-session cohort described here. Same content, two different formats – attend the monthly classes of your choice OR read on to consider participating with a small, supportive cohort in a biweekly series of sessions, culminating in the creation of an individualized written death plan.

Befriending Mortality Cohort Fall 2023

Six sessions held on Zoom every other Wednesday at 5pm pacific. Sessions are 90 minutes long and include information, reflection, and sharing within a small, supportive cohort. Self-paced worksheets enable you to continue reflection between sessions and end the series with a written plan, if desired. Enrollment capped at 12.

Inaugural Cohort Dates:
  1. Befriending Mortality – October 4, 2023
  2. Final Disposition – October 18, 2023
  3. Remembering Together – November 1, 2023
  4. The Dying Time – November 15, 2023
  5. From Death to Disposition – November 29, 2023
  6. Making a Death Plan – December 13, 2023

Scroll down for more on content and pricing.

Read More

Befriending Mortality Classes & Cohorts

This fall I’m launching a series of monthly Befriending Mortality classes, along with a committed six-session cohort. Same content, two different formats – attend the monthly classes of your choice OR participate with a small, supportive cohort in a biweekly series of sessions, culminating in the creation of an individualized written death plan.

Befriending Mortality Monthly Topic Classes

Monthly sessions on Zoom the first Tuesday of each month at 5pm pacific. Sessions are 75 minutes long and include information, reflection, and group participation centered on a rotating topic. Pre-registration for each monthly class is required.

Click on topic to register for each Monthly Class:
  1. Befriending Mortality – October 3, 2023
  2. Final Disposition – November 7, 2023
  3. Remembering Together – December 5, 2023
  4. The Dying Time – January 9 (2nd Tuesday), 2024
  5. From Death to Disposition – February 6, 2024
  6. Making a Death Plan – March 5, 2024

Scroll down for more on content and pricing.


Befriending Mortality Cohort Fall 2023

Six sessions held on Zoom every other Wednesday at 5pm pacific. Sessions are 90 minutes long and include information, reflection, and sharing within a small, supportive cohort. Self-paced worksheets enable you to continue reflection between sessions and end the series with a written plan, if desired. Enrollment capped at 12.

Read More