Author Archives: Celeste Willis (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

Our Monthly Tip: Create Your Own Death Shroud to Prepare for Your Final Rest

Special guest Susanne Duijvestein shares how to DIY your own shroud
Posted on October 15, 2023 by Celeste Willis (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

Our Monthly Tip: Last month, Seven Ponds interviewed sustainable funeral director Susanne Duijvestein, who has been teaching small groups how to lovingly create their own death shrouds. Drawing on centuries old traditions, Susanne invites people of all ages to engage … Continue reading →

Posted in Practical Tips | 1 Comment

“Last Kiss” by J. Frank Wilson and Cavaliers

A teenage tragedy song from the 60s speaks to a hope for reunion
Posted on October 4, 2023 by Celeste Willis (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

“Last Kiss,” performed by J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers, is one of the most popular songs in the teenage tragedy genre that was wildly popular in the late 1950s and 1960s.  DJs often referred to these tunes as “tear … Continue reading →

Posted in Expressive Music | Leave a comment

A Sustainable Funeral Director Offers “A Ferrari for Every Funeral”

An Interview with Susanne Duijvestein explores the healing power of truly personalized funerals
Posted on September 21, 2023 by Celeste Willis (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

In 2017, after 11 years of working in the financial sector, Susanne Duijvestein decided to follow a new path. Susanne is now a funeral director, who specializes in sustainable, non-traditional funerals. Since starting her company, Bij Afscheid, she has helped … Continue reading →

Posted in Professional Advice | Leave a comment

My Loved One Attempted Suicide. What Now?

Treating the attempt as a medical issue may help to better support those in crisis
Posted on September 14, 2023 by Celeste Willis (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

The aftermath of an attempted suicide can be fraught with tension, emotion and fear. Loved ones may be afraid to talk about the incident, fearing the conversation will bring up the person’s desire to end their life again. Friends and … Continue reading →

Posted in Something Special | Leave a comment

Will Xenotransplantation Answer the Nation’s Organ Shortage?

Successful implantation of pig kidneys into two patients offers promising results
Posted on September 2, 2023 by Celeste Willis (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

Xenotransplantation is the practice of transplanting functioning animal organs into a human recipient. According to the National Kidney Foundation, “On average, 17 people die each day in the United States waiting for an organ transplant.” This results in over 6,000 … Continue reading →

Posted in Science of Us | Leave a comment

“Making Friends with Death” by Laura Pritchett

An award-winning novelist's take on how to prepare for death
Posted on August 22, 2023 by Celeste Willis (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

Laura Pritchett, author of five novels, “came from a chaotic, strange, ranch-y, farm-y, science-y family,” which made her “familiar enough with life” and helped her “get familiar enough with death” by the time she was a teenager. Helping her mother … Continue reading →

Posted in Lending Insight | Leave a comment