WELCOME TO OUR BLOG
Welcome to the SevenPonds.com blog – a community-driven extension of SevenPonds.com! I hope you find comfort and community in the resources and stories featured here. I’m always happy to hear from readers and can be reached at suzette@sevenponds.com.
FEATURED
-
10 Facts About Hospice Care You May Not Know" />
10 Facts About Hospice Care You May Not Know: NHPCO stresses that hospice is about living fully, not preparing for death. -
Man of Many Faces" />
Man of Many Faces: A niece says goodbye to her favorite gay uncle, in whom she confided about her own sexuality -
Last Rites: A Catholic Send-Off" />
Last Rites: A Catholic Send-Off: A look at the religion's final prayer procession for the dying
-
Tag Archives: Memorial Service
“Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd
A heartfelt funeral song about love and remembrance
Pink Floyd, one of the greatest rock bands of all time, isn’t just known for their classic melodies and stage presence. Most of their lyrics, when given a thoughtful listen or read, tap into our most human emotions. “Wish You … Continue reading
Posted in A Right of Passage
Tagged Arts, British Rock, Classic Rock, Death, Dying, Funeral Music, Funeral Song, Grieving, Heartfelt Funeral Song, Heaven, Hell, Loved One, Lyrics, Memorial Service, Music, Pink Floyd, Remembrance, Roger Waters, Song, Wish You Were Here
Leave a comment
Cool Memorial Songs: American Idol Kris Allen Sings An Up Beat Rock Song
He belts out with fervor "Gotta live like we're dying"
“Live Like We’re Dying” is not your usual memorial song. The eighth season American Idol winner, 27 year old Kris Allen, almost screams as he sings his Live Like We’re Dying to instill an in the moment rush to grab … Continue reading
What is a Celebrant? An Interview with Charlotte Eulette and Dorry Bless, Part 2
The conclusion of our discussion about celebrants, end-of-life ceremonies, and personalizing ritual
Last week, we published Part 1 of our interview with Charlotte Eulette, the International Director of the Celebrant Foundation & Institute, and Dorry Bless, Board Member and Funeral Committee Chair of the Institute. We continue our conversation about celebrants here … Continue reading
What is a Celebrant? An Interview with Charlotte Eulette and Dorry Bless, Part 1
A new era of end-of-life ceremonies: how celebrants both embrace and break with tradition
The Celebrant Foundation & Institute, a nonprofit educational organization that trains Life Cycle Celebrants, is changing the way we think about ceremonies. In particular, end-of-life celebrations are transcending the traditional funeral idea, with people opting for the personalized, meaningful ceremonies … Continue reading
Celebrating Lives Lost
How I dealt with the deaths of four family members within eight months
This is Lisa’s story as told by Katie…. In 2011, I lost my mother and my mother-in-law within ten days. Soon after that, I lost my brother-in-law’s mother and then my brother-in-law. These people were immensely important to me, and … Continue reading
What to Do When Someone Dies
Ten Tips Above and Beyond Typical Funeral Arrangements
Everyday at SevenPonds we are working hard to research and expand our content to arm our readers with more information, guidance and choices on what to do when someone dies. Our daily deep dive allows a wide knowledge base of … Continue reading
Posted in Sharing Suzette
Tagged Celebrants, Celebrity Death, Consumer Funeral Alliance, Cremation, Cremation Retailer, Crematorium, Death and Dying, Death and Loss, Disposition, Disposition Services, Embalming, environmental impact, Funeral Arrangements, Funeral home, Funeral Homes, Healing Process, Life Celebrations, Memorial Service, Natural Death Care, Purchasing Cremation, Shopping Disposition, The Funeral Rule, What to Do When Someone Dies, When Someone Dies
3 Comments
What is an Undertaker? An Interview with Patrick McNally: Part Two
"The Daily Undertaker" tells all
Patrick McNally is the inspired real-life funeral director behind the popular blog The Daily Undertaker, which explores ritual and art surrounding death and dying. In the the second part of our most in-depth “Professional Advice” yet, Patrick discusses the significance of … Continue reading
Posted in Professional Advice
Tagged Art, Funeral, Funeral Industry, Funeral Trade, Memorial, Memorial Service, Personalized Ritual
Leave a comment
What is Cremation? An Interview with Michael Tom
SevenPonds caught up with Pacific Interment, one of the few cremation services in California that offers witnessing. Get the nitty-gritty on cremation from Michael Tom, who oversees cremation at their East Bay crematorium. Aurora: Could you tell us a little … Continue reading
Posted in Professional Advice
Tagged Cremation, Cremation Witnessing, Memorial Service, Scattering Ashes
Leave a comment
El Malei Rachamim
A traditional Jewish prayer
El malei rachamim shokhen ba-m’romim ha-m’tzei m’nuchah n’khonah tachat kanfei ha-sh’khinah b’ma’alot k’doshim u’t’horim c’zohar ha-rakiah maz’hirim l’nishmot yakireinu u’k’dosheinu she-hal’khu l’olamam. Ana ba’al ha-rachamim ha-s’tirem b’tzel k’nafekha l’olamim u-tz’ror bitz’ror ha-chayim et nishmatam. Adonai hu nachalatam v’yanuchu b’shalom al … Continue reading
Posted in A Right of Passage
Tagged Cultural Perspectives, Memorial Service, Poetry, Religion, Spirituality and Belief
Leave a comment
Love and Death, Carried by Fire
Is Cremation the New American Way?
“Let not their dust be parted for their two hearts in life were singe-hearted.” — Purified by Fire Our world is always changing; and today, the scattering of cremation ashes onto the open winds ritualizes the loving act of letting … Continue reading
What is sea burial? An Interview with Anya and Ken Shortridge
SevenPonds explores ocean burial with "Ashes on the Sea"
“Ashes on the Sea,” a small company run by Ken and Anya Shortridge, has been providing beautiful, personalized ocean burial services to the San Diego area since 1997. Anya and Ken agreed to speak with SevenPonds about what their practice has … Continue reading
In Remembrance
by Rev. Arnold Crompton
This poem is one of celebrant Irene Kane‘s favorite pieces to incorporate into the memorial services she leads; it both speaks to a universal sentiment, and readily lends itself to personalized adaptation. It reminds me of Suzette’s grandmother’s final words … Continue reading
What is a Celebrant? An Interview with Irene Kane
A professional "celebrant" names the key ingredients for a successful memorial
“Celebrants” are nondenominational professionals who help meet the ceremonial and spiritual needs of families, most commonly called upon for weddings and memorials. As a highly respected celebrant, Irene Kane creates personalized and memorable ceremonies throughout California. Below, Irene shares her … Continue reading
Life and Death in the Shadow of Vesuvius
The city buried in ash, now in Times Square...
From March 4th through September 5th 2011, the doors to the past will be flung open as visitors to New York’s Discovery Times Square Museum find themselves transported 2,000 years into the past — to Pompeii, a Roman city near … Continue reading