Author Archives: Betsy Arant (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

Our Monthly Tip: Spell Your Loved One’s Name with Floral Letters

Handmade floral letters can bring color and beauty to your memorial event

Our Tip of the Month Floral letters can provide beautiful decorations for a memorial that spells out the name of your loved one who has died. While this project does take a little time to assemble, it can be a … Continue reading

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“Diana and the Gorgon” by Anis Mojgani

Oregon poet laureate explores how a friend's suicide impacted his experience of life

I have been neck deep inside the creature’s speckled and curving belly how wet my pupils were – even after I sucked from the bite marks to taste the ways I had once been touched I do not deal in … Continue reading

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“What About Heaven” by Mustafa

The 24-year-old poet releases an intimate, anxious lament on the death of a friend

The 2021 album “When Smoke Rises,” from 24-year-old poet and singer/songwriter Mustafa, is a collection of songs memorializing friends and community members lost to violence. Mustafa’s mourning moves in ripples through his music, from the pain of losing a close … Continue reading

Posted in Expressive Music | 1 Comment

What Does It Mean to Die Well?

Bioethicist Dr. Lydia Dugdale reflects on preparing ourselves for the end of life

In her book “The Lost Art of Dying,” bioethicist Dr. Lydia Dugdale explores the ways in which humans have prepared for death throughout history, and how we might apply that wisdom to the end-of-life experience today. Dugdale is a practicing … Continue reading

Posted in Professional Advice | 2 Comments

“Pieces of a Woman” directed by Kornél Mundroczó

The 2021 Netflix film is a searingly honest portrait of child loss

“Pieces of a Woman” is a movie on Netflix about a young couple who lose a baby in childbirth, and the aftermath of their grief. While the title suggests a story that centers on Martha, the mother, the film is … Continue reading

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Exhibit at President Lincoln’s Cottage Explores Child Loss

The exhibit reflects on Abraham and Mary Lincoln's tragic losses as well as modern experiences of grief

When Abraham Lincoln‘s third son, Willie, died of what was likely typhoid fever at just 11 years old, Abraham and his wife Mary were devastated. They had already lost their second son, Eddie, to illness when he was only 4. … Continue reading

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