Author Archives: Liz Matsushita (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

What is a Celebrant? An Interview with Charlotte Eulette and Dorry Bless

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

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On Death and Dying, by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross (1969)

The landmark text on grief: Is it still relevant?

(1926-2004) remains one of the most influential American psychiatrists of the twentieth century. Her “five stages of grief” model– alternately called the “Kübler-Ross model”– is still widely used, and has gained a good deal of cultural currency. This model was … Continue reading

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How to help children cope with death? An Interview with Patricia Murphy

How the loss of two mothers inspired Josie’s Place, a center that helps grieving children, teens, and families

We interview Patricia Murphy, co-founder and director of Josie’s Place in San Francisco, which offers support to grieving children and their parents. Continue reading

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Die$mart, by Kathy Lane and Christine Hughes

11 common mistakes people make in after-death planning, and what you can do to avoid them

SevenPonds reviews Kathy Lane and Christine Hughes’ helpful planning guide Die$mart. Continue reading

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Former NFL linebacker Junior Seau dead at 43

Authorities say cause of death was a gunshot wound, possibly self-inflicted

Junior Seau, a well-known retired NFL player who spent much of his career on the San Diego Chargers, was found dead today at his Oceanside, California home. Seau’s girlfriend, whose name is not currently being released, is the one who … Continue reading

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What is Digital death? An Interview with Andreas Jacob

"Digital death" and end-of-life planning in the 21st century

What happens to our email accounts, e-banking, Facebook pages when we die? Increasingly, information assets companies like DSwiss are providing an easy solution. Continue reading

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