Tag Archives: Death



”Fruit Tree” by Nick Drake

Nick Drake's gorgeous ode to tortured fame highlights life and death

Few songs capture the artist’s life as perfectly as Nick Drake’s “Fruit Tree.” Drake’s own life was filled with anguish as he struggled with depression and addiction, eventually consuming him entirely at just 26 years old. Despite his tormented history, … Continue reading

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Our Weekly Tip: Before Death: Estate Planning

How can you ease the uncertainties that can arise with settling an estate?

3 Tips to Keep in Mind During Estate Planning: 1) Gain Clarity: Understand what will need to be managed with this particular estate. Debt? Bank accounts? Real estate? 2) Embrace Proactivity: Many believe that estate planning shouldn’t be a concern … Continue reading

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Who is Left to Pay?

In some cultures, lavish funerals take families to the brink of bankruptcy

In Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment, an impoverished widow spends her last rubles on her husband’s funeral and ends up destitute with her three children. The bitter satire of that chapter can still ring as true today as it did in … Continue reading

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“Septimus” by Rachel Wetzsteon

A personal look at a poem considering the tragedy and beauty that accompany both life and death

So often we are conditioned to think of death as something tragic. And, undoubtedly, losing someone is heartbreaking. It shakes your entire world. It changes the way you move through your day to day. I had been, for many years, the … Continue reading

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The Turning of the Bones in Madagascar

A look at famadihana, a joyous celebration of life and death in Madagascar

In Madagascar, the Malagasy people engage in a unique and beautiful tradition called “famadihana.” This translates to “the turning of the bones,” and it is a ritual steeped in history and joy. During “famadihana,” which occurs every two to seven years, the … Continue reading

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What is DNA Banking? An Interview with Jeff Harbeson, Part One

The DNA Memorial offers the bereaved a chance to keep the DNA of their dead loved ones close and accessible for future medical advances

Today SevenPonds speaks with Jeff Harbeson, the CEO of CG Labs in Ontario, Canada, and the founder of Family Choice Funerals and Cremations, a Virginia-based company with a vision of becoming the only six sigma operating platform and franchise funeral … Continue reading

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