Will Parties Recomended

A nurse is recommending that people throw will parties before they die in
a new handbook aimed at making death more straightforward and open.
Susan Morris who lives in Somers Town, has contributed to the National Death Handbook.
“Bereavement is one of the main causes of debt in the UK” she said. “People don’t plan their goodbyes, their final moments but you wouldn’t even go away on holiday without checking everything was in order, let alone go permanently.”

Reported in the West End Extra.

Beyond the Grave

A Swedish inventor had designed a coffin with built in stero for music fans, who do not wish to rest in peace. People can compile playlists before they die and tracks will be streamed into their casket with a touch screne gravestone menu for mourners.

A Fitting Tribute

A vintage double decker bus took Kieth Jarvis’s coffin to the crematorium, along with his family and friends. Keith had never driven and had always travelled by bus so it was fitting that he should travel this way on his final journey.

Mobile phones at Funerals

When conducting a funeral service I always begin by asking people to check that their mobile phones are switch off.

Recently I had a very embarrassing situation occur. We were ten minutes into our 20 minute slot when suddenly loud, jingling music filled the chapel. Thinking it was the Wesley system gone crazy I pressed the ‘diminish sound button’ but it still took a while for the noise to stop. I carried on with the service and pressed the play button for the next hymn and again nothing happened! To my total embarrassment I found myself whipping past the coffin into an anti-room and yelling ‘music please.’ Thankfully someone heard me and the next hymn played. The final piece of music also refused to play so I went hot footing back (soooo embarrassing) behind the scenes to plead yet again for ‘music.’ Afterwards I apologised profusely and shared my embarrassment with the FD who said he was sitting in the back row and the untimely burst of music was someone playing with their mobile phone. The family were wonderful, I felt so grateful to them, thy hugged me and said: ‘John would have loved it.’ How generous of heart were they?

What sad times we live in if someone can’t even just for twenty minutes focus on the reason they are where they are and the person whose life is being celebrated.

Death Cafe – Horsham

Bournemouth7

Drop in for an evening of life, death, contemplation and of course delicious cake!

We meet on the last Tuesday of each month with the exception of December.

Please arrive at 5.45 for a prompt 6.00 pm start – 8 pm

Venue: Pretty Things, 4 Park Place Horsham, RH12 1DG

We ask that you choose from the delicious selection of cakes, teas and coffees available during the evening

The café is hosted by – Jean Francis, One Spirit Interfaith Minister, pre-need funeral planner and author

This is the perfect opportunity for people to come together tp talk about the end of life issues and death but is not a bereavement group

tThere is no charge to attend a death café but donations are appreciated to cover expenses so that we can offer more death cafes.

 

A Lovely Jubbly exit…

For those wishing to leave this world in ‘Del Boy’ style, it is now possible.

This yellow Reliant van complete with ‘Trotters Independent Trading’ logo, could be an appropriate exit for fans of TV’s favourite wheeler dealer – and is now available for hire. This crazy ‘Trotters hearse brings a smile to everyone’s faces even in the depths of grief. This is the ‘real deal’ for any Del Boy enthusiast.

Recipe For a Long Life

A TOUGH OLD COWBOY FROM SOUTHERN TEXAS COUNSELLED HIS GRANDDAUGHTER THAT IF SHE WANTED TO LIVE A LONG LIFE, THE SECRET WAS TO SPRINKL A PINCH OF GUN POWDER ON HER OATMEAL EVERY MORNING.

THE GRANDDAUGHTER DID THIS RELIGIOUSLY UNTIL
THE AGE OF 103, WHEN SHE DIED.

SHE LEFT BEHIND 14 CHILDREN,
30 GRANDCHILDREN,
45 GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN,
25 GREAT-GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN,
AND A 40-FOOT HOLE WHERE THE CREMATORIUM USED TO BE.

Dust if You Must

Dust if you must, but wouldn’t it be better

to paint a picture or write a letter,

bake a cake or plant a seed?

Ponder the difference between want and need.

 

Dust if you must but there’s not much time,

with rivers to swim and mountains to climb,

music to hear and books to read,

friends to cherish and life to lead.

 

Dust if you must, but the world’s out there

with sun in your eyes and wind in your hair,

a flutter of snow, a shower of rain;

this day will not come around again.

 

Dust if you must, but bear in mind,

old age will come and it’s not kind.

and when you go – and go you must –

you, yourself, will make more dust.

Rose Milligan