News and Notes: Death and Taxes

Apr 15, 2014 | 0 comments

It’s April 15, and that means your tax returns are due! For a timely laugh on death and taxes, check out this Non Sequitur cartoon.

A group of people are standing around a grave in a cemetery. The headstone reads, “Never have to pay taxes again!” A woman says, “He always looked for the bright side of everything.”

Here’s hoping you are able to look on the bright side, too, even when we look at death and taxes.

Non Sequitur Death and Taxes

Last week’s International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association convention and expo was full of interesting new developments. It was so great to see many people I already know in this business, and to meet people who already know about The Doyenne of Death® but we hadn’t met in person. There were lots of new exhibitors at the expo. Look for short videos of interesting developments to be posted over the next few weeks on The Family Plot Blog and YouTube channel.

Two documentary films were screened at the convention: Furever, about the lengths pet owners will go to preserve their beloved animals after death, and A Will for the Woods, about green burial and one dying man’s quest to secure a woodland burial in North Carolina. A Will for the Woods co-directors Amy Browne and Jeremy Kaplan are tomorrow’s guests on A Good Goodbye Radio. Listen live online or download the podcast afterwards.

Top Tips From Last Week’s Show

Soul Sitter's Handbook covLast week’s guests on A Good Goodbye Radio were Stacey Canfield and Candace Conradi, authors of The Soul Sitter’s Handbook: What to do when your loved one is dying. They shared many tips on how to face the death of a loved one with calmness and connection.

Stacey said, “Death is not something we want to shake hands with, but when we do, everything is more precious.” A few tips from their STEPS process to prepare yourself emotionally:

  • Smile – Though your heart is breaking, an authentic smile through your tears opens hearts and minds.
  • Touch – Science has proven that a loving, safe touch is an important gift.
  • Eye Contact – Looking people in the eyes breaks down barriers and allows your heart to open to compassion and connection.
  • Patience – Being present with the dying requires dropping impatience and stress. Conscious breathing can help.
  • Service – The ultimate form of kindness, actions both big and small are valuable and loving for the dying and the living.

Download the podcast!

Upcoming Talks, Interviews and A Funny Quote

Click on the date for more information about each event.

ADEC logoApril 23-26: Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC) 36th annual conference, Baltimore, Maryland. Gail Rubin is speaking April 26 at 2:45 p.m. on “Facing Death and Transformation in the Film Departures.

April 23: A Good Goodbye Radio with host Gail Rubin discussing funny funeral films and the lessons we can learn by watching movies like Death at a Funeral, Undertaking Betty, The Big Lebowski and Bernie.

April 30: A Good Goodbye Radio interview with Father Conan Gill of the St. George Greek Orthodox Church, to answer questions about the rituals and rites involved in a traditional Greek Orthodox funeral.

May 3: The next Albuquerque Death Cafe at Sheila’s Sweets, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Join the Meetup group!

“Death is the last big move of your life. The hearse is like the van; the pallbearers are your close friends, the only ones you could really ask to help you with a big move like that; and the casket is that great, perfect box.” — Jerry Seinfeld

A Good Goodbye