What you need to know about funeral traditions

Jul 20, 2016 | 0 comments

Greek Orthodox ChristIf you Google “Greek Orthodox Funeral Traditions,” you’ll find one of the top results is this post on the Family Plot Blog. Not yet covered in depth: Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Mexican, Hispanic or African-American traditions (although many religious traditions are already covered).

That changes this coming week, as I attend the International Studies College of the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA) Summer University in Memphis, Tennessee. Look for new and expanded blog posts on religious and cultural funeral traditions and rituals soon!

The next Albuquerque Death Cafe will be held Saturday, July 30 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. (more info). There’s also a Living & Learning Workshop scheduled for July 29 at the University of New Mexico’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (more info).

Links to recent blog posts and upcoming events follow. Please call if I can be of assistance – 505.265.7215.

Live long and prosper,

Gail Rubin, CT, The Doyenne of Death®

The Family Plot Blog Highlights

Click on the titles to read the blog post and see the associated videos. Review all posts on The Family Plot Blog or view just the Death Cartoons posted on the blog!

Newlywed Game Sign

The Newlywed Game Turns 50!  The game pitted newly married couples against each other in a series of revealing question rounds to determine how well the spouses know (or don’t know) each other. We’ve got a game that tests how well couples know their partner’s last wishes.

Video: How a Thesaurus Makes You Appear Smarter  A short speech on how to use a thesaurus to liven up your language in speaking and writing.

Ways Grief and Mourning Reactions Can Vary  From Orlando to Dallas to Baton Rouge, and all the other killings we’ve seen, grief reactions have patterns that vary by individual.

Upcoming Events and a Humorous Quote

See the Calendar page for a full listing of events.

July 29, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. — Osher Lifelong Learning class, “Laughing and Learning: A Practical End-of-Life Workshop.” Sign up for Course 19865, only $20, through Osher’s website.

Network Mad as Hell

Network: “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!”

August 2, 10:00 a.m. to noon — Something new and different! Check out this Osher Lifelong Learning class, Entertainment Media and Its Influence on Twentieth Century Elections. The 1976 film Network predicted the rise of reality television and the populist chant, “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore!” This film clip-illustrated talk explores how art imitates life and vice versa regarding the media and the 2016 presidential election. Class fee $20. Register for course 19294, lecture SUD-PE at Osher’s website.

Gail Rubin majored in TV & Film at the University of Maryland and was a producer at C-SPAN for five years before becoming an accomplished public relations professional and a pioneering death educator.

August 4, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. — “Laughing in the Face of Death: Funny Films for Funeral Planning” presentation to the Senior Connections Group at Presbyterian Healthplex, 6301 Forest Hills Drive, Albuquerque, NM.

August 24, 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. — “Movies, Medicine and Mortality: Laughing in the Face of Death” presentation at the 38th annual New Mexico Conference on Aging. The two-day conference takes place at Isleta Resort & Casino, 11000 Broadway SE, Albuquerque, NM.

August 26, noon — “Talking About Sex Won’t Make You Pregnant, Talking About Funerals Won’t Make You Dead.” Fourth Friday Lunch Networking Group.

“You gotta live somewhere.” — Jimmy Brogan, suggesting a motto for Cleveland, Ohio, site of this week’s Republican National Convention.

A Good Goodbye