Over the holidays, I created a quirky new 2-minute video welcoming visitors to the A Good Goodbye website. If you haven’t visited lately, you might want to check it out.
The way the movies portray it, wills are supposed to cover funeral plans in addition to the distribution of assets. Unfortunately, family members may die before doing any estate planning. Even with a will, plans can go awry. Next week, I’ll be presenting “Estate Planning: Hollywood Myth Versus Fact” at OASIS with retired probate judge Merri Rudd, author of Life Planning in New Mexico. There’s room for 30 more people to sign up – 89 are already registered! For only $8, get a handle on your estate planning issues. Register at the OASIS website – look for class #13 on January 28, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
If you’re inclined to do something different on Sunday, February 1, before the Super Bowl starts, consider attending the Jewish Community Center of Greater Albuquerque’s 11th annual A Taste of Honey (ATOH). ATOH is a social, cultural and educational event that provides an opportunity to savor Jewish life and learning – and you don’t have to be Jewish to attend! I’ll be speaking there on Jews and Cremation and the keynote speaker is Gary Rosenblatt, editor and publisher of The Jewish Week of New York.
Highlights of some recent blog posts, upcoming events and a humorous quote follow. Please call me at 505.265.7215 if I can be of assistance.
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. Review all posts on The Family Plot Blog.
Happy Birthday Benjamin Franklin!: Born January 17, Capricorn Franklin was quite the wit and his quotes on mortality are both humorous and uplifting.
Caitlin Doughty on A Good Goodbye Radio: The author of Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and Other Lessons from the Crematory discusses her combination memoir and call to action to become an educated and involved funeral consumer.
Ecclesiastes: To Everything There is a Season: Ecclesiastes provides wise words that reflect on the meaning of our lives.
A Ceremony for Cremation: A template for creating a meaningful, memorable memorial service.
FuneralRadio.com Hosts Discuss New Funeral Trends: A fascinating 40-minute discussion that “pulls back the curtain” on the funeral business.
Upcoming Events and a Humorous Quote
Sunday, January 25, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.: Barbara Mancini was featured on a 60 Minutes episode about end-of-life issues. She was arrested and prosecuted for simply handing her terminally-ill father his morphine. She is speaking at the University of New Mexico Law School, 1117 Stanford Drive NE, Room 2402. Free and open to the public.
Wednesday, January 28, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.: Gail Rubin and retired probate judge Merri Rudd, author of Life Planning in New Mexico, present “Estate Planning: Hollywood Myth Versus Fact” at OASIS. The cost is $8 and registration opens January 7, 2015. Location: OASIS offices at 3301 Menaul Blvd NE, Suite 18, Albuquerque, NM (just west of Carlisle NE in the building facing the American Home Furniture store). Phone: 505.884.4529. Register at the OASIS website (search for class 13).
Sunday, February 1, 2015: A Taste of Honey learning event at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Albuquerque. Gail Rubin presents on “Jews and Cremation” from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. The U.S. cremation rate is climbing, and Jews – who historically bury – are part of that rising rate. Examine the “why” of Jewish burial and cremation, the “how” of the cremation process, and “what’s next” for Jews considering cremation. Registration information here.
Saturday, February 21, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.: Albuquerque Death Cafe at Gail Rubin’s home. The objective of the Death Cafe is “To increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives.” It’s all about an interesting, unstructured conversation – open and free-flowing with no specific agenda. At these events, people come together in a relaxed, confidential and safe setting to discuss death, drink tea (or your favorite beverage) and eat delicious cake or cookies. RSVP to Gail [at] agoodgoodbye.com for address and directions.
“I wake up every morning at nine and grab for the morning paper. Then I look at the obituary page. If my name is not on it, I get up.” — Benjamin Franklin