The Family Plot Blog
New TV Series ‘Mortality Movies’ Takes Death Education to a New Level
'Mortality Movies,' a new television series hosted by Gail Rubin, Certified Thanatologist and The Doyenne of Death®, delves into death education through curated film and television clips. Each 30-minute episode tackles different themes related to death, funerals, grief, and a host of end-of-life issues. Each 30-minute episode has a different theme and supporting clips: Discussing Death Won’t Kill You: Patch Adams, The Mary Tyler Moore Show,...
Hineni Online Information about Jewish Funerals and Mourning Traditions
Jewish funerals are different from the funerals of other faith traditions. In this Q&A with David Zinner, Chair of the Jewish Association for Death Education (JADE), he explains a new online tool to help people understand Jewish traditions around death, mourning and Jewish funerals. What is Hineni and who created it? The Hineni tool is designed to give succinct information about Jewish death practices. The word, Hineni, is the...
What is MAID – Medical Aid in Dying? A Report from UNM’s Conference
MAID, which stands for Medical Aid in Dying, is a legal option in New Mexico. The University of New Mexico medical school recently held the first state level conference to help educate clinicians on this option. No other state that has MAID laws has had its own conference on medical aid in dying. In many ways, New Mexico is exceptional in its implementation of MAID. Here are some notes from that conference. An Overview of MAID Lonny Shavelson,...
Death and Humor on The Doyenne of Death Podcast, Part Three
Death and Humor: Laughing in the Face of Death In this episode of The Doyenne of Death® Podcast, host Gail Rubin continues her conversation with speaker and author Greg Bennick about the pioneering work of Ernest Becker, author of the Pulitzer Prize winning book, The Denial of Death. In part three of this conversation, Gail and Greg discuss death and humor, helping us to address the double bind of our existence. Listen to Part Three of the...
Discussing Self Esteem and Death with Greg Bennick, Part Two
On Self Esteem and Immortality In this episode of The Doyenne of Death® Podcast, host Gail Rubin continues her conversation with speaker and author Greg Bennick about the pioneering work of Ernest Becker, author of the Pulitzer Prize winning book, The Denial of Death. In part two of this conversation, Gail and Greg discuss self esteem, Becker's work related to the Terror Management Theory, the "Pearls Before Swine" cartoons of Stephan Pastis,...
The Not Just a Widow Guidebook on The Doyenne of Death Podcast
Not Just a Widow! In this episode of the Doyenne of Death Podcast, host Gail Rubin talks with Patty Desiderio and Doug Robinson, co-authors of The Not Just a Widow Guidebook - a widow's guide to surviving her new reality and transforming into her new self. Patty and her husband Basil were married for decades before he died from cancer and heart issues. When he died in the middle of the night on February 21, 2011, she knew, as so many widows...
Doyenne of Death Podcast: Greg Bennick on Ernest Becker, Part One
The Doyenne of Death Podcast Returns! After a hiatus of a year, The Doyenne of Death Podcast is back in production. In this episode, host Gail Rubin talks with speaker and author Greg Bennick about the pioneering work of Ernest Becker, author of the Pulitzer Prize winning book, The Denial of Death. In part one of this conversation, Gail and Greg discuss how he learned about Becker's mind-blowing theories about human cognition of our own...
Navigating Loss: A Widow’s First Year Journey Through Grief and Healing
First Death Anniversary Grief When my husband David Bleicher died on April 28, 2023, I knew I'd be in for a year of grief, change and emotional turmoil. His sudden departure due to medical complications after what should have been a routine surgery left me grappling with a range of emotions and uncertainties. But in the midst of grief, I found ways to navigate the journey towards healing and resilience. Here are a few lessons I've learned over...
Step Right Up: Video Explores Circus Cemetery Showmen’s Rest in Hugo, OK
Roll up, roll up, ladies and gentlemen, to the circus cemetery! Welcome to the greatest show on earth... well, at least in eternal rest. Nestled in the charming town of Hugo, Oklahoma, lies a section of the Mount Olivet Cemetery that's truly one-of-a-kind – the Showmen's Rest. Prepare to be dazzled as we take a whimsical stroll through this unique final resting place! What makes the Showmen's Rest so special, you ask? Well, grab your popcorn...
Pioneering Death Educator Gail Rubin Receives ADEC Community Educator Award
Albuquerque-based death educator Gail Rubin, CT, was recognized by the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC) with their prestigious Community Educator Award at the organization’s annual conference in Houston on April 11, 2024. ADEC’s Community Educator Award honors an individual in a non-academic setting with expertise in the field of thanatology, the study of death, dying and bereavement. The award recognizes excellence in...
Two New Podcasts with The Doyenne of Death
New Podcast Interviews with Gail Rubin Check out these new podcast interviews with Gail Rubin, Certified Thanatologist and The Doyenne of Death. The Money Without Math Podcast, hosted by Karen Coyne, CFP, explores how money intersects with the many aspects of our lives. The Heart of Hospice Podcast, hosted by Helen Bauer, BSN, RN, CHPN, tackles a wide range of topics related to hospice and end of life issues. MONEY WITHOUT MATH PODCAST Let's...
Helpful Death Care Removal Tips for Funeral Homes
Have you ever witnessed the removal of a loved one's body? I've had three experiences with funeral home teams navigating this sensitive time. In this article I wrote for the latest issue of Funeral Business Solutions, learn some helpful tips to improve the experience. See the full issue online here. Get a PDF of the story here: January 2024 FBS Death Care Removal Tips. Death Care Removal Tips by Gail Rubin Over the past two years, I have been...
Making Funeral Arrangements After a Death in the Family
When my husband Dave died in April 2023, we had already made our funeral arrangements the previous year. I'm so glad we had. When it came time to finalize the arrangements, it was so much easier to complete, with less stress, given Dave's unexpected death. Dave died on a Friday evening. His brother Steven and I went to French Funerals to finalize funeral arrangements on Monday afternoon. We needed to coordinate setting the date with the funeral...
How to Take Death out of the Hospital with Hospice Care
Hospice enables people facing end-of-life to die at home, or at least in a supportive environment with as much comfort as possible. Unfortunately, about 35% of patients who go on hospice access this service less than seven days before dying. They are literally at death's door when they enroll. Even though 75% of Americans say they want to die at home, less than 25% of us do. The Southwest Regional Hospice and Palliative Care Symposium, taking...
Helpful Tips to Improve Hospice Grief Follow-Up Calls
Medicare has ground rules for hospice organizations to get paid for providing services. One requirement is for the organization to provide a year of follow-up grief support to the closest “family” of the person who died. In my experiences with several hospice deaths over the past two years, the approaches for follow-up grief support could be improved. About three weeks after my friend Gary died on home hospice in October 2021, I got a call on...
Help Expand Mortality Discussions by Supporting the Death Cafe Movement!
Gail Rubin was one of the first people in the United States to hold a Death Cafe in September of 2012. She spoke to London-based movement founder Jon Underwood over Skype in January, 2012, shortly after he held his first Death Cafe and launched the DeathCafe.com website. He was thrilled to be speaking with The Doyenne of Death® and sharing his insights about this nascent death discussion phenomenon. Even though Gail's motto is "Talking about...
November 28: Gathering of Grief 100th Virtual Vigil with Reimagine
On Giving Tuesday, November 28 at 6:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, Reimagine is producing a special "Gathering of Grief," a landmark 100th virtual candlelight vigil, co-hosted with a number of other leading organizations - including A Good Goodbye - dedicated to helping people process loss and grief. If you've not been to a Reimagine vigil, this is the one to attend. This 90-minute virtual event, symbolizing our unified commitment to healthy...
Highlighting Speakers at the 2023 Before I Die New Mexico Festival
We’ve got an incredible line-up of speakers and activities at the 6th annual Before I Die New Mexico Festival, October 16-21, 2023. Taking place at different locations each day around Albuquerque, there's something for everyone. Daily themes are: Money and Mourning; Aging and Mortality; Cremation and Burial; Greening Funerals; Discussing Death Won’t Kill You; and Murder and Mayhem. Selected sessions will be available on Zoom. Some highlights...
Croak and Dagger Talk: I See Dead People
Croak and Dagger, the New Mexico chapter of the Sisters in Crime mystery writers organization, welcomes The Doyenne of Death® Gail Rubin as the speaker at their September meeting. The meeting takes place this Tuesday, September 26 at 7:00 p.m. at the First Unitarian Church at 3701 Carlisle Blvd. NE (at Carlisle and Comanche), Albuquerque, in the Wesson Room. The talk is free and open to the public. Gail Rubin's talk is titled, "I See Dead...
Let’s Vote to Get Mattel to Create a Funeral Director Barbie!
There are at least 70 career Barbie dolls. They range from teachers to politicians, photographers to zoologists. But there is no funeral director Barbie! Funeral director Sarah Brown-Derbah is working to change this. "What I'm trying to do is convince Mattel to create a funeral director Barbie doll. Within the last 15-20 years, women have been representing over 70% of the classes in the mortuary science schools. I want little girls to see that...
Video: Sheldon Rubin Jewish Funeral and Readings
Conducting a funeral for my father was my toughest assignment yet as a Certified Funeral Celebrant. But I got through it without breaking down, and it was a good goodbye. My dad Sheldon Rubin died at the age of 93 on August 29, 2023 at an in-patient hospice in Boca Raton, Florida. Decades earlier, he had purchased burial rights for he and my mom in King David Memorial Gardens in Falls Church, Virginia. The plots are right next to his parents...