The Family Plot Blog
July Death Cafe Events Now Scheduled Online or In-Person
The Death Cafe in Albuquerque will hold two events in July: one online on July 11 and one in-person on July 18. 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. When the pandemic took hold in March, 2020, Albuquerque Death Cafes were held online on...
Why You Need to Revisit Estate Plans
Why You Need to Revisit Estate Plans Planning ahead for end-of-life issues includes doing estate planning with a will and a trust as assets might dictate. It's just as important to keep those plans up-to-date. AAEPA, the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, recommends reviewing plans every three to five years. It’s also a good idea to review the trust around major life events: births, weddings, deaths, and moves. For example, my...
ABQ Death Cafe to Return to In-Person Meetings!
In-Person Death Cafe Meetings Return! It's time to discuss death - in person! After 15 months of pandemic lock down, the Albuquerque Death Cafe is now able to meet again in person at Manzano Del Sol. We will meet in person on Sunday, June 27, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time. Those who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 may attend without masks. Those who are not yet fully vaccinated are required to wear masks while on the...
Retirement After 60 Podcast: Funeral Planning Won’t Kill You
Gail Rubin on Retirement After 60 Podcast The Retirement After 60 podcast, hosted by Artie Bernaducci, recently interviewed Gail Rubin, The Doyenne of Death®, about "planning ahead for the longest vacation you'll every go on!" It's a reference to Gail's TEDx talk, "A Good Goodbye." During that eight-minute talk, she posed the question, "Would you let your kids plan your vacation for you? Of course not!" Why then, would you leave your funeral...
Bodies in the Ganges, Ashes to India
Dealing with Bodies In India, the coronavirus pandemic is impacting cremation and Hindu practice of scattering ashes in the Ganges River. The Washington Post recently ran a story, "The mystery of the hundreds of bodies found in India's Ganges River." Hindus revere the Ganges River as a sacred source of purity and protection. Burning bodies on the river bank and scattering cremated remains in this river happens all the time. But bodies floating...
Ten Questions on Whether to Downsize Your Possessions
Downsizing: What to Keep, What to Let Go? In downsizing while preparing for an estate sale at my parents’ Albuquerque home, I came across a printout of an email. It listed 10 questions to evaluate whether to keep something before moving. My Dad had printed this list in 2007. I found it in a file in his office, typically overwhelmed with clutter. My parents bought this house and moved in that same year, 2007. I found this document while...
Model A and Model T Fords at Historic Fairview Cemetery Memorial Day Tours
Historic Fairview Cemetery Memorial Day Tours and Antique Car Exhibit Mark your calendar! Memorial Day, Monday, May 31, 2021, the Board of the nonprofit Historic Fairview Cemetery organization invites visitors to take a tour and learn about some of its famous (and infamous) residents. Four one-hour tours will be conducted at 9:00, 10:00, 11:00 and noon. A donation of $20 per person...
Common Grief Reactions: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance
Can grief be a good thing? Recently, I participated in the Toastmasters International Speech Competition. The title of my speech: "Good Grief!" With all of the losses we all have incurred during the pandemic, we may not recognize we are grieving - a lot. Using Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross' model of the Five Stages of Grief, I talk about how to recognize grief. The key is that we need to allow ourselves to feel what many consider "negative"...
Royal Funeral Planning Applies to You Too
Royal funeral planning has lessons for us commoners. The British Royal Family will have a funeral for Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth, on Saturday, April 17. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, there will be no public involvement in his funeral. According to the BBC, coronavirus restrictions in England mean only 30 people, socially distanced, are allowed to attend funerals. Full details of the invited guests are yet to be...
April 18: Online Death Cafe
Join the Conversation in the Next Death Cafe! The Blue Screen of Death by Richard Thompson The next Albuquerque Death Cafe will take place ONLINE on Sunday, April 18, 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time. Due to self-distancing imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, we will meet through Zoom. RSVP to Gail [at] AGoodGoodbye.com to receive the link for the meeting. The objective of the Death Cafe is “to increase awareness of death with a view...
The Book A Good Goodbye
Provides the information, inspiration and tools to plan and implement creative, meaningful and memorable end-of-life rituals for people and pets.
KICKING THE BUCKET LIST: 100 Downsizing and Organizing Things to Do Before You Die
Do you plan to live forever — Do you ever plan to move — Depending on where you are going, you can not take it with you.
A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Don’t Plan to Die Television Interview Series
Millions think a basic legal will can handle their estate, funeral arrangements and post-death formalities. They’re dead wrong.
Death & Toys T-Shirt
If you love T-shirts with snappy sayings, snap up this T-shirt from A Good Goodbye. Declare the obvious with this existential statement: “The One Who Dies With The Most Toys… Still Dies.”
Equalitee Shirt
If you love T-shirts with snappy sayings, snap up this T-shirt from A Good Goodbye. Declare the obvious with this existential statement: “All men (and women) are cremated Equal!”
Hail and Farewell: Cremation Ceremonies, Templates and Tips
Thousands of families won’t know what to do with their loved ones’ cremated remains or how to create a meaningful memorial service.
COVID-19 Funeral Costs to be Reimbursed by FEMA
COVID-19 Funeral Costs Did someone in your family die due to COVID-19 and you have unexpected funeral costs? The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is offering to help pay for funeral costs incurred by the pandemic. If you didn't have funds such as insurance to cover funeral expenses for a COVID-19 death, you can apply for up to the maximum amount of $9,000 per funeral. The program's toll-free number is 844-684-6333. One applicant will...
Baby Boomers Have to Deal with Parents’ Estates
Estate Sales are a Big Job I would not attempt a home sale without the help of a Realtor®. Similarly, don’t try to do an estate sale without the help of a professional. I recently had to clear out my parents’ home here in Albuquerque. As a Baby Boomer facing a lifetime of photographs, paperwork, furniture and memorabilia, I found this a daunting challenge. To help you understand the issues involved, I recorded this 12-minute interview, Karen...
April 3: Ready to Take the Cholla Challenge?
On Saturday, April 3, you have the opportunity to help transplant native cholla cactus in Historic Fairview Cemetery. There are several spots along the cemetery walls where trespassers are tearing down blocks to more easily climb over. Planting prickly cholla at these spots will help discourage this activity and, we hope, improve security at the cemetery. This is part of the regular first Saturday volunteer clean up. Sign up on the Historic...
Local TV Station Salutes Gail Rubin as a Remarkable Woman
Gail Rubin, The Doyenne of Death®, was recently saluted as a Remarkable Woman by the local CBS/FOX/CW stations in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Remarkable Women is part of a nationwide Nexstar Media initiative to honor the influence that women have had on public policy, social progress and the quality of life. Gail's husband nominated her, writing in his essay, "My wife Gail Rubin is a Remarkable Woman in so many ways. She is a pioneering death...
March 21: Online Death Cafe
Join the Conversation in the Next Death Cafe! The Blue Screen of Death by Richard Thompson The next Albuquerque Death Cafe will take place ONLINE on Sunday, March 21, 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time. Due to self-distancing imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, we will meet through Zoom. RSVP to Gail [at] AGoodGoodbye.com to receive the link for the meeting. The objective of the Death Cafe is “to increase awareness of death with a view...