The Family Plot Blog
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...
March 6: Historic Fairview Cemetery Volunteer Clean Up
Volunteers to Clean Up Historic Fairview Cemetery Want to volunteer your time to make a difference in your community? Historic Fairview Cemetery, established in Albuquerque, NM in 1881, is maintained by a local nonprofit organization. On Saturday morning, March 6, starting at 10:00 a.m., volunteers will help clean up a section of the cemetery by weeding and picking up trash. Gardening/weeding is great exercise, with built-in social distancing!...
February 21: Online Death Cafe
Join the Conversation in the Next Death Cafe! The next Albuquerque Death Cafe will take place ONLINE on Sunday, February 21, 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. Mountain Standard 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 to helping people make the most of their...
Children and Grief: Video Interview with Tim Mostert
Children and grief: helping kids understand death and grieving is a challenge around the world. The new book, What Now?, written and illustrated by Tim Mostert, can help fill the gap in educational materials about death and mourning. Tim Mostert is known in South Africa as a cartoonist who created Speedy, an incredibly popular comic strip character in the country’s leading newspaper, The Daily Sun. Speedy is also featured in a TV series,...
February 17: Tales from Albuquerque’s Historic Fairview Cemetery
Virtual Event: Tales from Historic Fairview Cemetery Historic Fairview Cemetery at 700 Yale Blvd SE in Albuquerque, New Mexico, was founded in 1881. It has approximately 12,000 permanent residents. Yet, only about 6,000 of the graves have markers. It’s the final resting place for both the famous and the unknown. There are military graves for Buffalo Soldiers and Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders, notable politicians, business leaders, and unknown...
Video: Dying with Ease Interview with Dr. Jeff Spiess
In this "Books to Die For" interview, Dr. Jeff Spiess, author of the book Dying with Ease: A Compassionate Guide for Making Wiser End-of-Life Decisions, talks with Gail Rubin, Certified Thanatologist and The Doyenne of Death. Among the topics discussed: The history of hospice Autonomy cases related to end-of-life: Karen Ann Quinlan and Terri Schiavo A though experiment on what it's like to die and understanding loss Medical aid-in-dying and...
An Obituary Through the Eyes of Grandchildren
Here is a unique obituary for Lloyd Bert Garcia, created by his grandchildren offering their fondest recollections of him. The photo is a drawing created by his granddaughter Evie. This was published in the Albuquerque Journal on January 17, 2021. Seven grandchildren remembering their beloved Papa who passed away on January 16, 2020 Julia: I loved that my Papa was always willing to drop whatever he was doing to help with whatever I needed. He...
Cremation on A Good Goodbye TV Tonight
Do you have questions about cremation? Tune in to watch A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Don't Plan to Die and learn what you need to know before you go! This episode is airing Albuquerque's cable channel 27 on Tuesday, January 12 at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, January 16 at 2:00 p.m. MST. This 26-minute interview features Tom Antram, the president and CEO of FRENCH Funerals and Cremations, and Buck Dyck, a funeral director and...