What happens when we die? It is a profound question that has been debated for thousands of years. Philosophers, researchers, religious leaders, even late-night talk show hosts and actors have pondered it. The question was even famously posed by Stephen Colbert to Keanu Reaves who replied, “I know the ones that love us will miss us.” While we at Solace Cremation don’t profess to hold the answer to that great mystery, we talked with those who help people at the end of life who are searching for meaning. Rev. Dr. Jill Rowland, chaplain and Director of Spiritual Care, and her team at Legacy Emanue ..read more

It has been just over a year since Jacqueline Revere, aka “MomOfMyMom” on social media, lost her mother after six years of daily caregiving. The millennial caregiver told her followers that she recently asked her dad to come over to help her move her mother’s ashes into an urn shortly after the anniversary of her death. “It was a very emotional moment. But he showed up. I cried. I feel like the circle is now complete,” she said. The anniversary of a loved one’s death can be tough for many. Like holidays, it can be remind you of your grief all over again. Some have coined the term “deathiversar ..read more

While fewer people are choosing traditional burial in cemeteries, families often still want a place to visit — or the feeling of pride that comes with stewardship — as a reminder of their loved one. For many, nature provides the perfect setting. Public green spaces are a great place to honor memories with a plaque, bench, tree or donation that honors a loved one. For those who want their ashes buried under a particular memorial tree, a Better Place Forests might be the right choice. The company, based in California, lets you choose a tree and includes a marker and ceremony. Their memorial fore ..read more

Avid knitters and longtime friends Masey Kaplan and Jen Simonic know the love that’s behind a hand-crafted scarf, blanket or sweater. “It feels like a hug,” Kaplan explained to Solace Cremation. “When I make something for someone, I like knowing that they are surrounded by the love I wanted them to feel,” she said. But the pair knew that there were many times when an incomplete project was left behind. “When someone dies with unfinished projects, that project could be donated away, thrown out … but what we were trying to is to figure out a way to have that be completed so it can go to its inte ..read more

Laura Carney had trouble thinking about her father without crying for many years. When she was only 25, her father was killed in a car crash by a distracted driver. “I became sort of a timid person without realizing that I was,” Carney told Solace Cremation. It was difficult to grieve for him with the trauma of his tragic ending still haunting her. Though she turned her attention to her career and later to working as an advocate for safer driving, she found the trauma of his death left her with anger that wasn’t serving her. But 13 years later, shortly after Carney had gotten married, her brot ..read more

Long-term care can be expensive. According to a survey by insurance company Genworth, the price tag can be upwards of $9,000 a month for a private room. Estate planning attorney Marisol Goodman tells Solace Cremation that “folks have that sticker shock of, ‘Oh, my! My care is going to cost 10 grand a month,’” While you or a loved one may not need this type of care now, Genworth, quoting federal statistics, says 7 out of 10 people will require long-term care in their lifetime. Goodman says one challenge is that many people imagine that they’ll be independent and healthy until they pass away in ..read more

Portland media personality Sheila Hamilton’s life and career changed forever when in December of 2006, she learned David, her husband and the father of her nine-year-old daughter Sophie, had died by suicide. He’d been missing for six weeks after leaving hospital treatment. “I wish we’d been able to talk him out of it, I wish the care he’d received had been good enough that he’d start to feel better, I wish that the medicine had worked, I wish so many things, but none of those wishes came true. So when I think about second-guessing, I keep reminding myself that it is in the past, to use this fo ..read more

On February 18th, the Carter Center announced former president Jimmy Carter was entering hospice and spending time with his family at home. Carter is perhaps the most prominent American to publicly announce his choice of hospice and with it, has publicized this important resource which is often misunderstood. Solace Cremation checked in with several leaders in the end-of-life and hospice arena to gather their views on the lessons he gives us with his choice. Social worker and Death Deck co-creator Lisa Pahl agrees and says Carter’s announcement, like his openness about his cancer treatment in ..read more

According to 2020 statistics, nearly 8 million seniors in community settings were found to be socially isolated, more than a million severely socially isolated and even more strikingly, 43 percent of Americans over age 60 reported feeling lonely. Jacob Cramer, the founder of Love for Our Elders, points to these statistics to explain why he’s on a mission to alleviate the growing loneliness epidemic facing seniors. Since 2013, his program has mailed thousands of letters to seniors around the world with 50,000 volunteers helping out in 70 countries. “There are virtual ways to connect, email and ..read more

This piece first appeared on Cake and is republished with permission. Unfortunately, grief doesn’t take a holiday. In fact, many people experience worsened feelings of grief on special days of the year. Holidays remind us of the time we spent with the people we’ve lost. And that can be incredibly difficult. A holiday like Valentine’s Day, which is all about love and togetherness, can leave you missing loved ones who’ve passed away even more. And the first Valentine’s Day you spend without someone you love is often especially hard. You might want to do something to remember and honor your loved ..read more