• Welcome!
    • About Site
      • Links about death and dying
      • More About Death Doulas
        • Links about death doulas
        • Random Thoughts
        • Services
          • FAQs
            • About Deanna
            • Contact
            • Doula/Midwife Registry
              • Independent doulas

              A Gentle Guide to Accompany the Dying

               
              The death of our cat and home funerals 05/29/2010
              0 Comments
               
              We never know how someone feels about something until we do.

              16 years ago I went to our local humane society and adopted an adorable white and black long haired cat; we named her Alice. My daughters were 2 and 4 years old and I was married to their dad then. We have so many stories and I have a love for that cat that is pretty amazing since I never really liked cats before then.

              In between now and then, there was divorce, other animals, life, change of homes and through all that Alice stayed with my daughter's daddy. When he called me in tears the other night that Alice had died, my heart sank. The day before I was under the dining room table with her, crying my eyes out, as she lay dying. I was not surprised when he called.

              What I am surprised about is when I went over there later to be with him, my daughters and Alice, our conversation turned into one on home funerals. We were talking about everything imaginable about death before this came up but when it did, it was on.

              So now, after all the discussion of laying each of us out in the living room, in a hand painted, decorated cardboard casket (from Costco for 150$), and all the songs and such that we wanted, it's clear! Each one of us wants a home funeral. We want to be loved and cared for by each other, not strangers. We want to be the only ones touching, bathing and moving each other. We want the greatest care and tenderness and that can only come from someone who loves you. We want what Alice had.

              Over the next few weeks I'm going to record our home funeral arrangements. Thank you Alice, my beautiful sweet Queen.
              Add Comment
               

                RSS Feed

                Archives

                December 2011
                November 2011
                December 2010
                September 2010
                June 2010
                May 2010
                February 2010
                January 2010
                December 2009

                Categories

                All
                Advance Directives
                After Death Care
                Breathing Patterns
                Cheyne Stokes
                Communication W/the Dying
                Death
                Death Doula
                Death Rattle
                Emotional Withdrawal
                Home Funeral
                Life Review
                Nursing Homes
                Palliative Care
                Peaceful Environment
                Presence
                Signs Of Dying
                Terminal Agitation

                Author

                Hi, My name is Deanna Cochran. I am an end-of-life doula to families who are living with someone they love during their last days. I assist with medical, practical, emotional and spiritual needs as they arise. For more information about me. about Deanna


              Create a free website with Weebly