Death care community

The Death Care Community is a group that intends to gather information around practicalities for the moment of death.

We are a small sprout coming from a very strong seed that is barely showing up the ground. Our intention is to eventually become a group of support, but that is not ready yet.

Some of us are interested in home funerals, others in green burial. Some of us are interested in discussing aging and dying; others want to explore what happens after what we call “death.” Some of us would like to sing for the dying and/or the dead; others would like to help create ceremonies, memorial services, or other rituals to celebrate a transition. Some of us want to read or pray for the dead; others want to concentrate on the living left behind and help them grieve. Some of us have a very specific interest; others are just curious. There is a dream that we can grow into a group capable of doing a bit of everything and each one can hold the piece that s/he feels called to.

So far we have had gatherings to discuss the document “Five Wishes,” had a conversation with a death midwife from Atlanta and had a viewing of the award-winning documentary In the Parlor: The Final Goodbye (2015). When we have events like this, we announce a date/time and whoever can join are welcomed. When someone is interested in something we offer, but can’t join, they try to organize a second moment and announce it again to the group.

We will try to meet once a month to see how we are growing and check where we are heading as a group, while the “specific events” will happen organically, as people organize them. We have not decided on a regular time to meet yet. Our next “event” is a visit to Honey Creek Woodlands, a natural burial ground in Conyers, 40 minutes from Decatur.

At this point, our policy for new members is open doors. Interested? Email johaluba [at] yahoo.com to join the mailing group and be informed of what’s happening.