Sheila Burke - Sheila Burke, Death Doula

15 Signs from Deceased Loved Ones

The night my dying husband had a conversation with his deceased brother in my living room was the night I found the first feather. Shane was dying from a very aggressive cancer. He was receiving visits near the end of his life from his mother and brother who passed away before him. It was quite…… Continue reading 15 Signs from Deceased Loved Ones

How Death and Funerals Have Changed in the U.S.

Up until the Civil War era in the United States, we used to hold our funerals in our homes.When we knew our loved ones were dying, it was common practice to remain with them. The family would nurse them by day and neighbors would “sit up” with them during the night. (They could alert family…… Continue reading How Death and Funerals Have Changed in the U.S.

75% of All Deaths are Caused by 12 Things

People in the world today are more likely to die from a terminal illness than an unexpected or sudden death. We have been learning how to live with death for an extended period of time and our grieving process starts at diagnosis rather than at death itself.Did you know that 75% of all deaths in…… Continue reading 75% of All Deaths are Caused by 12 Things

How to Express Sympathy: What to Say and What Not to Say

When crafting a message of sympathy, it’s important to keep a few things in mind. All of us have different beliefs. When your beliefs differ from the deceased or their family we must be considerate with what we do and say. The way we grieve is not universal. While your heart might be in the…… Continue reading How to Express Sympathy: What to Say and What Not to Say

Funeral and Memorial Poems

A collection of poems useful when planning a funeral or memorial. My sincere sympathy for your loss. (If you are specifically looking for poems on the loss of a child, click here.) Afterglowby Helen Lowrie MarshallI’d like the memory of me to be a happy one.I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life…… Continue reading Funeral and Memorial Poems

Funeral and Memorial Poems-Children

Here are a few poems geared toward the loss of a child. If you are here because you or someone you know has lost a child, please accept my deepest condolences. The mention of my child’s nameMay bring tears to my eyes,But it never fails to bringMusic to my ears.Let me hear the beautifulmusic of…… Continue reading Funeral and Memorial Poems-Children

I Hope You Dance

I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I honked again. Since this was going to be the last ride of my shift I thought about just driving away, but instead, I put the car in park and walked up to the door, and knocked. “Just a minute,” answered…… Continue reading I Hope You Dance

Traditional Burial Customs that Might be Shocking

For the most part, we have been accustomed to two different ways of saying our final goodbyes to our loved ones: burial and cremation. You might be surprised and sometimes a little shocked to learn how different cultures carry out funerals. Have a traditional funeral or be consumed by vultures? What about your family digging…… Continue reading Traditional Burial Customs that Might be Shocking

No One Dies Alone: A Beautiful End of Life Program

NODA – “No One Dies Alone” is a program founded in 2001 by Sandra Clarke, an intensive care nurse at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Eugene, Oregon. She noticed there was no continuous support system in place for terminal patients without family or friends.Patients near death are paired with compassionate care volunteers who sit with…… Continue reading No One Dies Alone: A Beautiful End of Life Program

Keep the Fork

There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things ‘in order,’ she contacted her Pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.She told him which songs she wanted…… Continue reading Keep the Fork