Join Leon County Government for “Celebrating Life, Understanding Death: A Six-Part Series” every Thursday from April 21 through May 26 at 6 p.m. at the Dr. B.L. Perry, Jr. Branch Library. Each week of this series features compassionate professionals who will speak about different aspects of death and dying.
From religious, spiritual, and physiological practices associated with the care of the dying, to the more practical matters of funeral and will planning, to the tender ways in which we support those who grieve, attendees will engage in meaningful conversations about a journey we will all one day make.
Each program in this series will also be streamed live via Zoom. Register here.
Citizens are encouraged to attend the County’s upcoming six-part series in person or virtually.
- How Different Faith Traditions View Death, Thursday, April 21 – Local faith leaders will discuss how faith and beliefs can impact a patient’s end of life care and other important decisions, including comforting the dying, care and disposition of the body, funeral customs, and mourning practices. The panel will be moderated by Rev. Candace McKibben.
- Understanding the Dying Process and Debunking Hospice Myths, Thursday, April 28 – Cristal Baer of Covenant Care and Dr. Richard Zorn will discuss what happens to the body during the dying process and share information about hospice care, including what services are provided and when hospice care starts.
- Starting the Conversation: Advance Directives and Wills, Thursday, May 5 – Paul Malley, president of Aging with Dignity, and elder law attorney Kandace E. Rudd will discuss advance directives for medical care and wills for distribution of personal property. Attendees will receive a free copy of the Five Wishes document, which helps adults consider and document how they want to be cared for at the end of life.
- How to Live with Grief and Supporting Children through Loss, Thursday, May 12 – Melanie Pelc, president of The Living Room, and children’s grief counselor, Caitlin Burns, will discuss strategies for coping with grief at all ages and how to support children through loss.
- Funeral Planning and Legacies, Thursday, May 19 – Funeral director Linn Ann Griffin and pre-planning counselor Sarah Taylor will discuss what to expect when planning a funeral and different burial options, including green burials, cremations, aboveground entombment, and in-ground burials.
- Sitting with the Dying: Rituals and Care at the Bedside, Thursday, May 26 – Kamala Snow, manager of spiritual care at Big Bend Hospice, will discuss what to expect in the final days, hours, and moments, and how we can bring meaning to the time we have left together. Then members of the Tallahassee Area Threshold Singers will discuss and demonstrate how they bring comfort through song to individuals and their loved ones at challenging thresholds of living and dying.