"This book is intended for several audiences: those who work professionally with the dying and the bereaved, those who must cope with the death of someone close to them, and those who wish to reflect on the issues, moral and intellectual, raised by death and bereavement. Two years ago the Anglican Church of Canada published a report by its Taskforce on Human life entitled 'Dying: Considerations Concerning the Passage from Life to Death'. The report has provoked much discussion, to which the present volume is a contribution". -- Preface.
Contents: Notes on Contributors -- Preface -- The Relief of Pain in Terminal Disease / John F. Scott -- Palliative Care of the Dying / Balfour M. Mount -- Dying at Home / Eleanor Wasserman, Martin E. Blackstein -- How To Be a Friend to the Dying and the Mourner / Donald N. Peel -- Grief and Bereavement: the Family's Experience Before and After Death / Mary L.S. Vachon -- Post-abortion Mourning: the Hidden Grief / Mary Lassance Parthun -- Children, Cancer, and Death / Barrie L.L. de Veber -- How We Got to Where We Are Now: an Historical Overview of Death and Dying / Ian Gentles -- Euthanasia / Sheila and George Grant -- Christian Dying: a Theological Meditation / Eugene R. Fairweather.
"Death is a fact of life; it's inevitable. Talking about death, knowing what to expect, can lessen our fear of it and can help us to accept its reality in order to die in peace and dignity when it is time. Christians believe that death is a bridge between this life and the next. But no matter how strong our faith we need help when we are told that we or one of our loved ones is going to die". -- p. 3.
Contents divided into four main sections: Chrysalis --Biographical Data Needed for the Death Certificate and for Writing an Obituary -- The Natural Death Act -- The Dying Person's Bill of Rights.
Chrysalis section divided into sub-sections: What is Death ? -- Why Talk of Facing Death Now ? -- What to Do When Someone in Your Family is Dying ? -- When Death Occurs in the Hospital -- When Death Occurs at Home -- Concerning the Disposition of the Body -- What Options are Available for the Disposition of the Body ?
Excerpts from the Book of Common Prayer printed on inside front cover with "About the author". "The Dying Person's Bill of Rights" printed on inside back cover i.e. p. 31.
OTCH also has 1998 edition (Chrysalis: facing death now, a personal record) and 2008 edition (Preparing for death: instructions for your survivors).
"Copyright 1998 Revised. Copyright 1984". -- verso of t.-p.
"Death is a fact of life; it's inevitable. Talking about death, knowing what to expect, can lessen our fear of it and can help us to accept its reality and die in peace and dignity when it is time. As His Holiness the Dalai Lama once said, 'As death appears to be inevitable, perhaps we should consider it now'. Christians believe that death is a bridge between this life and the next, but no matter how strong our faith is, we still need help when we are told that we, or one of our loved ones is going to die". -- p. 4.
Contents divided into four main sections: Chrysalis --Biographical Information Needed for the Death Certificate and for Writing an Obituary -- Directive to Physicians -- The Dying Person's Bill of Rights -- [Excerpts from the Book of Common Prayer].
Chrysalis section divided into sub-sections: What is Death ? -- Why Talk of Facing Death Now ? -- What to Do When Someone in Your Family is Dying -- When Death Occurs in the Hospital -- When Death Occurs at Home -- Concerning the Disposition of the Body -- Options for the Disposition of the Body -- Living Wills.
OTCH also has 1984 edition (Chrysalis: facing death now, a personal record) and 2008 edition (Preparing for death: instructions for your survivors).
"The book was conceived out of a sense of frustration. During my twenty-eight years as a parish priest and teacher in pastoral theology, and the last ten years working with the terminally ill through the parish of St. Mary's and the Hospice of Windsor. I discovered that there was a great deal of misunderstanding about what spirituality involved and who might be called upon to offer spiritual care. The parameters of spiritual care were often limited to things ecclesiastical and circumscribed within the role description of a particular professional group. The main thesis of this book is that our concept of spirituality needs to be broadened, and that this will greatly affect the identity of the caregivers." -- Preface.
Contents: Preface -- Introduction -- What is Spirituality ? -- Spiritual Issues -- The Responsibility to Care -- Phenomenal Experiences: Spiritual, Psychological or Both ? -- Practising Pastoral Care -- Spirituality and the Future of Palliative Care -- Select Bibliography.
Author is a priest in the Anglican Church of Canada. "He is the founder of Hospice of Windsor and has served on many national and provincial palliative-care committees. While acting as chairman of the Primate's Task Force on Human Life he was co-editor of the book 'Dying, Considerations Concerning Passage from Life to Death'." -- back cover.
"A typical American funeral and burial today costs close to $8,000. In no other Western nation do people pay for funerals what Americans do. The reasons for that cost, the practices of the U.S. funeral industry, the growing movement to take back some control, the help that memorial societies can offer and the role of the church are the subjects of this important work by Nan Cobbey, features editor of 'Episcopal Life'. -- p. 3.
Contents: High expectations -- 'It's a mine field' -- Why the steep prices ? -- Caskets the biggest cost -- Conglomerates increasing -- Some protections in place -- Last things -- Families face host of options about final decisions -- The services -- The merchandise -- The ceremony -- Memorializing the life -- Church needs to reclaim its role -- Belief and ritual: A need for the holy -- Too often unprepared -- Paying ahead of time may be risky venture -- A Final word of advice -- Appendix 1: Resources -- Appendix 2: Who can help you -- Appendix 3: Funeral costs 1998-1999.
The author "has been holding the hands of the dying for years, and he knows how to help. Whether you are the one with diagnosis, or the one who is caring for the dying, this book will offer support, encouragement, and some helpful tips. From dealing with medical staff to talking with family and friends who are in denial, [this book] is an ideal companion for perhaps the most important journey of all". -- back cover.
Contents divided into three parts.
Contents: Introduction -- Defining a "good and blessed death" -- Meditating on the psalms -- Admitting that you know -- Releasing control -- Asking your questions -- Dealing with privacy -- Grasping the present tense -- Crying -- Saying "no" or "NO!" to heroic measures -- Partnering with physicians -- Putting choices into writing -- Living until dying -- Dealing with the physical changes -- Embracing God -- Expressing anger -- Forgiving -- Befriending your fears -- Deciding how you want to be remembered -- Reviewing your life -- Making room in your dying for some living -- Making Doxologies -- Making life easier for your survivors -- Making a valid will -- Giving it to them now ! -- Guarding the gate -- Offering hospitality -- Making visitors comfortable -- Ignoring the well-intentioned -- Dealing with strugglers -- Leaving an ethical will -- Composing your goodbyes -- Food for the journey -- Requesting and receiving the gifts of prayer -- Embracing the silences -- Accepting the mystery -- Telling your stories -- Holding on for special red-letter days -- Making room for humor --Clinging to hope -- Enjoying dessert -- Choosing the time to die -- Finishing the race -- Endnotes.
Author "is an adjunct professor in the doctoral program at Northern Baptist Seminary and has taught courses at Nazarene Theological Seminary. He is a public speaker who frequently leads workshops for hospice training events and pastoral leadership conference. He is the author of many books on bereavement." -- p. [222].
"Copyright 2008. 'Preparing for Death: Instructions for Your Survivors' is an updated and revised version of 'Chrysalis', published by Forward Movement in 1984 and 1998". -- verso of t.-p.
"Thinking about our own death may well be the most difficult thing any of us will ever do. Yet death is a fact of life. Talking about death, knowing what to expect, can lessen our fear of it, help us to accept its and die in peace and dignity". -- p. 4.
Contents divided into sections: Contents divided into three main sections: For the Person Using This Booklet -- For Your Family and Loved Ones -- Forms.
Contents: Introduction: Why Talk of Death Now ? -- What is Death ? -- Dying in Peace, Dying as Release -- Concerning the Disposition of the Body -- Options for the Disposition of the Body -- Living Wills -- Long Term Care Facilities -- What is an Advance Directive ? -- The Dying Persons's Bill of Rights -- When Someone in Your Family is Dying -- When Death Occurs in the Hospital -- When Death Occurs at Home -- Advance Directives to Physicians -- Biographical Information for Death Certificate and Obituary -- Service Instructions -- Instructions for Disposition of My Body -- Other Helpful Information For My Next of Kin.
OTCH also has 1984 and 1998 editions both entitled (Chrysalis: facing death now, a personal record).