The lyricist of Hamilton and the author William Shatner’s brief exploration of the concept of legacy
William Shatner (with Joshua Brandon) wrote the book “Boldly Go Reflections on a Life of Awe and Wonder” in 2022. His book could be...
top of page
Distant Light Death Doula Services
A life well-lived and a death well-planned.
Janet Clattenburg
Death Doula
janetgoncalves
- Jul 6
- 2 min
If William Shatner Can Create a Legacy Project, So Can You
As portrayed by Leonard Nimoy, the “Star Trek” character of Spock had a most famous phrase, “Live long and prosper”. William Shatner...
6 views0 comments
janetgoncalves
- Jun 29
- 2 min
Pondering Our Relationships (with ourselves, with others and with our mortality)
William Shatner (with Joshua Brandon) wrote the book “Boldly Go Reflections on a Life of Awe and Wonder” in 2022. Being the Star Trek fan...
4 views0 comments
janetgoncalves
- Jun 22
- 2 min
Victorian Funerary Food Traditions
Often when someone dies, there is a wake with a funeral reception afterwards which includes some refreshments. Is this death ritual...
5 views0 comments
janetgoncalves
- Jun 15
- 3 min
Father’s Day is not happy for everyone.
Father’s Day is a day dedicated to honour the dads, grandads and father figures in our lives. For some people it is not a day of...
4 views0 comments
janetgoncalves
- Jun 7
- 2 min
Taphophobia Part 2
I watched The Crown Season 6 Episode 8, The Ritz, and one scene stood out to me. The actress portraying Princess Margaret is speaking to...
2 views0 comments
janetgoncalves
- Jun 1
- 2 min
Hearses as one component of a death ritual
Hearses doubled as ambulances for a period in history due to their ability to accommodate bodies on stretchers. The term “hearse” itself...
1 view0 comments
janetgoncalves
- May 25
- 2 min
Hearses are featured in popular culture but are still part of the death ritual
Hearses are most associated with funeral processions; however pop culture has introduced us to some unique hearses. The Ghostbusters...
2 views0 comments
janetgoncalves
- May 18
- 3 min
Death Photography- Yes It Is and Has Been Trendy
Have you ever watched the 2001 movie The Others, starring Nicole Kidman? In it is a scene where her character is flipping through some...
3 views0 comments
janetgoncalves
- May 12
- 2 min
Mother’s Day is not happy for everyone.
Mother’s Day in general can be a trigger for many people. It is probably my least favourite day. It’s normal to feel a mix of...
2 views0 comments
janetgoncalves
- May 11
- 3 min
Monatophobia- The Fear of Dying Alone
The fear of dying alone represents one of the greatest fears for many people. The urban dictionary recently included “monatophobia,”...
4 views0 comments
janetgoncalves
- May 4
- 2 min
Some ideas for Practicing Gratitude After a Loved One Dies
1. Recognize the little things In the book, Learning to Laugh When You Feel Like Crying (Goodman Beck, 2011), The author suggests a...
1 view0 comments
janetgoncalves
- Apr 28
- 2 min
On-line Netiquette Around Death and Dying
Grief is an individual experience. While you have also experienced the death of a loved one, the person you are attempting to support has...
0 views0 comments
janetgoncalves
- Apr 20
- 2 min
The most played non-religious songs at funerals
Silence can be deafening at a funeral and music fills the void at various points in the service. Funerals and music just go together and...
5 views0 comments
janetgoncalves
- Apr 14
- 2 min
Visiting Hours by Ed Sheeran
This song premiered in Australia on March 24, 2021, as a tribute for Michael Gudinski in whose memory Sheeran wrote the song. Can you...
3 views0 comments
janetgoncalves
- Apr 7
- 3 min
Asking questions during the grief process.
Here's another question for you dear reader. Instead of spending your 7 minutes in heaven grieving in heaven, and possibly asking...
53 views0 comments
janetgoncalves
- Mar 29
- 3 min
Who would you choose to chat with if you were granted a 7 minute visit to someone in heaven?
All of us will lose people we love at some point in our lives. We often will wish that we could sit down with them again and spend time...
90 views0 comments
janetgoncalves
- Mar 19
- 3 min
Spring Equinox and Grief
March 19, 2024, here in Nova Scotia officially marks the arrival of the Spring season with the Spring Equinox. An equinox is a time when...
3 views0 comments
janetgoncalves
- Mar 16
- 3 min
Self-kindness and Grief
I recently came back from a trip abroad. I brought back with me some small locally-sourced souvenirs for my family, a fridge magnet and a...
4 views0 comments
janetgoncalves
- Mar 10
- 3 min
Healing Through Art
I’ve just come back from a recent overseas trip. While there, I visited as many museums, churches, historical sites, and art galleries as...
4 views0 comments
bottom of page