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Distant Light Death Doula Services
A life well-lived and a death well-planned.
Janet Clattenburg
Death Doula
janetgoncalves
Jul 13, 20241 min read
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...
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janetgoncalves
Jul 6, 20242 min read
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...
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janetgoncalves
Jun 29, 20242 min read
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, 20242 min read
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...
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janetgoncalves
Jun 15, 20243 min read
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...
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janetgoncalves
Jun 7, 20242 min read
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...
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janetgoncalves
Jun 1, 20242 min read
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...
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janetgoncalves
May 25, 20242 min read
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...
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janetgoncalves
May 18, 20243 min read
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...
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janetgoncalves
May 12, 20242 min read
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...
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janetgoncalves
May 11, 20243 min read
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,”...
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janetgoncalves
May 4, 20242 min read
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...
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janetgoncalves
Apr 28, 20242 min read
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...
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janetgoncalves
Apr 20, 20242 min read
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, 20242 min read
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, 20243 min read
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, 20243 min read
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, 20243 min read
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, 20243 min read
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...
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janetgoncalves
Mar 10, 20243 min read
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...
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