There are two different types of people in the world: those who flip to the obituary section in the newspaper. And those who avoid anything that makes them think about their own morbidity.

For quite some time, obituaries have held a special place in our culture as a unique form of writing, one that valued conciseness and precision. But as newspaper readership has declined, social media has increased our ability to share and connect with one another. It’s also thrown the “rules” of obituaries out the window.

The sticker shock of obituaries is … something. If you’re trying to think of a thing that costs a lot but delivers so little, you probably won’t find a better example than a traditional obituary.

Many thanks to WCCO’s Laura Oakes for this wonderful segment with Epilogg’s Co-Founder Mary McGreevy on her “Good News” program.

When a family friend recently passed away, my mind went in a million disjointed directions, a bit like my broken heart. But it eventually landed, soothingly, on memories we shared.

In a previous blog, we introduced you to the work of death doulas, aka end of life doulas. Our new friend, Wendy Longacre Brown, shares a bit more about doing legacy work with her clients. Epilogg believes it too: Stories matter. For everyone.

Step 1: Don’t write an obituary! Create an Epilogg instead. The traditional obituary limits you with only so many words and a tiny black & white image – something that could never show the colorful and complicated lives we want to celebrate. Epilogg helps you bring the life to your tribute. For free.

Educate us! What is a death doula?
A death doula–-also known as an end of life doula–empowers a dying person or their family to create a meaningful transition by providing s emotional, spiritual, physical and educational support. It’s never too early to bring a death doula on, and it’s never too late.

When’s the last time you clicked on or liked an obituary? Exactly. The traditional obituary doesn’t get much attention in our news diet. Doesn’t that feel strange? That someone’s actual life story – told at the moment when it means the most – gets lost in the shuffle of, well, life. The exceptions — the viral obituaries — catch our eyes and hearts because someone went beyond the bulleted list of careers and “survived-bys” to tell a story that’s MORE. More real, more truthful. Even funny. You won’t find any of that in the “how to write an obituary” tips

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