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In this very personal episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, join me as I work with Maureen Kures, founder of A Radiant Mourning and my husband, Oren, to create my own advance directive. Maureen leads us in exploring what it really means to document our wishes—from reflecting on our personal values to choosing the right person to speak on my behalf. Together, we’re opening up about the emotions, questions, and even moments of humor that come with this planning process. 

In this episode, you'll learn about: 

• Personal Reflections on Advance Directives: Discover how values, humor, and family connections can transform the process. 
• Choosing Your Advocate Wisely: Learn about the qualities that make a great healthcare decision-maker and why it’s so important. 
• Practical Steps to Crafting an Advance Directive: See firsthand the thoughtful approach that makes this process an act of love. 

Whether you’re just starting to think about end-of-life planning or revisiting it, this episode offers both comfort and guidance. 

 Links/Resources 

• Guest: Maureen Kures, A Radiant Mourning - www.radiantmorning.com 
• Host: Traci Arieli’s Website - www.comfortingclosure.com 
• Mentioned Resource: Gentle Passage Doula Collective - www.gentlepassagedoulacollective.com 

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Episode Description: 

In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli welcomes Angela Hey from SpiritCare Ministry to discuss the impact of music in aging care. We discuss Angela’s journey into music and bedside ministry, SpiritCare’s mission to enrich the lives of older adults, and how music can alleviate pain, reduce agitation, and bring joy to those in long-term care and memory care facilities. 

Key takeaways include: 

• How music supports emotional and spiritual well-being in aging and end-of-life settings. 
• The healing power of familiar hymns for memory care residents. 
• Volunteer opportunities, including music, crafts, and holiday gifting initiatives. 

Links/Resources 

• Guest: SpiritCare Ministry - spiritcareministry.org 
• Host: Traci Arieli's Website - https://www.comfortingclosure.com 

Resources Mentioned: 

• Hymnary.org for exploring hymn selections. 

#DeathDoula #EndOfLifeDoula #MusicTherapy #HospiceCare #AgingGracefully 

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In this episode of 'Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula,' Traci Arieli is joined by Ryan Kolstad, founder of Preplanning.me. Together, they discuss the importance of funeral preplanning and why making arrangements ahead of time can be one of the most loving gifts you give to your family. Key topics include the emotional and financial benefits of preplanning, how to avoid funeral debt, and ways to make end-of-life decisions easier. Ryan talks about common misconceptions, pre-need policies, and the cultural differences surrounding preplanning 

Links/Resources: 

• Guest: Ryan Kolstad’s Website - https://preplanning.me 
• Host: Traci Arieli's Website - https://www.comfortingclosure.com 

Resources: 

• Mentioned Funeral Planning Booklet (available through Ryan Kolstad at Preplanning.me) 

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In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli sits down with Jessica Fein, author of Breath Taking, to discuss her family's profound journey caring for her daughter Dalia, who was diagnosed with the rare disease MERRF syndrome (Myoclonic Epilepsy with Ragged Red Fibers). Jessica shares the emotional challenges of becoming her daughter's advocate, the process of navigating a complex medical system, and the lessons she learned about staying present. 

Together, they talk about how to find moments of peace, joy, and vulnerability even during life’s most overwhelming challenges. This episode provides a look at how we can balance grief and joy, and how we are capable of more than we ever imagined. 

Links/Resources: 

• Jessica Fein’s Website: https://www.jessicafeinstories.com 
• Breath Taking by Jessica Fein: Available wherever books are sold 
• Host: Traci Arieli’s Website - https://www.comfortingclosure.com 

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**This episode discusses suicide and its impact on those left behind. If you find this topic distressing, please take care of yourself and feel free to pause or step away at any time. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.** 

In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli speaks with Joanne L. Harpel, MPhil, CT, JD, President of Coping After Suicide. After losing her brother Stephen to suicide in 1993, Joanne has dedicated her life to supporting others through their own grief journeys. Together, they discuss the unique challenges of suicide loss.  

Key takeaways include: 

• How suicide grief differs from other types of loss 
• Support strategies for suicide loss survivors and those grieving 
• The importance of creating space for conversations about suicide 

This episode offers comfort, understanding, and practical tools for both those directly affected by suicide loss and those looking to support them. 

Links/Resources: 

• Guest: Joanne Harpel’s Website – https://www.copingaftersuicide.com 
• Host: Traci Arieli’s Website – https://www.comfortingclosure.com 
• When It Is Darkest: Why People Die By Suicide and What We Can Do to Prevent It by Rory O’Connor 
•  Speaking of Suicide: https://www.speakingofsuicide.com 
• National Suicide Hotline: Call or Text 988 

Don't forget to Like, Share, and Subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes! 

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In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli is joined by Angela Novas, a nurse and Palliative and Hospice Care Consultant for the Hospice Foundation of America. Together, they discuss hospice care. Angela shares her journey in hospice work, common misconceptions about hospice, and its benefits, including improving quality of life and, in many cases, extending it. 

Key takeaways include: 

• What hospice care is and how it differs from other types of medical care. 
• Early enrollment in hospice can provide patients and families with invaluable support. 
• Common myths, like whether hospice means “giving up” or that it’s only for those in their final days. 
• Practical advice on how families can take full advantage of hospice services, including grief counseling and caregiver support. 

Links/Resources 

• Guest: Angela Novas' Website - Hospice Foundation of America - https://hospicefoundation.org 
• Host: Traci Arieli’s Website - https://www.comfortingclosure.com 

Remember to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes! 

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In this episode of Comforting Closure – Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli talks with Dr. Lula Buzz, an artist who uses clay to explore grief, memory, and healing themes. Dr. Buzz shares her journey, how clay became a sacred tool during her grief, and how she guides others in processing their loss through creative rituals and community projects. Key takeaways include the transformative power of clay, the importance of ritual in healing, and how art helps us maintain a connection with our loved ones. 

Links/Resources: 

• Guest: Dr. Lula Buzz’s Website - https://www.claysidecallings.com 
• Host: Traci Arieli’s Website - https://www.comfortingclosure.com 
• Instagram: Dr. Lula Buzz @clayside_callings & @temple_of_clay

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In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, I’m joined by Gabrielle Gatto, manager of public programs from Green-Wood Cemetery, to discuss the transformation of cemeteries in today’s world. Gabrielle shares Green-Wood’s unique history as part of the rural cemetery movement and its modern role as a community hub. We also discuss how technology is helping families honor loved ones in meaningful ways and what the future holds for cemeteries as places of reflection, remembrance, and connection. 

Key takeaways from this episode include the importance of building death literacy, Green-Wood’s pioneering work in eco-friendly burials, and how cemeteries can be so much more than resting places for the dead—they can be spaces for life, learning, and community. 

Links/Resources: 

• Guest: Greenwood Cemetery - www.green-wood.com 
• Host: Traci Arieli's Website - www.comfortingclosure.com 
• Resource Mentioned: Corpse Care by Cody Sanders

If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay connected with our latest episodes. We’d love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to comment below or reach out to me directly. 

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In this episode of 'Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula,' Traci Arieli sits down with Mike Scoggin, senior living advisor and owner of Oasis Senior Advisors of Silicon Valley. Together, they discuss the complexities of senior living options, from independent living to memory care, and address the emotional and financial challenges families face when making these decisions. Key takeaways include navigating the decision-making process and financial aspects and dispelling common misconceptions about senior living communities. 

Links/Resources: 

• Guest: Oasis Senior Advisors - https://www.oasissenioradvisors.com/local-advisors/silicon-valley 
• Host: Traci Arieli’s Website - https://www.comfortingclosure.com 

Resources: Alzheimer’s Association - https://www.alz.org

Belmont Village Memory Care - https://www.belmontvillage.com 

Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes! 

#DeathDoula #EndOfLifeDoula #SeniorLiving #MemoryCare #AgingWithDignity 

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In this episode of 'Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula,' Traci Arieli is joined by Cody Sanders, author of Corpse Care: Ethics for Tending the Dead. Together, they discuss how historical events like the treatment of Indigenous Americans, the Civil War, African American slavery, major epidemics, and the rise of ecological responsibility have shaped our practices in caring for the dead, and how these practices, in turn, have shaped us. 

Key takeaways include how these pivotal moments in history have influenced our approach to deathcare and how the evolving practices continue to reflect and shape our societal values. This episode aims to normalize conversations around death and provide a deeper understanding of the ethical implications of caring for the deceased. 

Links/Resources: 

• Guest: Cody Sanders’ Book - Corpse Care: Ethics for Tending the Dead: https://www.fortresspress.com/store/search?ss=cody+sanders 
• Contact Cody Sanders falculty page: https://www.luthersem.edu/faculty/cody-sanders 
• Host Traci Arieli's Website: https://www.comfortingclosure.com 

Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes! 

In this episode, I mentioned that the U.S. spends between $110-150 million each year to research, analyze, and recover the 81,000 MIA/POWs from every war since World War II. This information is cited from:  

"Inside the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency." Task & Purpose, https://taskandpurpose.com/military-life/defense-pow-mia-accounting-agency-dpaa/. Accessed 31 July 2024. 

"POW/MIA Experience." U.S. Department of Defense, https://www.defense.gov/Multimedia/Experience/POW-MIA/. Accessed 31 July 2024.