On this episode of Secret Heart Broadcasting, Kerrie Penney speaks with Janine Violini, a second generation Canadian of Italian heritage whose family stayed true to their cultural fervor for funerals. She recalls feeling worried when, at the age of six, she had not yet seen a dead body. This normalization of death within her community fostered in her a curiosity about the impermanence of life.

Janine has a deep interest in thanatology—the study of death dying and bereavement— and is co-founder along with Jamie Whittaker, of Crows in a Row. Janine helps people think about end of life in a way that is engaging and full of love, including advice on meaningful rituals, or how to prepare complementary or alternative funerals. She brings death to life.

In this compelling conversation, Kerrie and Janine explore grief and letting go, leaving a legacy and honouring the people we love. If you’ve been curious about how to talk about end of life planning, or are thinking about getting your own Crows in a Row, this episode is for you.