Death By Design

Ken Ross, son of Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, is the founder of the EKR Foundation (2006) and President (2006-2013 & 2018-Present). He also served on the board of the Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Center from 1989-2005. Ken was the principal care provider for his mother in the last 9 years of her life until her passing in 2004.

His responsibilities include handling over 80 publishers of Dr. Ross’ work, public relations, copyright & trademark issues, website maintainance, developing foreign Kübler-Ross chapters, developing strategic partnerships, as well as preserving her archives. While growing up, he traveled with her extensively while on her numerous foreign trips witnessing her lectures and workshops. Ken has lectured on his mother’s legacy for hospices and various conferences in South America, Asia, and Europe. There are several film projects that Ken is currently a consultant on including a major motion picture, a television series and various documentaries, both foreign and domestic.

See Ken Ross on on YouTube.com

A professional photographer by trade, he has photographed 101 countries.

http://archive.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/06/19/20080619sr-kenross0621-ON.html

www.kenrossphotography.com

Author, Real Taste of Life: A Journal by Ken Ross and Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, 2002

Tea with Elisabeth by: Ken Ross, Fern Stewart Welch, and Rose Winters, 2009

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Emma is a seasoned technology entrepreneur, MIT graduate, and award-winning change-agent, who started building online communities before Netscape was born. Her 25 year career leading online and mobile projects has included building tools to register young people to vote, creating online networks of support for families facing health challenges, and launching North America’s first online crisis intervention line. She also founded a scrappy, action-oriented, national non-profit focused on women & technology, that broke boundaries and developed leaders for 17 years.

Grief Coach combines Emma's passion for mobile technology and engagement, with her deep commitment to giving people the confidence and tools they need to support each other through grief. She knows that, while nothing makes grief go away, supporting someone through loss is powerful and transformative for the supporter, and alters the trajectory for the grieving person too.

https://grief.coach

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“Nobody likes to sit down and listen to a talk about life’s challenges. But somehow, Rachel makes it all Okay. Her warmth and sensitivity, and especially her story, enables us to hear brutal honesty and embrace it, rather than fear it. Bravo, Rachel Kodanaz.” —Ora DeMorrow, Senior Financial Advisor, Vice President Merrill Lynch

No one knows better how to embrace life’s challenges than Rachel herself. Overcoming her own adversity of being widowed at 31 years old with a 2-year-old daughter, she “wows” audiences with her down-to-earth, current and relevant presentations – helping attendees to reach their potential by embracing and learning from all of life’s complexities. Having worked in management for Fortune 100 companies, she is fully aware of the see-saw created when personal and professional challenges collide.

Rachel has been speaking passionately to national audiences of all sizes for 20 years, addressing all aspects of change, growth, and acceptance that comes with embracing life’s challenges – those expected and unexpected. Through her books, Living with Loss, One Day at a Time and Grief in the Workplace, Rachel offers a wealth of knowledge, inspiration and practical advice for those who have lost a loved one or are supporting someone who has lost a loved one. 

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On October 1, 2019, Rachel released her third book, Finding Peace, One Piece at a Time. This book provides encouragement and tools for those seeking to down-size, right-size or sort through a loved one’s possessions. Whether they are in physical or electronic form, those possessions tell the story of the person’s life. Rachel’s book shares practical ways to thin, repurpose, and redistribute these possessions so they continue to share the story with future generations. 

Rachel is available for speaking appearances, educational programs, interviews and community outreach. 

https://www.rachelkodanaz.com

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After a life marbled with exploration, academia, and domesticity, the writer Valerie Lester retired to a residential hospice and set about enjoying the final act of her life. She died nine weeks later, having engaged in dying with equanimity, curiosity, and even amusement.

In Absolutely Delicious, Valerie’s daughter describes a journey that illuminates the benefits of acceptance and the many gifts offered by daring to own one’s end.

“As a palliative care physician I've read countless stories about dying patients but none as engaging and original as this, opening my eyes to what's possible for future patients and families I care for.” - Jane deLima Thomas, MD, Palliative Care Physician, Harvard Medical School

http://www.alisonjeanlester.com

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Vicky Roncero is a certified Usui Reiki Master Practitioner/ Instructor with a private practice, in Upper Montclair, New Jersey. She is grateful to be working with Reiki and empowering clients to use this beautiful energy in whatever way is helpful to them. Some clients are healing from illness and injury, or managing stress and anxiety. Others are looking to feel more centered or grounded and are balancing their Chakras, to keep their energy flowing optimally.

If you are feeling stuck or looking for more energy or inspiration, Reiki can be the key to breaking a habit, or cyclical behavior. Reiki truly can help you discover the new chapters of your life story, which are waiting to unfold.

Vicky works with clients in private sessions, at her studio, and remotely, through distance sessions. She also conduct workshops and private training and instruction. Reiki can help from near or far, in groups or one-on-one.

Work with Vicky. Reiki can help you manifest the goals you are looking to achieve and can help you balance your energy body, to maintain optimal wellness in your physical body. Reiki is for everyone.

Vicky is also a writer/producer and have worked in television for over twenty-five years. She has been a storyteller. Vicky believes that Reiki is the ultimate story telling tool, as it takes you into someone’s energy field and helps you discover areas where they are holding trapped energy, which is keeping them stuck.

Vicky's writing and producing experience, infused with Reiki training, is helpful in working with clients, to realize their dreams and spark their creativity, in all areas of life. Your stories are what got you here, but they don’t define you. You can turn the page to new beginnings, at any time.

https://ronceroreiki.com

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Phyllis Shacter courageously shares the first personal story ever written about Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking (VSED). This memoir and guidebook follows the journey she took with her husband, Alan. Alan decided to VSED – so he didn’t have to live into the late stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

This is their love story, their partnership, the brave territory they traversed, including how they prepared themselves with proper medical and legal guidance when electing to VSED. Choosing to Die is filled with emotional depth and sensitivity as well as practical information outlining the process from beginning to end.

Phyllis shares every detail, including what Alan experienced during the nine-and-a-half days it took for him to die, and how the experience transformed Phyllis. This book provides a deeper understanding of end of life choices, and for those diagnosed with a degenerative disease.

Phyllis Shacter is a retired teacher, business consultant, life coach, and public speaker. Choosing to Die and PhyllisShacter.com are the most comprehensive resources on the subject of VSED available today.

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An End of Life Doula is a non-medical person trained to care for someone holistically (physically, emotionally, and spiritually) at the end of life. End of Life Doulas are also known around the world as: end of life coaches, soul midwives, transition guides, death coaches, death doulas, doula to the dying, end of life doulas, death midwives, than a doula, and end of life guides.

Due to the enormous number of the elder population, there is an overwhelming need for these services and support. Finding the right teacher and training program is one of the most important decisions you will make.

International Doulagivers Institute, founded by Suzanne O’Brien RN, providing the highest level of education and certification for the End of Life Doula. Our Doulagiver training is akin to the birth doula model: both help people transition to and from this world. Facilitating this process requires education, training and compassion. Our certified End of Life Doulas are a global community working as an adjunct to Hospice and providing care and guidance for patients and families at the end of life.

And you can find everything you need at Doulagivers, an internationally recognized leader in end of life training programs and care.

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Connie Ducaine, PhD, LPC, LCADC, Senior Vice President of Strategic Solutions, Vital Decisions

Dr. Connie Ducaine is the Senior Vice President of Strategic Solutions at Vital Decisions and started her career with the organization 9 years ago working directly with health plan members who were approaching end of life. Through her clinical work, Dr. Ducaine has witnessed the benefits of advance care planning and patient engagement. As a licensed professional counselor, Dr. Ducaine continues to support individuals who are coping with various mental health issues. Dr. Ducaine is recognized as a visionary leader and trusted advisor with long-term executive relationships focused on providing support and programming for counselor educators and supervisors in the state.

https://vitaldecisions.net

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