Comments on: Column: Letting Go

By: Merilynne Rush

Merilynne Rush — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 22:50:21 +0000

Dear Jo and Beth and Laura,
Thank you so much for sharing from the heart about this difficult topic so that others can know about the option to care for their own dead at home. It was a blessing to work with and learn from you all.
Sincerely,
Merilynne Rush

By: Susan Jones

Susan Jones — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 01:25:47 +0000

Such a beautiful story and loving message about embracing end of life with personal touches and dignity. This is a poignant and powerful column with many lessons to be garnered from the experiences Jo shared. Thank you for the lovely pictures and the narrative and your own personal reflection from a big loss in your own life. You are a person of much grace and courage, Jo Mathis, and I have known that about you and your wonderful family for a long time. It touches the Hospice heart in all of us and helps us to find and honor the voice that longs to do what feels right for the passing of loved ones. I will share this with a friend who is saying good-bye to his father as we speak. I will treasure your article and save it in my collection of things I hold most dear.
Love,
Susan

By: jo mathis

jo mathis — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:54:50 +0000

I was so touched by the way Sharon Bailey’s daughters handled her passing, and can’t imagine a more loving tribute.
No matter what kind of arrangements a family chooses, It’s important to talk about it before the death so a plan is in place when everything seems surreal. My parents had decided upon – and paid for – cremation years ago. Following my father’s death, I simply took my mother to the funeral home where the director kindly dealt with the death certificate and a few other details. It was simple and peaceful.
Too many people have told me they were shocked by a final bill for funeral home services, which weren’t exactly what they wanted anyhow. We much preferred greeting friends at the church just before the funeral, for instance, which is an option some people may not consider.

By: Nathan Smith

Nathan Smith — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 18:52:58 +0000

What an illuminating article. I am Sharon Bailey’s nephew and I have to say that the way that Sharon’s passing was handled has changed my perspective on the “appropriate way” of handling the death of a loved one. I’m encouraged to see a wonderful alternative that can help a family process the grief in a more personal, intimate way.

By: Linda Diane Feldt

Linda Diane Feldt — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 21:59:42 +0000

Spending a few hours with my mom right were she fell when she died turned out to be an incredibly valuable part of the grieving. It was on the floor of her living room. I have always regretted that we let the crematorium take her before my brother was able to arrive, as does he. My sister, my father and I had an experience of completion that he never got.
I’m so glad that Sharon’s death is helping others consider options and take more control of the end of life. Merrilyn also did an excellent presentation at A2 Ignite on the same topic.

By: Mary Morgan

Mary Morgan — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 21:59:31 +0000

Beth, thanks for your kind comment, and for sharing your experiences with Chronicle readers, via Jo. My sincere apologies for the inaccurate description in the photo caption – I wrote the caption, and it was my misunderstanding.

Having lost my own mother almost exactly a year ago, this column resonated with me, as I’m sure it will with many others. Thanks again for allowing us to see that there are alternatives for families that confront the death of a loved one, and that we don’t have to accept – if we don’t want to – the status quo.

By: Beth Barbeau

Beth Barbeau — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 21:44:56 +0000

Thank you, Jo, for sharing your own experience so eloquently. And also for your fine writing job about an emotional & complexed topic. I am comforted to find our story being shared with the greater public, and for your grace in the telling. To others reading the story, in the first photo of the family with Sharon in bed, this was actually taken a few weeks BEFORE her death – she’s still quite alive in this photo of our everyday life with Hospice in the midst.

Thanks also to the AA Chronicle for publishing this special article!