Genevieve Keeney-Vazquez, the president and CEO of the National Museum of Funeral History, interviews Bridget Caletka, a grief counselor with Mosaics of Mercy.

During this conversation, they talk about the importance of face-to-face communication in a technology-driven society. From the stages of grief to the various forms of grief, Genevieve and Bridget explore the topic of grief and societal attitudes from it.

Plan your visit to the museum today at nmfh.org and take a journey through over 30,000 square feet of fascinating history.

Subscribe to The Final Curtain Never Closes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Follow Mosaics of Mercy on Facebook and Instagram.

Takeaways

1.) There are different types of counselors, such as psychologists and licensed professional counselors, who provide talk therapy and address mental health struggles.

2.) In a technology-driven society, face-to-face communication is becoming less common, leading to a loss of interpersonal connection and empathy.

3.) Grief is a natural response to loss and can take many forms, including the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, or the end of a relationship.

4.) The stages of grief, as described by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, include denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance, although they may not occur in a linear fashion.

5.) Grief is a universal experience, and it is important to recognize and support individuals who are grieving.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Different Types of Counselors
06:14 Exploring the Stages and Forms of Grief
32:12 Favorite Exhibits at the National Museum of Funeral History
42:08 The Importance of Supporting Those Who Are Grieving

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What role does technology play in end-of-life planning?

Niki Weiss joins the podcast to discuss the intersection of technology and death planning. Niki emphasizes the importance of managing our digital footprint before death, tackling legal, financial, physical, and digital aspects in life planning. She presents real-world scenarios like the disruption caused by unprepared digital assets, inviting critical reflection on sudden mortality's challenges.

Explore more about the transformative impact of digital planning at ENDevo and Niki's podcast, Death and Dying in the Digital Age.

Plan your visit to the museum today at nmfh.org and take a journey through over 30,000 square feet of fascinating history.

Subscribe to The Final Curtain Never Closes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Key Takeaways

1.Niki emphasizes the importance of managing one's digital footprint as part of holistic end-of-life planning. This includes legal, financial, physical, and digital aspects of life.

2. The conversation highlights how technology, like the My Final Playbook app and digital vaults, plays a crucial role in organizing personal information, making it easier for loved ones to handle affairs post-death.

3. Situations like sudden accidents can create chaos if there's no plan for digital assets. Setting up legacy contacts on devices ensures that loved ones have access to important information.

4. The introduction of AI agents like Grace Evergrace in the funeral industry is changing how services are accessed and enhancing efficiency, allowing for better management of intake processes and data.

5. The discussion underscores creating a digital legacy that resonates with family, such as using QR codes on headstones to access personal stories, which can provide comfort and continuity to grieving loved ones.

Timestamped Overview

00:00 Holistic End-of-Life Planning

05:13 Digital Legacy and Access Challenges

09:01 Navigating Probate and End-of-Life Decisions

09:54 Palliative Nursing and Family Vigilance

15:15 Video Remembrance Heals Grief

17:46 Distracted by Urgent Hospice Call

20:34 AI-Assisted Funeral Planning

23:19 Service Recommendations for Terminal Care

26:45 Black Mirror's Tech Predictions

33:07 Plan for Life's End

35:32 The Importance of Legacy Planning

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Barbara Kemmis serves as the Executive Director of Cremation Association of North America (CANA).

During this episode, we discuss her unlikely path to working in the cremation industry (she was a librarian), as well as technological advances that will leave you in awe. Among these are water cremations.

Learn more about CANA HERE.

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Plan your visit to the museum today!

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