’Til death do us part…

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This article was published 16/09/2019 (2597 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

“Talking about death won’t kill you,” says Crescentwood resident Kay Gardiner.

Society’s last taboo topic of conversation is the focus of Inquiring Minds, a week-long exploration of death, dying and grief organized by Gardiner and Liz Redston and hosted by Crescentwood’s First Unitarian Universalist Church of Winnipeg (603 Wellington Cres.) from Oct. 26 to Nov. 3.

Open to all, this forum was inspired by the belief that the time has come for people of all ages to come to terms and be comfortable with the inevitable.

Leading up to Dialogue on Death Week, free events include a public movie night on Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. featuring A Family Undertaking.  

On Oct. 7 there will be a Reflection Room display of a touring exhibit of stories about death. On Sat., Oct. 19 at 6 p.m. there will be an open potluck for Death Over Dinner with Community Death Care Canada as part of the national Swan Song event day.

Redston says that “by normalizing conversations about death, dying and grief, we can live better if we do death well.”  

Bonnie Thiessen, event volunteer, pastoral care co-ordinator and death doula, couldn’t agree more based on her observations in working with people on this painful journey.

Thiessen says that “many people are paralyzed by fear of the unknown, so by inviting folks to learn and talk together, I anticipate participants will come away with a much better perspective on end-of-life issues.”

On Oct. 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the public can view resources from support groups, agencies and businesses and from 5 to 9 p.m. there is a free showing of the movie Coco, with a potluck supper and conversation after. During the church service on Sun., Oct. 27 the Comfort Choir will perform, followed by a discussion at noon.

The week will conclude with an All Souls Day service on Sun., Nov. 2 followed by a soup lunch.

“I believe we are better people when we share our experiences with others,” Gardiner says. “By helping to create time, place and space for people from all walks of life to talk openly in our safe environment about this universal experience will give the message that you are heard and that we care.”       

Heather Emberley is a community correspondent for Crescentwood. Email her at heather.emberley@gmail.com if you have a story suggestion.