One way to deal with death is through comedy. Chelsea Lately, an American late night comedy talk show host on the E! network is notable for her sarcastic approach to anything serious – including death. Chuy Bravo, her assistant, participates with Lately in this particular episode, where Lately tries on a casket on for size as well as some funeral make-up.
Outside the slapstick (and bad lipstick in the second half of the video), note that the funeral director suggests cremation rather than burial (to which Chuy responds, “I told you before – I’m afraid of fire.”), an option that many funeral homes today are pushing. In this video, however, Lately seems to push the funeral director almost into fits of laughter, if not into downright shock.
The final decision is a casket, along with a DJ and pony rides for kids. Unfortunately, the funeral director states he has no control over a slight drizzle or rain as a mood setter for the funeral, nor does he have a rain machine. But, he did make it through the comedy routine.
Do you want to learn more about aspects of death and dying, but don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for a college course? Take advantage of open courseware, then. These courses, offered by major universities, government entities and businesses, are courses offered online. While they offer little to no credit, they’re free and you can learn at your own pace.
With the waxing popularity of hospice care for end-of-lfe support and health care, many hospitals, hospice or palliative care services and nursing homes are 
If you become the beneficiary of a life insurance policy, you must file a claim to receive any money. This task could be as simple is contacting an insurance agent and filing some paperwork. But, if this is all you do, you may eventually discover that you have missed out on other benefits to which you are entitled. If you spend time finding hidden policies, you may uncover more money than you expected.
Did you shiver when you saw the image at left? You may know, in your head, that the odds of dying on Tuesday are slim to none (we hope!), but superstitions are hard to shake sometimes. A superstition usually is a belief or notion that is not based upon reason or knowledge. Since death is the “great unknown,” death, dying and funerals became prime candidates for superstitious beliefs, even among educated people. Many superstitions, if believed across a wide range of population for a period of time, may become rituals.
During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, newspaper obituaries were flowery affairs and often contained poems and quotes. The writers would eulogize the deceased in terms that often described angels, even when some knew that that person was far from angelic. Today, price and space limit the obituary to a matter-of-fact short blurb that barely allows the family to let others know about the deceased’s character.
I was young when my grandmother died, but I remember clearly how I felt. I was sad, but mostly I was scared. I didn’t know what had happened, and – in my family – children were the last ones to know about details. That experience finally led me to counseling, which was a great move. You see, that counseling taught me how to talk about death with my own daughter.
If your loved one is dying, there are many things you can do to help ease their physical transition from life to death. One option is to hire a caregiver who will provide help for you and your loved one. And, yes, you can take an active role in providing care for your loved one during the final days, no matter where that loved one spends those last days.
If you’re familiar with the