On November 2, 2019, Iona Senior Services in Washington, DC hosted the area’s first End of Life Expo. I was honored to have been invited to have a booth there and met so many wonderful people. The event was completely sold out.
One hundred and fifty, mostly seniors, attended the day-long expo. It was inspiring to see so many taking an active part in the learning…and reclaiming their end of life.
There were 12 workshops in total. During the lunch break, guests were invited into the church across the street for box lunches and meeting more than 20 vendors, ranging from hospice care to me!
I sat in a few workshops. One that really resonated with me was given by a representative from AARP. He gave great examples of ways to tell our life story now — personal website, video snippets, a music video, or journaling.
He also talked about writing our own obituaries. Having researched and pieced together the history of my stepfather (a true pioneer in DC history), I can tell you this can be a daunting task. Please take some time to write down what is important to YOU about your life — your milestones, your memories, your cherished moments.
Another workshop was a lively discussion about alternatives few know yet: home funerals, home body washing, and green burials. These services empower families to take back something that was once a sacred family event.
This was my first big leap into showcasing my business, which is a funeral industry disruptor. I couldn’t have been met with more open arms by people literally called to this work. This is something people want — alternatives.
My apologies for such a boring photo. I was having too much fun taking it all in.
To read more: https://www.iona.org/community-members-embrace-ionas-end-of-life-
expo/