Plan Your After-Death Care | April 23, 2017

Sukha Yoga, downtown Guelph
​$125. 1pm to 4pm

Join us for a heart-centred and informative workshop to learn about after-death ceremony options and options for what happens with your body.​

Through presentation, personal reflection and group discussion we will explore questions such as, "How do I keep my ceremony simple and economical?", "What eco-friendly burial options are available in the Guelph area?", and "How do I talk to my loved ones about my end-of-life wishes?" Relieve the burden of decision making from your loved ones, save them the worries of “Is this what my loved one would have wanted?” Give them more space to focus on their grief and the other arrangements that need to be taken care of at death. 

Most of us don’t think about our death very often, but more and more people are recognizing the need to plan for their after-death care -- and they’re wondering how to go about it. Enter local death care advocates Ingrid Ng and Christine Lafazanos, who will walk you through your after-death care options, and help you document your decisions to share with your loved ones.

There is a shift happening in the way funerals, memorials, and end-of-life celebrations are done. Many of us are rewriting the rules, and creating new traditions and rituals that speak to us, serve our needs, bring our community together, and are an appropriate fit for the person who has died. Too many of us have stories of attending funeral services that left something to be desired—too many impersonal, cookie-cutter services devoid of the vibrant life of the person whose life is being celebrated and whose loss is being mourned. Instead it’s possible to create ceremonies that are filled with stories, that have room for celebration and laughter, which accurately reflect the beliefs, values and personality of the person who died.

Similarly, our options for what happens with our bodies when we die are diversifying and new methods of returning the body to the earth are emerging. Many of us are seeking greener options, and seeking options that are community-based and which involve our families and loved ones. We no longer want to shy away from death and instead can see that healing and celebration are possible when loved ones are directly involved in the care of the body.

In this workshop you’ll be able to learn from the experience of two local women trained in deathcare. Facilitated by Death Doula Ingrid Ng ([email protected]) and Celebrant Christine Lafazanos. Ingrid is a Death Doula and a graduate of the Beyond Yonder Virtual School for Community Deathcaring. She believes that death can be a life-affirming and community-building event, and aims to provide gentle, empowering support to individuals and families in the transition from life to death. Christine is a Celebrant with Woven Threads – Handcrafted Ceremonies where she creates custom, story-filled funeral, wedding and life-cycle ceremonies. Christine is passionate about supporting community members to mark life’s milestones and transitions through meaningful and healing ritual and ceremony.

The workshop location is the beautiful Sukha Yoga Centre conveniently located downtown Guelph at 42 Wyndham St N, Unit 103, beside IF footwear in St George’s Square. An open studio space filled with natural light is the calming container for our exploration. Sukha is a physically accessible space with accessible, gender neutral washrooms. This is a scent-free facility so please refrain from wearing perfumes, colognes, or other scented products. Tea and light snacks will be available. Closest bus stops are in St George’s square. Free street parking is available downtown (Cork St and Quebec St are the closest options).

The fee for the workshop is $125. A limited number of sliding scale spaces are available; please contact Ingrid at [email protected] if you’re interested. Space is limited, we suggest you register early. Pre-register required, sign up via Eventbrite. Contact organizers if you need other payment options (i.e. payment by cheque).

This workshop is well suited to adults of any age and any stage of life. Open to all spiritual or religious beliefs or non-beliefs. This space is welcoming to LGBTQ+ folks and people of all genders. This is a death positive space—come prepared for open and direct conversations about death and dying.

We do not intend to cover other important aspects of death, such as the following: advanced directives, wills and executor duties; estate planning and financial decisions; and physician-assisted death.  These important topics may come up in our discussions; they are not central to the purpose of this workshop.

Contact Ingrid with questions or media inquiries at 519-803-9126

​Register for the workshop at Eventbrite