Dust to Dust: Surrounding Death with Care
Schedule
Sun Nov 02 2025 at 01:00 pm to 05:00 pm
UTC-05:00Location
48 Elm St, Northampton, MA, United States, Massachusetts 01060 | Northampton, MA
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Please join us the afternoon of All Saints' Sunday, November 2nd, for our second annual Dust to Dust panel and workshop!Come together in a supportive environment to learn more about what one might encounter around the end of life and how to prepare for it. Come for yourself, loved ones, or to be supportive to your community as a whole. Held within spiritual community, this event is open to people of all backgrounds and faith journeys.
Workshops:
Spiritual Matters: Planning Your Funeral, Memorial Service, or Celebration of Life (led by Rev. Anna Woofenden, rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church, and Pastor Sarah Buteux, lead pastor of First Churches of Northampton)
In this workshop we will talk through together why one may want to plan their memorial service in advance and how that can be a gift for loved ones. We will go over the many different ways that memorial gatherings can look, think through together what is important to you, and provide you with planning forms you can complete and put in your files.
Legal Matters: Wills, Power of Attorney, and Legacy Giving (led by Valerie Vignaux, Esq., Vignaux Law)
In this workshop, you will receive practical guidance on the main areas of estate planning: wills, trusts, power of attorney, guardianship, healthcare directives, beneficiaries, and charitable giving.
Understanding Advance Directives (a conversation with Kate Atkinson, M.D., Atkinson Family Practice)
This workshop provides practical guidance on creating and discussing advance directives to ensure that healthcare wishes are honored. Led by a physician, participants will gain insight into medical decision-making, communication with care teams, and how to document preferences for future end of life care with clarity and confidence.
The Words You Leave: Writing your Obituary (with literary agent Linda Roghaar & writer Jean Stone)
We will read sample obituaries, talk about the importance of obituaries, cover crucial pieces of information to include (and in what order), and think about different ways to tell your story in your own words.
Burial Options and Opportunities (with Chris Powers, manager & lead funeral director at Ahearn Funeral Home and Dina Stander, end-of-life navigator at Signs of Life)
Explore the range of after-death care options while led by two experts from the field discussing traditional and alternative arrangements: green burials, cremation, shrouding, home funerals, and emerging eco-friendly practices. Participants will gain practical insights to help them and their families make informed, meaningful choices that reflect personal values and wishes.
Navigating the End of Life Landscape (with Liz Short, LICSW, Geriatric Clinical Social Worker and Death Doula, Eldercarewiz, LLC)
This workshop explores the intersection of social work practice and death doula care in supporting individuals and families through the end-of-life journey. Participants will learn holistic approaches to emotional, psychosocial, and spiritual support, emphasizing dignity, empowerment, and compassionate presence during life’s final stages.
To reserve tickets, please visit stjohnsnorthampton.org or go directly to https://square.link/u/7XasLRTD
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Where is it happening?
48 Elm St, Northampton, MA, United States, Massachusetts 01060Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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