CELEBRATE YOURSELF
– By Suzanne Soto-Davies
A series of unfortunate events have circled our family over
the past three months. Injuries, accidents, illnesses, and one
very painful death in the family.
She was diagnosed with cancer and passed away six weeks
later. It was probably one of the most painful things our family
has even gone through, and we needed somehow how unite –
to come together and remember her the way she had requested:
A ‘Celebration of Life’. She wanted her family together, she
wanted her life to be celebrated – not her passing.
We exchanged memories, tears, and laughter, and we danced
together – the room was filled with her presence and beautiful
memories. Her son played the violin, her nieces sang, we
prayed together and did a toast. All in the name of her love.
There is a stigma with the topic of death: Don’t think about
it, don’t plan it, don’t even talk about it! This experience made
me realize that there is nothing wrong with the discussion
and how planning an event such as this one, actually brings
people together in healing.
It’s never easy to talk about the passing of a loved one, but
this is not a sad write up, because this occasion was the most
beautiful family gathering I think I’ve EVER experienced – so
much so, that I had to share it. One day at a time, of course, and celebrating one’s life in
such a powerful way, has such healing way about it that it
makes it more bearable to lean on each others’ shoulders.
It’s about gathering everyone’s memories and sharing them.
Our home was decorated with the paintings she had done
through the years; the crafts she created for family occasions;
the sculptures she designed for friends and family... some of
her favourite songs played, her favourite foods displayed,
flowers everywhere. It was truly breathtaking! How would you like to be remembered? For her, I know we
will all remember her through our moments with her, her
life’s experiences and through this last moment we gathered
together as a family, in her name. We celebrated her, and
those were her wishes.•
WISH workbook:
“What If Something Happens?”
Record your most important, personal
information in one complete workbook:
“When my mom had
an aneurysm,
doctors needed to
help her immediately,
and we knew nothing!”
– Suzanne Soto-Davies, author
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Printed version: Computer version:
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Peace of mind for your family, and your future.
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