Tuesday, October 8, 2019
The Before I Die New Mexico Festival fosters reflection about how we address death and dying. By providing space and opportunities to openly discuss end-of-life issues, we can improve the number of those who plan ahead and take actions to address our mortality. Most events are free, and attendees can enter a drawing to win burial plots at La Puerta Natural Burial Ground near Belen, cremation niches, comprehensive planner systems, and other end-of-life products and services.
Events will be held in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Taos, and Espanola, New Mexico. Events are subject to change without notice. The schedule will be available in print and online at www.BeforeIDieNM.com. If you’d like to request a printed version of the schedule mailed to you, please call 505.265.7215.
Attendees are welcome to visit the La Puerta Natural Burial Ground, located southeast of Belen, NM, any day during the Festival. For questions, call Donal Key at 505.716.2543 or Linda Canyon at 505.360.4480. Directions are available at www.NaturalBurialNewMexico.com.
FUNNY VIDEO FOR FESTIVAL PROMOTION
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3 –ALBUQUERQUE
11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Day of the Dead Celebration at Fairview Memorial Park, 700 Yale SE. PH: 505-933.4140. The public is invited to wear costumes and makeup celebrating Dia de los Muertos. A mariachi band will lead a parade through the cemetery, plus food trucks, face painting, muerto artwork, low riders on display, and a rosary walk in the park’s unique Rosary Garden.
TAOS 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Attend the first monthly series of Taos Death Cafés, co-hosted by Death Café U.S. pioneer Gail Rubin, CT, Wendy Shuey, end-of-life doula, and Reverend Susan Varon. Savory and sweet snacks will be offered. Taking place at Golden Willow (in-town office), 412 Sipapu Road, Taos. PH: 213.999.3790.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4 –TAOS
Events will take place at DeVargas Funeral Home, 1520 Paseo del Pueblo Sur, Taos PH: 575.300.5288
10:00 a.m. Play TheNewly-Dead Game® Individuals Edition, created by Gail Rubin, CT, TheDoyenne of Death®. She will also present “Lessons on Grief and Mourning inCartoons.”
11:30 a.m. to noon Mortuarytour – go behind the scenes at DeVargas Funeral Home and get your questionsanswered, from embalming to casketing and cremation to life celebrations.
Noon to 1:00 p.m. Q&Awith a Funeral Director – lunch will be provided.
1:15 to 2:15 p.m. Planning Workshop– An introduction to advance healthcare directives and The Conversation Projectby Jan Wilson.
2:30 to 3:30 p.m. ConcurrentWorkshops – Daniel Gaillour and Jane Westbrook speak on aging in place, JanWilson conducts a hands-on workshop preparing advance medical directives.
3:45 to 4:45 p.m. TheBenefits of Writing Letters to the Dead – Annie Mattingley, author of TheAfter Death Chronicles, demonstrates how common, healing and accessiblecontact with our deceased beloveds can be.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5 –ESPAÑOLA
Events will take place at DeVargas Funeral Home, 623 North Railroad Ave., Espanola PH: 505.747.7477
10:00 a.m. Play TheNewly-Dead Game® Individuals Edition, an innovative game created by GailRubin, The Doyenne of Death®. The questions and your answers will kickstart theDeath Café conversations immediately following.
11:30 a.m. to noon Mortuarytour – go behind the scenes at DeVargas Funeral Home and get your questionsanswered, from embalming to casketing and cremation to life celebrations.
Noon to 1:00 p.m. Q&Awith a Funeral Director – lunch will be provided.
1:15 to 2:15 p.m. Workshop– An introduction to advance healthcare directives and The Conversation Projectby Jan Wilson.
2:30 to 3:30 p.m. ConcurrentWorkshops – Daniel Gaillour and Jane Westbrook speak on aging in place, JanWilson conducts a hands-on workshop preparing advance medical directives.
3:45 to 5:00 p.m. Laughing inthe Face of Death: Funny Films for Funeral Planning – Gail Rubin, CT, TheDoyenne of Death®, presents comedy film clips that illustrate the benefits andimportance of preneed funeral planning. A funeral director answers yourquestions, too!
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6– SANTA FE
Events will take place at the Berardinelli McGee Life Event Center, 1399 Luisa Street, Santa Fe PH: 505.984.8600
9:00 a.m. Play The Newly-DeadGame® Individuals Edition, an innovative game created by Gail Rubin, TheDoyenne of Death®. The questions and your answers will kickstart the DeathCafé conversations immediately following.
10:00 a.m. to noon Workshop:Take Charge Now – The What, Why, Who and How of Advance Healthcare Directives.Jan Wilson with Compassion & Choices New Mexico Action Team teaches you howto control your medical care, especially regarding end-of-life issues.
Noon to 1:00 p.m. How to Write a Memorable Life Short Story: Petra Lina Orloff, president and CEO of Beloved, speaks onhow to write a personalized obituary that tells your life story in a memorableway.
1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. WhatIs a Death Doula? Learn about what death doulas do, with a panel of SantaFe doulas ChrisTina Simek, Jane Turner, Katharine Gates and others answeringyour questions.
2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. IsThere Life After Death? Explore different aspects of after-deathcommunications with Judith Fein, author of How to Communicate With The Dead,Annie Mattingley, author of The After Death Chronicles, Bethany Paix,Angels Helping Humans, and Andrea Campbell, therapist and moderator.
4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. EstatePlanning Issues Learn what you need to know before you go regarding wills,trusts, and other legal issues related to end-of-life with Jim Plitz, estateplanning attorney with Morris Hall, PLLC.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7– ALBUQUERQUE
Daytime events take place at Strong-Thorne Funeral Home, 1100 Coal Ave. SE, Albuquerque PH:505.842.8800
10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Mortuary Tour – go behind thescenes at Strong-Thorne Funeral Home, built in 1909.
11:15 to 12:15 Q&A with a Funeral Director
12:30 to 2:00 p.m. Death Café – open discussion over lunchprovided).
2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EstatePlanning Issues Learn what you need to know before you go regarding wills,trusts, and other legal issues related to end-of-life with Jim Plitz, estateplanning attorney with Morris Hall, PLLC.
3:00 to 4:00 p.m. How to Write a Memorable Life Short Story: Petra Lina Orloff, president and CEO of Beloved, speaks onhow to write a personalized obituary that tells your life story in a memorableway.
7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Millennial Morticians with ABQ Brews– A panel of young local funeral directors answer your questions about undertakingat Tractor Brewing Company Wells Park location, 1800 4th Street NW.Have a craft beer and join in the conversation!
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8 –ALBUQUERQUE
Events will take place at Sunset Memorial Park, 924 Menaul Blvd. NE, Albuquerque PH: 505.345.3536
10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Pet Crematory Tour – go behindthe scenes at Best Friends Pet Cremations and learn how French Funerals alsocares for the furry, finned and feathered members of your family.
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Death Café – open discussionover lunch (provided) in the Sunset House in Sunset Memorial Park.
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Crematory Tour – learn whatcremation involves and go behind the scenes to see what cremated remains looklike before they are removed from the retort. Location: The Chester T. FrenchMemorial Mausoleum Chapel.
3:30 to 5:00 p.m. Laughing in the Face of Death: FunnyFilms for Funeral Planning – Gail Rubin, CT, The Doyenne of Death®,presents comedy film clips that illustrate the benefits and importance ofpreneed funeral planning. A funeral director answers your questions, too!Location: The Chester T. French Memorial Mausoleum Chapel
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9– ALBUQUERQUE
8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. BeforeI Die NM Symposium
Classroom C, UNM ContinuingEducation North Building, 1634 University Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87131 Class19849 registration fee $29, register online through http://ce.unm.edu/osher/index.phpor call 505.277.0077.
This half-day symposium helps youaddress important aspects of life and death in these four sessions:
- 8:00 to 8:50 a.m. What Does It Feel Like to Die? Author and long-time hospice worker Jennie Dear demystifies death, how people think about dying, how to plan for the inevitable, and how to start a conversation.
- 9:00 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. Your Personal History: Learn how to do genealogy research to discover the roots of your family tree with writer/teacher/researcher Molly Shannon.
- 10:00 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. We Love Our Pets: A panel discussion of pet loss issues and how to plan ahead. Panelists are Ann Beyke, MA, pet loss counselor, Dr. Jeff Nichol, DVM, veterinarian, and Julie Keller with Best Friends Pet Cremations.
- 11:00 a.m. to noon The Funeral Director on Film: Learn the history of undertaking through film clips that trace the development of the industry in the United States and illuminate issues consumers need to know, presented by Gail Rubin, CT, The Doyenne of Death®.
Attendees will have theopportunity to connect with the symposium speakers and buy their books duringbreaks and at the end of the symposium. Festival sponsors will also offervaluable information at display tables around the room during the symposium.
Before I Die WallNoon to 4:00 p.m.Mortuary Mall and Before I Die Wall – Providers of caskets, urns, memorialmarkers and other funeral and cremation products will display items and answeryour questions. Complete the sentence, “Before I Die…” on the giant chalkboards at Sunset’s Cremation Garden Pavilion. Located at Sunset Memorial Park,924 Menaul NE. PH: 505.345.3536
1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Workshop: Take Charge Now – TheWhat, Why, Who and How of Advance Healthcare Directives. Jan Wilson withCompassion & Choices New Mexico Action Team teaches you how to control yourmedical care, especially regarding end-of-life issues. Located in the SunsetHouse at Sunset Memorial Park, 924 Menaul NE. PH: 505.345.3536
3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. WhatIs a Death Doula? Learn about what death doulas do, with this panel discussionwhere you can ask questions and get answers.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10 –ALBUQUERQUE
10:00 a.m. to 1:00p.m. Jewish Burial is Green Burial– Three one-hour sessions on green burial, a demonstration of the tahararitual, and a discussion about the spirits of the deceased. Taking place at theJewish Community Center of Greater Albuquerque, 5520 Wyoming Blvd. NE, Rooms103/104. PH: 505.332.0565
1:00 p.m. Movie: THE PRINCESS BRIDE at The Guild Cinema, 3405 Central Avenue NE. Famous for the line, “Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” We can all learn about preneed funeral planning from this classic comedy. Tickets $5-$8. PH: 505.255.1848
FESTIVAL CHARITABLE PARTNER
Wood caskets built by Fathers Building FuturesPart of the proceeds from Before I Die NM sponsorships will be donated to Fathers Building Futures, a 501c(3) nonprofit social enterprise that empowers formerly incarcerated parents by providing on-the-job workforce training and supports to enable sustainable futures for themselves and their families. The caskets they make in their woodworking shop are biodegradable and kosher for Jewish burials. A portion of sponsorship fees may be tax-deductible as charitable donations.
FESTIVAL SPONSORS
TheBefore I Die New Mexico Festival is made possible by:
Partners include the Berardinelli Family Funeral Service, Compassion & Choices NM Action Team, The Guild Cinema, obituary and eulogy writing service Beloved, mortality-reminder website TheBucket.com, end-of-life planning website LifeIZShort.com, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNM, and Tractor Brewing.
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Gail Rubin, CT, is author and host of the award-winning book and television series, A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Don’t Plan to Die, Hail and Farewell: Cremation Ceremonies, Templates and Tips, and KICKING THE BUCKET LIST: 100 Downsizing and Organizing Things to Do Before You Die.
Rubin is a Certified Thanatologist (that's a death educator) and a popular speaker who uses humor and films to get the end-of-life and funeral planning conversation started. She "knocked 'em dead" with her TEDx talk, A Good Goodbye. She provides continuing education credit classes for attorneys, doctors, nurses, social workers, hospice workers, financial planners, funeral directors and other professionals. She's a Certified Funeral Celebrant and funeral planning consultant who has been interviewed in national and local print, broadcast and online media.
Known as The Doyenne of Death®, she is the event coordinator of the Before I Die NM Festival. She also hosts A Good Goodbye Internet radio show and produces Mortality Minute radio and online video spots. Her YouTube Channel features more than 450 videos!
Rubin is a member of the Association for Death Education and Counseling, the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association, Toastmasters International and the National Speakers Association New Mexico Chapter. Her speaking profile is available at eSpeakers.com.
Gail Rubin has been interviewed about funeral planning issues in national and local broadcast, print and online media. Outlets include The Huffington Post, Money Magazine, Kiplinger, CBS Radio News, WGN-TV, and local affiliates for NPR, PBS, FOX, ABC-TV, CBS-TV and NBC-TV. Albuquerque Business First named her as one of their 2019 Women of Influence.
Sign up for a free planning form and occasional informative newsletter at her website, AGoodGoodbye.com.