Death with Beauty

Posted on May 5, 2010 by charlie

Welcome to my site.

This page is dedicated to exploring death as a beautiful,  positive and natural process.

Death is not The Enemy.

Neither is Grief.

The site was started after the death of my wife, Cynthia Sue Kissee, from cancer in November 2009.  She died at home, and we both did what we could to make her death process as beautiful and peaceful a time as we could.

I think we succeeded.

So, this site will serve as a resource and a place to explore making death a positive and beautiful event, facing it squarely and honestly, and dealing with it with love and integrity.

Again, welcome to my site.

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Complex Grief on Easter

Posted on April 24, 2011 by charlie

I am writing this on a quiet Easter Sunday.

I no longer think of myself as Christian, and have not been tuned into the Christian calendar for years, but this year I am feeling the weird death-rebirth, transformation tunnel effect of Easter weekend.

On Good Friday the air felt dead, empty, like there was light missing. I felt like hiding all day; something in me was changing deep inside, getting ready to emerge in a new way.

And now Easter morning, there is a distinct quiet light in the air, very peaceful. And, the emotion I am feeling is sadness, grief for Cindy. Continue reading →

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Anniversary Speech

Posted on April 18, 2011 by charlie

The following is a talk I gave at University Baptist Church in Dinkytown, around All Saints Day 2010, near the first anniversary of Cindy’s Death.

Doug Donley asked me to tell you about the memorial service we held for my wife Cindy here at UBC last October 11.  It was a celebration of the life, and the death, of Cindy Kissee.  Cindy was still alive and here with us during the memorial. And, it was indeed a joyous celebration.

Cindy was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer in late 2007.  In August 2009 treatment was discontinued, and Cindy moved into a home hospice program. I stayed at home with her until her death. Continue reading →

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