Thankful, Thoughtful Tuesdays 

Gratitude, enlightenment, peace, comfort. This was how participants described a Thankful, Thoughtful Tuesdays conversation about hospice and the process of dying. More aware, questions answered, learned a lot, thought provoking – these words described a discussion about the legal documents needed before you die. Better prepared for death, very helpful, interesting and lively – these described an exchange about preplanning funeral and memorial services.  

Many of us are afraid to have conversations about end-of-life issues; afraid they will be dark, dreary, morbid and sad. As the comments above show, at Thankful, Thoughtful Tuesdays, people feel the opposite. Thankful, Thoughtful Tuesdays is a six-week series where we’re thoughtful about planning ahead so we can be more thankful today. We hold death before us in a “seize the day” kind of way and invite you to live more fully now. For many of us the pandemic has brought the topics of dying, death and grief acutely into view. Join us to find some peace of mind for you and your loved ones.  

Thankful, Thoughtful Tuesdays is the brainchild of Sandy Schuckers with the Centre County Office of Aging, Holly Reigh, a hospice nurse and end-of-life doula, and me. This series has been held at the Active Adult Center, Bellefonte Senior Resource Center and various other locations around Centre County. This fall we’re offering it online and making it available to a wider audience. The sessions will be on a video conferencing platform every Tuesday from September 8 through October 13 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.

I will be the facilitator and our guest speakers will be Faith Lucchesi, an attorney with DeBoef Lucchesi; Holly Reigh, the executive director of 365 Hospice; and, F. Glenn Fleming, a funeral director and supervisor with Koch Funeral Home. The topics covered will be:

• what happens as we die and hospice;
• companioning ourselves and others through grief;
• appropriate legal documents;
• instructions to the funeral director;
• Have the Talk of a Lifetime, and;
• many more.

Attendance at all six sessions is encouraged but not required. You must reserve your spot by the Monday before each class. Space is limited.

Other upcoming programs include:

• Monday’s Moments Virtual Gatherings – Mondays, Septemer 14 and October 5 from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. Please RSVP by the Thursday before each gathering.
• Virtual Death Cafés - Mondays, September 21 and October 19 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
• Healing with Love Virtual Retreat - Friday, October 9 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Please RSVP by Monday, October 5.

For more information about all of these programs, visit the Koch Funeral Home website, Bereavement Gatherings and Events section under the Local Resources tab. All of these events are open to the public and space is limited.

Jackie Hook, MA, is a spiritual director, celebrant and end-of-life doula.  She coordinates the Helping Grieving Hearts Heal program through Koch Funeral Home in State College.  For more information, please call 814-237-2712 or visit www.kochfuneralhome.com.