Talk Death Delaware — Conversations on Death, Grief & End-of-Life in the First State

Today's conversation is with Dan, who cared full-time for his father. The conversation touches on caring for a parent with dementia, lessons learned, finding purpose through the experience, the practical and emotional challenges of caring for an ageing person. Dan's advice and philosophy can help anyone dealing with the same issues.Death touches all of us, but we don’t have to face it alone. Talk Death Delaware fosters open, honest conversations about death, grief, and living with intention.If this episode was meaningful to you, please consider sharing it or leaving a review—it helps others find these conversations when they need them most.Contact me with your story at [email protected] The Good Death Doula on Facebook or return_ofthe_native_Delaware on Instagram for photos.

Author Lori D'Angelo talks about her inspiration for writing, and during our conversation, the subject of death and dying as it is affected by the health care system came up. This interview was done for The Kaidankai Podcast of Ghost and Supernatural stories. Her story will be read on June 10th. The Kaidankai is on every major podcast platform, and you can find Lori's story when it is uploaded, the most recent story, and podcast links on the webpage.Death touches all of us, but we don’t have to face it alone. Talk Death Delaware fosters open, honest conversations about death, grief, and living with intention.If this episode was meaningful to you, please consider sharing it or leaving a review—it helps others find these conversations when they need them most.Contact me with your story at [email protected] The Good Death Doula on Facebook or return_ofthe_native_Delaware on Instagram for photos.

In this heartfelt episode of Talk Death Delaware, I talk with award-winning bilingual children’s author Adriana Camacho-Church about how storytelling can help us navigate grief, loss, and emotional healing.Adriana shares the inspiration behind her book Grandma, Where Will Your Love Go?, a moving story that helps children understand death through the lens of love, nature, and connection. Drawing from her own experiences—growing up between cultures and losing her grandmother—Adriana discusses how grief can transform into resilience, purpose, and even peace.Together, they dive into:How children process grief and lossWhy books can be powerful tools for emotional expressionThe role of culture, spirituality, and nature in healingHow love continues beyond death in ways we can still feelThis episode offers comfort, insight, and a fresh perspective on one of life’s most difficult conversations—reminding us that love is never truly lost.Death touches all of us, but we don’t have to face it alone. Talk Death Delaware fosters open, honest conversations about death, grief, and living with intention.If this episode was meaningful to you, please consider sharing it or leaving a review—it helps others find these conversations when they need them most.Contact me with your story at [email protected] The Good Death Doula on Facebook or return_ofthe_native_Delaware on Instagram for photos.

In this episode of Talk Death Delaware, we sit down with Heather Nickerson and Matt Ramsey of Artifcts, a platform designed to preserve the meaning behind the things we own.Heather and Matt share how Artifcts helps individuals and families document memories, capture personal histories, and create lasting digital legacies. From caregiving realities to generational shifts in what we value, this conversation dives into how we can preserve what truly matters—without holding onto everything.If you’re interested in legacy planning, end-of-life conversations, decluttering with purpose, or the future of memory preservation, this episode offers a thoughtful and deeply human perspective.Learn more at https://artifcts.comDeath touches all of us, but we don’t have to face it alone. Talk Death Delaware fosters open, honest conversations about death, grief, and living with intention.If this episode was meaningful to you, please consider sharing it or leaving a review—it helps others find these conversations when they need them most.Contact me with your story at [email protected] The Good Death Doula on Facebook or return_ofthe_native_Delaware on Instagram for photos.

In this Word on the Street Delaware episode of Talk Death Delaware, I’m joined by LB of Newark, Delaware for an honest, darkly humorous, and deeply human conversation about death, family, and what happens when preparation falls short.We talk about the real-world confusion families face with hospice care and morphine administration, and how not knowing what to do in end-of-life moments can add trauma to an already devastating loss. LB shares experiences living through two deeply traumatic deaths, and how those moments reshaped his understanding of responsibility, grief, and family dynamics.We also dig into why having a single executor matters, what happens when families don’t work together after a parent’s death, and how sometimes one person becomes the glue holding everyone together.Along the way, LB brings his signature black humor, stories from life on the road, and insights gained while driving his unforgettable ambulance converted into a camper, complete with a “Refrigerated Cadaver Transport” sticker.This episode is raw, local, and very Delaware—exploring life and death on the road, inside families, and in the spaces no one talks about enough.Death touches all of us, but we don’t have to face it alone. Talk Death Delaware fosters open, honest conversations about death, grief, and living with intention.If this episode was meaningful to you, please consider sharing it or leaving a review—it helps others find these conversations when they need them most.Contact me with your story at [email protected] The Good Death Doula on Facebook or return_ofthe_native_Delaware on Instagram for photos.

In this episode of Talk Death Delaware, we have an honest and deeply reflective conversation about aging, grief, and mortality. I speak with Mike Ingram, a nearly 70-year-old Delaware resident, about how thinking about death changes as we get older and how loss stays with us over time.Mike shares his experiences around the tragic death of his son, the loss of his brothers, and the anticipation of losing a brother-in-law. We explore how grief evolves but never fully disappears, why families often struggle to talk openly about death, and how different beliefs about what happens after death shape the way we live.This episode highlights why talking about death and dying matters—how these conversations can help us live more intentionally, prepare for end-of-life decisions, and support one another through loss. Talk Death Delaware brings death out of the shadows and into everyday conversation, where it belongs.Death touches all of us, but we don’t have to face it alone. Talk Death Delaware fosters open, honest conversations about death, grief, and living with intention.If this episode was meaningful to you, please consider sharing it or leaving a review—it helps others find these conversations when they need them most.Contact me with your story at [email protected] The Good Death Doula on Facebook or return_ofthe_native_Delaware on Instagram for photos.

In this episode of Talk Death Delaware, we explore why cemeteries matter—through personal memories, genealogy, data analysis, and the emotional experience of visiting graves.What begins as a simple question—“Do you like cemeteries?”—unfolds into a thoughtful reflection on how places of burial become sites of history, curiosity, and meaning over time. From childhood visits to Civil War cemeteries, to an American military cemetery in Luxembourg, to quiet evenings spent in Newark’s M.E. Cemetery, this episode traces how repeated encounters with cemeteries shaped a deeper way of seeing them. Along the way, we look at cemeteries as data sources for historical and genealogical research, places where family relationships, social class, and community history are written into the landscape.As life brings more personal loss, cemeteries also become spaces of empathy and imagination—where we reflect on grief, sudden death, and the stories behind the names on the stones. This episode offers a gentle, personal meditation on why cemeteries resonate with us, blending history, research, and emotional insight.For "Word on the Street" chats, I don't include the name of the person speaking so they can speak freely,  openly, and honestly about their experiences. Death touches all of us, but we don’t have to face it alone. Talk Death Delaware fosters open, honest conversations about death, grief, and living with intention.If this episode was meaningful to you, please consider sharing it or leaving a review—it helps others find these conversations when they need them most.Contact me with your story at [email protected] The Good Death Doula on Facebook or return_ofthe_native_Delaware on Instagram for photos.

Human composting is reshaping how we think about death—driven by grassroots demand for meaningful, environmentally responsible alternative to casket and flame cremation. This episode explores why families are seeking new options, how human composting fits into the funeral director’s toolbox, and the creative, deeply personal ways people are returning loved ones to the earth as perspectives on death continue to evolve across generations. Mandy Stafford of Return Home, one of the three major companies that offer families human composting, officially known as Natural Organic Reduction. Mandy is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in Minnesota and Wisconsin. She explains why it is a growing choice among Americans and how it changes our way of grieving, and how Delawareans can opt in.For more information, visit the Return Home website or contact Faries Funeral Home, which offers this service through a different company. For more information or to have a conversation on Talk Death Delaware, contact me atThe Good Death DoulaDeath touches all of us, but we don’t have to face it alone. Talk Death Delaware fosters open, honest conversations about death, grief, and living with intention.If this episode was meaningful to you, please consider sharing it or leaving a review—it helps others find these conversations when they need them most.Contact me with your story at [email protected] The Good Death Doula on Facebook or return_ofthe_native_Delaware on Instagram for photos.

Kim Adams is deeply involved with the Omega Home Network, community homes for the dying that offer a compassionate alternative for individuals and families facing the caregiver crisis so many of us know all too well. Kim shares the origins of this model, why these homes fill a crucial gap in end-of-life support, and what it might take to bring a community home for the dying to Delaware.Omega Home Network: https://www.omegahomenetwork.orgFor more information or to have a conversation on Talk Death Delaware, contact me atThe Good Death DoulaDeath touches all of us, but we don’t have to face it alone. Talk Death Delaware fosters open, honest conversations about death, grief, and living with intention.If this episode was meaningful to you, please consider sharing it or leaving a review—it helps others find these conversations when they need them most.Contact me with your story at [email protected] The Good Death Doula on Facebook or return_ofthe_native_Delaware on Instagram for photos.

Robert Timblin talks about the history of Faries Funeral Home in Smyrna, the oldest funeral home in Delaware, his decision to offer Natural Organic Reduction, and embalming.Faries Funeral Home: https://www.fariesfuneralhomes.comFor more information, contact me atThe Good Death DoulaDeath touches all of us, but we don’t have to face it alone. Talk Death Delaware fosters open, honest conversations about death, grief, and living with intention.If this episode was meaningful to you, please consider sharing it or leaving a review—it helps others find these conversations when they need them most.Contact me with your story at [email protected] The Good Death Doula on Facebook or return_ofthe_native_Delaware on Instagram for photos.

For "Word on the Street" chats, I don't include the name of the person speaking so they can speak freely,  openly, and honestly about their experiences. Today, I read a comment by a woman who heard Emma Heming Willis talk about the stress of being a caregiver. Death touches all of us, but we don’t have to face it alone. Talk Death Delaware fosters open, honest conversations about death, grief, and living with intention.If this episode was meaningful to you, please consider sharing it or leaving a review—it helps others find these conversations when they need them most.Contact me with your story at [email protected] The Good Death Doula on Facebook or return_ofthe_native_Delaware on Instagram for photos.

For "Word on the Street" chats, I don't include the name of the person speaking so they can speak freely,  openly, and honestly about their experiences. Today, a woman talks about the importance of having a positive attitude toward death and sustainable options.Death touches all of us, but we don’t have to face it alone. Talk Death Delaware fosters open, honest conversations about death, grief, and living with intention.If this episode was meaningful to you, please consider sharing it or leaving a review—it helps others find these conversations when they need them most.Contact me with your story at [email protected] The Good Death Doula on Facebook or return_ofthe_native_Delaware on Instagram for photos.

For "Word on the Street" chats, I don't include the name of the person speaking so they can speak freely,  openly, and honestly about their experiences. Today, a man explains the deaths of his grandparents and how it was sad, but also beautiful.Death touches all of us, but we don’t have to face it alone. Talk Death Delaware fosters open, honest conversations about death, grief, and living with intention.If this episode was meaningful to you, please consider sharing it or leaving a review—it helps others find these conversations when they need them most.Contact me with your story at [email protected] The Good Death Doula on Facebook or return_ofthe_native_Delaware on Instagram for photos.

Christos Phillipou is the owner of Pet Aquamation Delaware. Aquamation, or alkaline hydrolysis, is a water-based alternative to cremation. It uses a gentle mix of water, heat, and alkali to break down the body, leaving behind only bones and a nutrient-rich liquid. It's considered more environmentally friendly than flame cremation due to lower energy use and no emissions.Christos shares what inspired him to bring this gentle, water-based process to Delaware and why it matters—for both grieving families and the planet.For more information, contact me atThe Good Death DoulaDeath touches all of us, but we don’t have to face it alone. Talk Death Delaware fosters open, honest conversations about death, grief, and living with intention.If this episode was meaningful to you, please consider sharing it or leaving a review—it helps others find these conversations when they need them most.Contact me with your story at [email protected] The Good Death Doula on Facebook or return_ofthe_native_Delaware on Instagram for photos.

The first in a series of short conversations with people I meet about death and dying.For more information, contact me atThe Good Death Doulaor email me at [email protected] to Pixabay for the music by Oleg Kyrylkovv that opens and closes this podcast.Death touches all of us, but we don’t have to face it alone. Talk Death Delaware fosters open, honest conversations about death, grief, and living with intention.If this episode was meaningful to you, please consider sharing it or leaving a review—it helps others find these conversations when they need them most.Contact me with your story at [email protected] The Good Death Doula on Facebook or return_ofthe_native_Delaware on Instagram for photos.

Chris Lorence is a financial services consultant who lives in beautiful Bethany Beach, but he grew up on a Maryland farm, then spent years living and working in Virginia before returning to rural life on a different Maryland farm. Chris talks about his decision to choose Natural Organic Reduction (NOR), also known as body composting, for when he dies. Delaware passed legislation allowing NOR in 2024 and it should be available to consumers from June 2025, although there are not many funeral homes that have said they will offer it. You can find out more information about NOR at Recompose and Return Home.For more information, contact me atThe Good Death DoulaDeath touches all of us, but we don’t have to face it alone. Talk Death Delaware fosters open, honest conversations about death, grief, and living with intention.If this episode was meaningful to you, please consider sharing it or leaving a review—it helps others find these conversations when they need them most.Contact me with your story at [email protected] The Good Death Doula on Facebook or return_ofthe_native_Delaware on Instagram for photos.

Penny Rogers is a co-founder of Face the Facts DE, a grassroots movement made up of individuals and organizations within the recovery community. Their fundraising efforts not only help families cremate loved ones lost to overdose, but also support a wide range of needs within the community. In this podcast, we talk about the loss of her son, the mission of the organization, and the lingering stigma surrounding addiction and substance use—all shared through the lens of Penny’s incredible optimism and the poetic language that defines her spirit.In the outro, I mention the Spiral Cemetery at Farnhurst, an institution that cared for and cares for the mentally ill. You can listen to it here.Websites to VisitFace The FactsThe Cemetery ChroniclesThe Good Death DoulaDeath touches all of us, but we don’t have to face it alone. Talk Death Delaware fosters open, honest conversations about death, grief, and living with intention.If this episode was meaningful to you, please consider sharing it or leaving a review—it helps others find these conversations when they need them most.Contact me with your story at [email protected] The Good Death Doula on Facebook or return_ofthe_native_Delaware on Instagram for photos.

On April 18, 2024, the Delaware House passed House Bill 140 The Ron Silverio/Heather Block End-of-Life Options Act, which gives terminally ill patients a chance to leave this world in peace and comfort.Heather Pope of Compassion & Choices discusses the bill's history and why it is an important option for Delawareans.Heather Pope is the Delaware Campaign Manager for Compassion & Choices. She works within communities and state legislatures advocating for expanded end-of-life options. Heather leads her organization's efforts to pass medical aid in dying legislation in Delaware, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.Delaware's Senate will vote on the bill before the end of June. Visit here to contact your Senator and voice your support for this important end-of-life option.Death touches all of us, but we don’t have to face it alone. Talk Death Delaware fosters open, honest conversations about death, grief, and living with intention.If this episode was meaningful to you, please consider sharing it or leaving a review—it helps others find these conversations when they need them most.Contact me with your story at [email protected] The Good Death Doula on Facebook or return_ofthe_native_Delaware on Instagram for photos.

Dawn Lentz has a terminal illness. She is a fierce advocate for legislation that would give Delawareans options for facing death with dignity. The Medical Aid in Dying bill passed the Delaware House of Representatives in April 2024 and is expecting to be taken up by the Senate in June. Dawn talks about her illness and the importance of this legislation.Thanks to Pixabay for the music by Oleg Kyrylkovv that opens and closes this podcast.Death touches all of us, but we don’t have to face it alone. Talk Death Delaware fosters open, honest conversations about death, grief, and living with intention.If this episode was meaningful to you, please consider sharing it or leaving a review—it helps others find these conversations when they need them most.Contact me with your story at [email protected] The Good Death Doula on Facebook or return_ofthe_native_Delaware on Instagram for photos.

The elderly are vulnerable to financial scams and fraudsters. Daniel Rogers discusses how his mother's identity was stolen, how it affected their lives, and what you can do to prevent a similar debacle.Contact Daniel at [email protected] to Pixabay for the music by Oleg Kyrylkovv that opens and closes this podcast.Death touches all of us, but we don’t have to face it alone. Talk Death Delaware fosters open, honest conversations about death, grief, and living with intention.If this episode was meaningful to you, please consider sharing it or leaving a review—it helps others find these conversations when they need them most.Contact me with your story at [email protected] The Good Death Doula on Facebook or return_ofthe_native_Delaware on Instagram for photos.