End-of-Life Resources

Books

Briefly, Perfectly Human by Alua Arthur
A thought-provoking exploration of mortality, meaning, and embracing life fully.

Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande
Explores the limits of medicine and the importance of quality of life in the face of death.
Final Rights: Reclaiming the American Way of Death by Lisa Carlson and Joshua Slocum
A detailed guide to funeral planning and the legal rights surrounding death care in America.
The Wild Edge of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal & the Sacred Work of Grief by F. Weller
A deep dive into grief as a communal and transformative experience.
Advice for Future Corpses (and Those Who Love Them) by Sallie Tisdale
A practical and humorous guide to accepting death as a part of life.
Gone From My Sight: The Dying Experience (and other works) by Barbara Karnes, R.N.
Concise series of guidebooks for the dying and their caregivers from a hospice pioneer.
Waiting for the Last Bus: Reflections on Life and Death by Richard Holloway
A poignant meditation on mortality, grief, and the journey toward the end of life. Beautifully poetic reflections.
On Death and Dying by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
A classic work providing a foundational for understanding death and bereavement.
Being with Dying: Cultivating Compassion and Fearlessness in the Presence of Death by Joan Halifax
A guide to mindfulness-based approaches for caregivers and those facing death.
It's OK That You're Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn’t Understand by Megan Devine
Addresses grief with realism and compassion, breaking through cultural taboos.
A Beginner's Guide to the End: Practical Advice for Living Life and Facing Death by BJ Miller and Shoshana Berger
A compassionate and practical handbook for navigating end-of-life issues.
The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully by Frank Ostaseski
Offers wisdom from a Zen hospice founder on approaching death with openness and grace.
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
A memoir by a neurosurgeon facing terminal cancer, reflecting on meaning and mortality.
The Art of Dying Well: A Practical Guide to a Good End of Life by Katy Butler
Covers how to prepare for a good death, from early aging to hospice care.
Grace in Dying: A Message of Hope, Comfort and Spiritual Transformation by Kathleen Dowling Singh
Explores the spiritual opportunities inherent in the dying process.

Services

Recompose
A green funeral home specializing in human composting. Human composting, also called natural organic reduction or soil transformation, is a form of disposition that transforms a body into soil.

Irish Chapman
Energy Healing & Sound Meditation

Erin Alexander - Owner, Wild Temple Spiritual Center
Certified yoga therapist specializing in Post Traumatic Somatic Therapy.

Elise Baker - Placer Law Group
Estate-planning attorney providing thoughtful, client-focused estate planning to help California families protect what matters most and create peace of mind for the future.

Heather Johnston - Sapphire Law Group Heather specializes in complex real estate planning, business succession planning, and property tax planning opportunities.

River Braun
Certified Grief Coach providing compassionate, trauma-informed grief coaching to help individuals navigate loss, process emotions, and find healing at their own pace.