People from all walks of life share their insights and wisdom about death and dying

I rejoice that death has become less of a taboo subject in our conversations. In this timely book you will discover precious wisdom and heartfelt insights from people of all walks of life...As I have listened to these voices, I have found reassurance and enlightenment. I know this book will offer the same gifts to you whether you believe in a transition to a new life or contemplate the beyond with some uncertainty. I commend it highly. -- from the foreword by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu A powerful book on the truth of our mortality, and the richness that can be derived from our encounter with death. -- Roshi Joan Halifax, Abbot, Upaya Zen Center We experience death in many ways before facing it in our own lives. Whatever will support us to consider death more honestly and life more appreciatively is to be deeply valued. Rosalind Bradley's beautiful collection offers both those gifts abundantly. -- Stephanie Dowrick, author of Seeking the Sacred A Matter of Life and Death provides thought provoking reflections from a wide range of people whose lives have been deeply influenced by encounters with dying, death and loss. Their insights into these sensitive, often taboo, subjects are inspirational and uplifting - highly recommend reading for all who work in end of life or bereavement care. -- Dr Marilyn Relf, Bereavement Care Lead, Sir Michael Sobell House, Oxford and Chair National Bereavement Alliance (UK) Dying conjures many stories, many feelings, many fears. Rosalind Bradley brings together the thoughts of the eminent, the well trained and also those who have personal experience with the dying. These stories explore the inspiring, the meaningful and sometimes troubled ideas that everyone will have about death. -- Professor Richard Chye, University of Notre Dame, Australia A thoughtful collection of personal stories and perspectives on death as a defining part of life. Beautifully told and cleverly presented. A unique offering on an ultimate truth - you will be inspired, intrigued, informed and touched by the diversity and authenticity of the contributions. -- Professor Christine Bennett AO, Dean of Medicine,The University of Notre Dame Australia

Rosalind Bradley was born and raised in the UK but has lived in Sydney, Australia for over 30 years. She has taught in Papua New Guinea and is currently a Council Member of Eremos, a forum for exploring spirituality in Australia and a volunteer biographer at a local hospice. Rosalind has previously edited two anthologies of inter-faith prayers, A World of Prayer and Mosaic.

Introduction. 1. Personal Encounters with Death. Gail O'Brien, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, Australia. Brigadier Michael Griffiths CBE, Duke of Lancaster Regiment, UK. Olga Horak OAM, Sydney Jewish Museum, Australia. Colleen Kelly, September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, USA. Professor Patrick McGorry AO, University of Melbourne, Australia. The Burton Gaudiosi Family, Australia. Amit Dasgupta, India. Erica Stewart, Sands, UK. Kinny Gardener, The Krazy Kat Theatre, UK. Pam Masini, Child Bereavement UK. Reverend Peter Pereira, Australia. Mitchell Willoughby, Tennessee, USA. 2. Death Brings a Wisdom. Josefine Speyer, Natural Death Centre, UK. Jennifer Briscoe-Hough, Australia. Reverend Canon Rosie Harper, Great Missenden, UK. Molly Carlile AM, Olivia Newton John Cancer & Wellness Centre, Australia. Dr Michael Barbato OAM, Australia. Professor Allan Kellehear, University of Bradford, UK. Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, The New North London Synagogue, UK. Laurence Freeman OSB, World Community for Christian Meditation, UK. Carol Komaromy, The Open University, UK. Dom Christian de Cherge, Algeria. Sogyal Rinpoche, Rigpa, France. Therese Schroeder-Sheker, Chalice of Repose Project, School of Music Thanatology, Oregon, USA. 3. Working Closely with Death. Deborah de Wilde OAM, Australia. Diane Roche, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia. Arabella Dorman, UK. Dr Megory Anderson, Sacred Dying Foundation, USA. Dr Peter Saul, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, Australia. Stephen Olson, Royal Oak Burial Park, British Colombia, Canada. Dr Soren Blau, Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, Australia. Dr Irene Adams, Clinica Ammor, Brazil. Dr Louise Jordan, Baslow Health Centre, Derbyshire, UK. Su Chard, UK. James Norris, DeadSocial.org and the Digital Legacy Association, UK. Chinyere Inyama, UK. 4. Death and the Circle of Life. Sughra Ahmed, Islamic Society of Britain, UK. Dr Sarah Edelman, Dying with Dignity NSW, Australia. Trypheyna McShane, Australia. Stephen Miller, USA. Dr Ian Gawler OAM, Australia. Amelia Freelander, Amnesty International, Australia. Claire Henry MBE, The National Council for Palliative Care & Dying Matters coalition, UK. Dr Colin Murray Parkes OBE, St Christopher's Hospice, UK. Reverend Jonathan Woodhouse, UK. Caitlin Doughty, The Order of the Good Death, USA. Bruce Kent, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and Pax Christi, UK. 5. Death is Sacred. Dr Pushpa Bhardwaj-Wood, New Zealand. Sharifah Zuriah Aljeffri, Malaysia. Sr Jayanti, Brahma Kumaris, UK. Bhai Sahib Dr Mohinder Singh, Guru Nanak Sewak Jatha, UK. Peter Shine, Aboriginal Health Northern Sydney Local Health District, Australia. Rabbi Sylvia Rothschild, UK. Dr Doreen Tembo, UK. Reverend Marta Benavides, El Salvador. Dr Frank Brennan, Calvary Hospital, Sydney, Australia. Dr Bahiyyih Nakhjavani, France. Woris Kubo, Papua New Guinea. Venerable Thubten Chodron, Sravasti Abbey, USA. Ela Gandhi, South Africa. Post-script. Ashgate Hospice. References.