http://www.naturaltransitions.org/naturaltranstions/National_Conference_2009_video.html

Jack and Linda one week before Jack died

FREE MOVIE • Southdale Library • Wed, Aug 25, 2010 • 7-9 PM
The Most Excellent Dying of Jack Heckelman: Conscious Dying and Home Death Care.

Science can diagnose illnesses and even cure them…but it cannot teach us to die well. That comes from a deep spiritual choice. This is the story of a man who did it.
This documentary of what Jack called “my last great adventure” shows footage of community and family support including his casket being made by a niece, family and friends gathering to say farewell, and care for him after death in a three day home vigil.
It was Jack’s wish that this film be his legacy of hope and encouragement for all people, to empower them with choices for their own dying
“Inspiring!” “He wasn’t afraid to die.” “The home vigil was beautiful, intimate, and sacred.” “This should be in every hospice in the country!”
SOUTHDALE LIBRARY
7001 York Avenue South
Edina, MN 55435-2510
(952) 847-5900

ack died at home in hospice care and Linda held a three day vigil in their home. Friends from all walks of life were able to say goodbye in an intimate caring setting.
Linda will be at the screening to answer questions about the movie and the new MN law.

NEW MINNESOTA LAW :
Allows families to wash and care for the deceased and have a home vigil.
Allows visitation with dry ice instead of embalming.
Allows funeral directors to transport the body to a private home.
Allows safe, appropriate transportation options for the family.

SPONSORED BY THE
MINNESOTA THRESHOLD NETWORK
mnthresholdnetwork.wordpress.com

The Most Excellent Dying of Theodore Jack Heckelman

Nancy Poer has copies: www.nancyjewelpoer.com/

locally  Linda Bergh has copies. go to contacts and e mail.

Saint Paul, Minnesota – Governor Pawlenty has signed into law changes that will give Minnesotans a more natural choice in how they care for their deceased loved ones. Under current law, a body must be embalmed if there is a public viewing, but State Rep. Carolyn Laine (DFL – Columbia Heights), who authored the bill, said this practice is largely unneeded. The new law permits dry ice to be used for public viewing of a deceased body within private property, such as a home, church or funeral parlor.

“We all have a superstitious belief that bodies must be embalmed to ward off infections. It’s simply not true,” said Laine. “Death is a natural and inevitable process, and this law will provide people a more natural way to remember, honor and celebrate the lives of our loved ones.”

Laine said embalming first came into use during the Civil War and was used to delay decomposition of bodies that had to travel a great distance before returning to a family. For families who hold funerals or remembrances shortly after a loved one passes away, embalming serves no logical purpose.

“Since there is no scientific or biological reason to do embalming in most instances, it makes sense to provide people a ‘greener’ alternative,” said Laine.

Laine worked with stakeholders including the Minnesota Funeral Directors Association to reach consensus on the bill. Hospitals and care providers both support the bill. Laine said she hopes the new law will spark dialogue end of life issues.

“I believe we should be less fearful of death. It’s natural and we should strive to make it a peaceful part of our life process,” said Laine.

The new law will go into effect on August 1, 2010.

this 4-minute TV news story on my neighbor’s home funeral could be powerful for your audience. It features the woman who testified before the Minnesota State Legislature and was partly responsible for legislators passing the Home Care of Our Deceased bill last month.  http://kstp.com/news/stories/S1456501.shtml?cat=1

Minnesota Threshold Network

Special appearance by State Rep. Carolyn Laine

Topics include:

> New Minnesota law > How to care for a body at home

> Green burials > Q & A plus free resource list

June 29, 6:30 – 8 pm

Washburn Public Library, 5244 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55419

mnthresholdnetwork.wordpress.com

Contact us at: mnthresholdnetwork@gmail.com or Becky at 612.823.1910

The story features her growing involvement in the home funeral movement with a specific interest in green burial. Click here to download pdf of the article

On this website we seek to serve people wishing to meet the threshold of death with more consciousness. Spanning the legal to the practical to the spiritual, we share information and stories that will give you the permission to find the right answers for your situation and family.

We, Linda Bergh and Marianne Dietzel, lost our daughters in a car accident in 1996, have now teamed together to serve the Upper Midwest. We offer workshops and services to meet your individual or group needs.

Each death is unique. Taking care of our own in the hours and days after death is returning as an option for many people like it was commonly 100 years ago.. What is a challenging time can also be a precious healing time, filled with spirit. You can find your own way to say goodby