Explore the final stage of life with guided sessions designed to inform, inspire, and support thoughtful planning. Learn about end-of-life choices, cultural traditions, grief, and family communication while gaining tools to live more fully today.
Cost for each class: Res $5 / Non-Res $7

Upcoming Fall 2026 Lectures

Understanding Green Burial Options: Eco-Friendly End-of-Life Choices

Join Rachel Essig of the Green Burial Council to explore meaningful, eco-friendly end-of-life choices that honor the earth. This session offers a comprehensive look at the environmental benefits, practical options, and realistic costs associated with natural burials. Learn how conservation cemeteries protect regional ecosystems, discover biodegradable containment choices, and gain the essential knowledge needed to integrate personal ecological values into your long-term legacy planning.

Topics Covered:

• Environmental benefits of natural burials over conventional cemetery methods
• Overview of regional green burial grounds, scattered lands, and conservation preserves
• Understanding biodegradable materials, sustainable options, and transparent pricing structures

Date / Time: Fri 9/18 | 10:00–11:30 a.m.
Event Code: 34835
Learn More: https://www.greenburialcouncil.org

The Cost of Death: What Funerals Really Cost

In partnership with the Oregon Memorial Association, this eye-opening session offers a transparent and objective look at funeral industry pricing structures and consumer protection laws. Learn how to navigate the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Funeral Rule, confidently evaluate General Price Lists (GPLs), and safeguard against hidden expenses or emotional overspending during times of loss. This lecture provides practical tools to help you design a beautiful, deeply respectful service that aligns with your family budget and values.

Topics Covered:

• Deconstructing the funeral home General Price List (GPL) line-by-line
• Consumer rights under the FTC Funeral Rule and Oregon state regulations
• Smart pre-planning strategies to honor loved ones beautifully without unnecessary costs

Date / Time: Fri 10/23 | 10:00–11:30 a.m.
Event Code: 34885

Rituals of Transition: The Art of Personalized Memorialization

Join certified Life-Cycle Celebrant Holly Pruett to explore the rich history, anthropology, and deep psychological importance of mourning rituals across human cultures. This session examines why cookie-cutter, conventional services often fail to bring comfort in the modern era and guides you through the creative process of designing deeply personalized, authentic ceremonies. Discover how meaningful symbols, intentional storytelling, and unique community participation can offer genuine comfort and honor individual legacies.

Topics Covered:

• The psychological, historical, and cross-cultural importance of community mourning rituals
• Moving beyond standard packages to create bespoke, authentic celebrations of life
• Practical frameworks for crafting intentional, healing transitions that tell a true life story

Date / Time: Fri 11/13 | 10:00–11:30 a.m.
Event Code: 34841

What Everyone Gets Wrong About Grief: Building Emotional Resilience

Challenge conventional wisdom and restrictive cultural myths surrounding the grieving process. This session replaces outdated, rigid systems (like the linear "five stages of grief") with a realistic, dynamic, and compassionate understanding of loss. Gain vital psychological tools for cultivating long-term emotional resilience, navigating complex relational changes, and establishing supportive, shame-free communication channels when supporting yourself or helping others through profound change.

Topics Covered:

• Debunking the linear "stages of grief" myth to embrace a healthier, natural mourning cycle
• Actionable tools for emotional self-regulation, boundary setting, and self-compassion during hardship
• Effective, empathetic communication frameworks to support grieving friends, neighbors, or colleagues

Date / Time: Fri 12/11 | 10:00–11:30 a.m.
Event Code: 34886

Past Talks

Explore resources and summaries from previous installments of the Life's Final Chapter series:

Life in Full View

Reflect on life’s impermanence and explore how awareness of limited time can deepen gratitude, focus, and meaning. This session was led by experienced Death Doulas NW, who guide individuals and families through conversations about death, legacy, and mindful living.

Topics Covered:

• Understanding life’s impermanence and cultivating deep gratitude
• Mindful approaches to living fully and purposefully in the present
• Emotional and practical companion support from trained death doulas

Learn More: https://www.deathdoulasnw.com

Choices at Life’s End

Learn about late-life care options, including MAID (Medical Aid in Dying), hospice, and VSED (Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking). End of Life Choice Oregon instructors bring real stories and professional insights to help individuals and families make informed decisions.

Topics Covered:

• Overview of late-life care choices, legal considerations, and advanced directives
• Hospice care ecosystems, palliative support boundaries, and patient self-determination rights
• Personal stories illustrating how modern families collaboratively navigate complex end-of-life choices

Learn More: https://eolcoregon.org/