Thistle Community Death Care

Mission

  • • To facilitate authentic conversations about death and dying

  • • To empower the living to create end-of-life plans that reflect their values and beliefs

  • • To build a death-aware community of support and resources for the living, dying, and bereaved

  • • To companion the dying and their families through end-of-life transitions

About

Jennifer Jurlando is a death educator, death doula, Reiki provider, and ritual facilitator. She leads grief support groups for preschoolers and assisted living communities and has also led perinatal and child loss groups for Full Circle Grief Center and The Miss Foundation. Jennifer is an adjunct instructor in VCU’s Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling program, where her favorite course to teach is on Death and Grief.
Her writing on loss, survival, and worth can be found on her Patreon. Her work has also been published online at RVAMAG and Life in 10 Minutes and in the anthologies, Unspoken: Writers on Infertility, Miscarriage, and Stillbirth, and Nine Lives: A Life in Ten Minutes Anthology.
She believes that authentic conversations about death make it possible to live life more fully.
Jennifer has a years-long ancestral veneration practice, facilitates monthly self-care ritual groups, and is driven to help people plan for the sacred space linking the end of life, death’s arrival, and body blessing rituals.

Events

Participants will explore the meaning of their own mortality & cultivate self-love through movement, meditation & writing practice.
A deeply intentional slow flow yoga practice will focus on connecting with each breath and every transition.
A death meditation focused on the gift of embodiment will follow, with an opportunity for participants to write a blessing for themselves.
Bring a journal, yoga mat & an open heart.

November 2: Death Fest
Death Fest is an annual educational gathering at the green cemetery in Earlysville, Virginia. The event hopes to build community around natural burial and to empower people to reclaim traditional death practices. A full day of workshops and experiences is planned.
This year, Jennifer Jurlando will be facilitating a mock home funeral with the shrouding team from Twin Oaks. This workshop focuses on methods of body care, personalization of rituals, and special considerations for people who want to have home funerals. Flowers will be provided by Swann's End.

November 6-9: Hallowed Homecoming
Prince William Forest Park, Triangle, VA
Hallowed Homecoming is an annual Pagan Samhain retreat. This year's theme is Embracing the Darkness.
Jennifer Jurlando will be leading a workshop on November 8 that is focused on creating end-of-life rituals aligned with the belief systems of individuals outside of standard American belief systems. Focus will be on contemplation of death, planning rites, and communication of end-of-life wishes.

November 17: Virginia Anatomical Donation Information Session
Holistic Life Center, 1011 E Main Street, Richmond, VA
Join the director of Virginia State Anatomical Program, Raymond Rhodes, and area end-of-life doulas for a discussion about anatomical donation in Virginia. The hour-long presentation will be followed by open conversation on the topic. Virtual attendance is an option. Link will be posted closer to the event.
If you have specific questions you would like answered, email them to jennifer@ thistlecommunitydeathcare.com

Shrouding Workshop
December 8, 11:00-2:00
North Courthouse Library, 325 Courthouse Road, Chesterfield, VA
In the third of our shrouding workshops, we will practice using the two shrouds we have designed to date and will work on another pattern for shrouds that can be made inexpensively and tailored to the desires and personality of the deceased and their loved ones. We may add the element of moving a shrouded person, so if you have ideas about trays or rope harnesses, be prepared to share!
If you have a sewing machine, bring it! If you have ideas, experience, skills, bring those, too!
(Photo credit - Dead Good Legacies - https://unsplash.com/@deadgood)

Resources

Eco-Conscious End of Life Planner
Free with code RVAhomefuneral

Contact

Email: [email protected]Phone: 804-304-5602

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