Beyond the Pall
New Post Every Wednesday
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact

The Bodies of Those We Love

7/20/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
 “It’s just my body.  Throw it in the garbage. It’s not me anyway.” In a sense this sentiment is very true. In death our bodily functions cease.  That which has made us who we are, no longer works. Our bodies start to break down. At our death, our loved ones must make choices as to what needs to be done with our bodies.
 
Every time I hear someone speak about their bodies as unimportant, I feel a little sad.  I believe deeply that everyone has the right to do with their body in death what is legal and according to their spirituality or view on life.  I do not mean to hinder anyone’s choices in any way.  When I hear these things said, I wonder if they have considered how their bodies have carried them through this life.  These vessels have allowed us great joy and at time deep despair.  Our bodies are not just something we have to endure and get be released from in death.  They are our means of living the life we live.  I think that makes our bodies good and honorable.  Is it good to donate your body to science?  Only you know the answer.  Is it good to have your body cremated?  Again, you know what is right for you and your family.  I only ask that you consider that those who love you might feel strongly about your body and what happens to it after death. 
 
We can speak all we would like to about what we want to have done in death, but our families are the ones who must do the work upon our death.  We have held and kissed those we love.  We have made them dinners.  We have told them stories.  We have sung songs and danced dances.  We have held deep and meaningful conversations.  We have made jokes.  We have done all this with our bodies.  In my book that makes them sacred, important and beautiful.  After the death of a loved one, sometimes we feel the need to hold them one last time.  We may need to kiss them.  We may need to clean and care for their bodies.  We do that because we love the person – their minds as well as their bodies.  Remember we know each other through our bodies.  When speaking with our loved ones who will take charge of our bodies in death, remember how dear your body might be to. Remember that they love you – that includes your body. 

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.



    RSS Feed

    Caroline Vuyadinov


    I graduated from St. Vladamir's Orthodox Theological Seminary in Crestwood, New York with a Master of Divinity.  I trained as a chaplain following graduation and worked with a wide variety of people. 

    When I moved to Canada, I began work in a women's halfway house in Hamilton, Ontario which worked with women in conflict with the law on a federal level.  I became the program manager and  loved working alongside the women, creating their plans for their reintegration back to the community.  I also worked as a liaison with the parole board, parole officers and other community service providers.

    Upon my return to the United States, I worked in the Death Care Industry as a Family Service Counselor, which lead me to become a green burial advocate. I co-founded Midwest Green Burial Society with Juliann Salinas. I speak  to community groups and have developed practical seminars for a variety of audiences.  I have been interviewed on a national podcast and was featured on a WGN spot dealing with green burial. 

    Archives

    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014

    Categories

    All
    Children's Graves
    Comunicalbe Disease And Burial Practice
    Cremation
    Cremation Urns
    Cultural Conflicts And Medical World
    Death Of A Child
    Depression
    Ebola
    Family Rights
    Fear Of Death
    Fr-thomas-hopko
    Funeral Laws
    Funeral Planning
    Garden Memorial
    Green Burial
    Grieving Parents
    Heirloom Seeds
    History
    Infant Death
    Live Streaming Funerals
    Mausoleums
    Memorial
    Memorialization
    No Embalming
    Non Religious
    Orthodox
    Orthodox Christian Grave Practices
    Pre Planning
    Pre-planning
    Remembering The Dead
    Serbian Cemetery Rites
    Suicide
    Tree-memorials
    Vaults
    Zito

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly