Living with dying

Rosie Taylor Horler's father died when she was 21, leading to feelings that her Dad never really knew her as an adult, and that there were a whole load of conversations she never got to have.

How on earth do you cope with 10 miscarriages - including two sets of twins?  Maaike Gomm-Zaagsma shares her heart-breaking story and how it led on to her work in Funeralcare.

Kevin Toolis's book My Father's Wake describes in minute detail the Irish way of death and dying. 'The dead body is right there and you can look at it, touch it, kiss it, whatever you wish.'

Fernanda Reyes was inspired to start an online Farewell Planner called Evermore after her father died and she wished she'd been more prepared.  She's since trained as a Death Doula and describes that work here too:

The perspective of the 'rhythm of life' is important in the Buddhist approach to death and dying - as explained by Robert Harrap - Chair of SGI Europe        

Online dating - good or bad idea when you're widowed later in life?  CEO of Thames Hospice Catherine McLaughlin shares how hard it felt picking up the pieces after her husband died

'It's not those wow moments, it's the ordinary moments you miss''  - Sarah Parfitt on life without her 91 year old father

Katharine Horler is a great example of someone who's rebuilt her life.  Her 54 year old husband Chris died 7  years ago but she met someone new and is getting married again

How to explain death and dying to people who have no language?  Speech therapist Chris Buchanan, who works with non-verbal children and young people gives us her advice:

When Jess Seymour's 35 year old husband Matt went into a hospice, they talked and talked. 'Those conversations are really  difficult, you feel nauseous and have a knot in your neck and physical pain in your chest, but I'm so glad we had them'

88 year old Hazel Cooper was married to Jock for 63 years.  She reminisces about the early days, married life and his death from cancer a year ago.

Funeral Director Cressida Harris joins us this week to talk about what to do when someone dies, how to talk to the bereaved and how you can have anything from 'dance music to drum and base and dove release' at your funeral if you like.

Dr Nikki Paul's husband was killed in a car crash on his way to work, leaving her with 3 very young children.  She now uses her experience and expertise to help other bereaved young mothers

This week Karnail Pannu talks about the Sikh way of death - the mourning, the funeral and the grief he experienced on the death from a sudden heart attack of his son Gurdeep aged 52

As Dying Matters Awareness week draws to a close, we're focussing on the Assisted Dying Debate.  We hear the opinions of two guests - one all in favour, the other not.  Thanks to Rabbi Jonathan Romain and Ros Doherty for their willingness to share.

Dame Joan Bakewell feels strongly that we should all talk more about death and dying.  In a timely interview for Dying Matters Awareness Week,  she shares those strong views here: 

Have you ever thought of having a submarine for your coffin?  All in a day's work for funeral arranger Victoria Kibble when asked by the family of a submariner:

Catherine McLaughlin, CEO of the Thames Hospice, tells how she was drawn to this work after watching her husband die

What is it about walking and talking that feels so therapeutic?  I discuss this here with Sharon Jones and Shirley Gennoe of the Severn Hospice where the Shrewsbury Strollers are based

How do our senses play their part in grief? Counsellor Catherine Beer and I discuss how sight, sound, taste, smell and touch can trigger good and bad feelings

How do you go on holiday after the loss of your long term partner and travelling companion? 84 year old widower Sid Cole describes how he plucked up the courage and found a new lease of life

Ros Doherty's husband died suddenly 7 years ago. After the initial shock, she's managed to rebuild a rich life for herself and has a great deal of wisdom to share on the subject.

Rabbi Jonathan Romain is our guest this week.  He talks candidly about the loss of his 34 year old son in a tragic honeymoon accident, how his faith didn't help and how he's got on with life since.

Today's guest is Emily Cummin, founder of a fantastic resource for anyone who's grieving. It's called Untangle Grief and is an app and a website that helps its many members through the twists and turns of bereavement, from the feelings to the practicalities that can flummox us all.   Emily shares with us some of the wisdom she's gleaned from the Untange Grief community https://untanglegrief.com/

This week's guest, the Baroness Meyer has suffered more losses than most.  Her two sons were abducted by their father when very small and she fought for years, unsuccessfully, for their return.  And more recently, she's lost her husband of 25 years, Sir Christopher Meyer, the UK's one time Ambassador to Washington.  She opens up about how she's  handled grief and loss here.