Conversations about death are never easy, but a newly launched website may help whānau navigate those difficult moments with greater ease and confidence.
End of Life Matters Whāingaroa is a collection of local resources designed to ease the burden of making tough decisions when a loved one dies.
Read more: Community launches end of life resource hubFor organiser Di Jennings, the topic is deeply personal, having recently lost her husband, Peter.
“We had an amazing memorial service for Peter, with well over 100 people. It was a beautiful celebration. Timebankers did all the food, greenery and flowers; my ukulele group performed. It was the perfect, most wonderful event in Peter’s memory – and it only cost $100,” she says.
“The whole process can be unbelievably expensive for people who don’t have much money. With this website, we wanted to bring as many choices back into the hands of communities as possible.”
What the website ultimately offers, Di says, is the empowerment to ‘do death your way’.
“We can all do it our own way, and this local website provides choices you may not have thought about. It just opens up possibilities.”
Jill Kayser, who is helping design the website, says they welcome community feedback on what else should be included.
“This is an ever-evolving resource. We hear personal stories all the time, and that helps us build more local knowledge,” she says.
Much of the website’s content stems from End of Life Matters: Conversations That We Are Dying to Have, a workshop exploring natural burials, te ao Māori approaches to death, legal matters, death planning, life stories, celebrating life, supporting someone nearing the end, grieving, and advanced care plans.
One of the practical steps Di and Peter took after attending the workshop was creating a ‘When I die box’.
“It’s a place to put all your relevant documents – bank accounts, wills, all the legal stuff. But also, your life story, any special messages you want to pass on, things you want to happen for your funeral. So, when it happens, my son will say, ‘Oh, Mum’s got it all mapped out’.”
A celebration of the End of Life Matters Whāingaroa website launch will be held on Saturday, November 29, from 2-4pm at the Stewart St Hall. There will be a light-hearted quiz, shared afternoon tea and a chance to explore the website with the community.
Visit the website at endoflifematterswhaingaroa.co.nz.
