A Before I Die Festival gives people a reason to visit a funeral home or cemetery before experiencing a death in the family. These events allow people to ponder their mortality without fear, prepare advance medical directives, create estate plans, and help communicate their wishes to family and loved ones.

Schedule:

Friday, November 1, 2024

Before I Die NM Festival Day One

Location: Passages International Headquarters, 4516 Anaheim Ave. NE, ABQ, NM 87113

Theme: Eco-Friendly Funerals

Before I Die Festival Eco Friendly Funerals8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Check in/coffee
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Welcome by Darren Crouch, president of Passages International and the Green Burial Council, discussion of eco-friendly funerals and Etern.Life geo tag program. (viewable on Zoom)
10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. A representative of Better Place Forests talks about their innovative memorial forests that provide a natural alternative to cemeteries. (viewable on Zoom)
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Tour of Passages International headquarters, lunch with Death Cafe discussion.
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Panel discussion: Desert, Forest, Sea, Etc. – Eco-Friendly Disposition Options, panelists TBA (viewable on Zoom)
2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Demonstration of shrouding process. (viewable on Zoom)
3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Bamboo and Jute Casket Assembly Contest. (viewable on Zoom)
November 1 Evening Event: Mortality Movies Showing and Discussion
Location: Death Doula Professionals, 1724 Moon Street NE, ABQ, NM 87112
6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Watch a film related to to the day’s theme of environmental issues and death, and stick around for an insightful conversation. Attendees to vote on the choice of the 1973 classic Soylent Green or the 2014 documentary, A Will for the Woods.

Saturday, November 2, 2024

Before I Die NM Festival Day Two

Location: Bosque Trails Hospice, 303 San Mateo Blvd. NE, Suite 104, ABQ, NM 87108

Theme: Hospice 101

Bosque Trails Hospice8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Check in/coffee
9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Hospice 101 and Medical Aid In Dying (MAID) with staff of Bosque Trails Hospice. (viewable on Zoom)
10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Hospice experiences with Gail Rubin and other speakers. (viewable on Zoom)
Noon – 1:00 p.m. Lunch with Death Cafe discussion/Barbara Karnes’ New Rules of Hospice video.
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Grief Insights from Beyond the Veil with noted psychic Tammy Holmes. (viewable on Zoom)
2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Veterans’ Care and Funeral Benefits with Bosque Trails Social Workers. (viewable on Zoom)
3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Five Wishes workshop – introduction to the Five Wishes form and opportunity to fill out the document. (viewable on Zoom)
November 2 Evening Event: Mortality Movies Showing and Discussion
Location: Death Doula Professionals, 1724 Moon Street NE, ABQ, NM 87112
6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Watch a film related to the day’s theme of hospice, and stick around for an insightful conversation. Attendees to vote on the choice of the 2007 film Two Weeks or the 2024 film His Three Daughters.

Sunday, November 3, 2024

Before I Die NM Festival Day Three

Location: Death Doula Professionals, 1724 Moon Street NE, ABQ, NM 87112

Theme: Preparing for the Inevitable

8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Check in/coffee
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. “Let’s Get Ready! Everything You Need to Know Before You Go” with Dr. Kimberly Harms. Her talk explores the need to go beyond traditional estate planning and get our affairs in order emotionally. Acquire actionable steps for developing an Emotional Insurance Plan, and learn practical strategies for fostering forgiveness, reconciliation, and emotional healing within personal relationships. Her latest book is “Are You Ready? How to Build a Legacy to Die For.” (viewable on Zoom)
10:30 – 11:30 a.m. “Planning for Peace: How Death Doulas Complete the Puzzle” with Death Doulas Danielle Slupesky and Brooke Nutting. This presentation will explore the vital role death doulas play in the end-of-life journey. By integrating the expertise of death doulas into end-of-life planning, attendees will discover how to enhance comfort and understanding, ultimately completing the puzzle of a peaceful transition.
11:30 – 1:00 p.m. Death Café conversation over lunch – an opportunity to discuss mortality concerns, openly and honestly.
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. “Shed Before You’re Dead” Downsizing panel discussion with Kathy B. Dempsey, RN, MED, CSP, Dr. Kimberly Harms, and Miriam Ortiz Y Pino with More Than Organized on the benefits of culling our massive amounts of stuff and ways to do it. (viewable on Zoom)
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. “Would You Hold a Living Funeral for Yourself?” with Kathy Dempsey, who is also a death doula who has helped clients hold their own funerals while they are still alive. (viewable on Zoom)
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Book signing with Kathy Dempsey and Kimberly Harms.
November 3 Evening Event: Mortality Movies Showing and Discussion
Location: Death Doula Professionals, 1724 Moon Street NE, ABQ, NM 87112
6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Watch a film related to the day’s theme of discussing and planning for end of life issues, and stick around for an insightful conversation. Attendees to vote on the choice of the 1971 cult classic Harold & Maude or the 2007 film The Bucket List.

Monday, November 4, 2024

Before I Die NM Festival Day Four

Location: South Valley Multi-Purpose Senior Center, 2008 Larrazolo Rd. SW, ABQ, NM 87105

Theme: Unexpected Deaths

8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Check in/coffee
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.  Indigent cremation and burial in Bernalillo County, Diane Chavez, Operations Manager for General Services, Bernalillo County. (viewable on Zoom)
10:30 a.m. – noon The Office of the Medical Investigator (OMI) in New Mexico, Lauren Dvorscak, Deputy Chief of OMI. (viewable on Zoom)
Noon to 1:00 p.m. Lunch and Death Cafe
1:00 p.m. – 2:50 p.m. “Your Clock is Ticking: Are You Ready?” In this highly interactive session with Kathy Dempsey and Dr. Kimberly Harms, learn about unexpected death and how to prepare for it, as time runs out for individuals in the audience. (viewable on Zoom)
3:00 – 3:50 p.m. Panel on Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) with Sherry Burns, Deborah Dugan, and Leah Becker from End of Life Options New Mexico (viewable on Zoom)
4:00 – 5:00 p.m. “Peace of Mind” with Karla Barela Lucero, Advance Planning Consultant, French Funerals and Cremations (viewable on Zoom)
November 4 Evening Event: Mortality Movies Showing and Discussion
Location: Death Doula Professionals, 1724 Moon Street NE, ABQ, NM 87112
6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Watch a film related to the day’s theme of unexpected deaths, and stick around for an insightful conversation. Attendees to vote on the choice of the 1991 film My Girl or the 2006 film The Queen.

Date:November 1-4,2024

Location:Various Venue in Albuquerque, NM 

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