Death Wishes: An Act of Love

(disguised as a binder!)

Because it’s nicer to leave answers than questions.

Death Wishes is an in person, six-week workshop designed to help you thoughtfully prepare yourself—and your loved ones—for the time leading up to your death, the process of dying, the final breath, and the practical matters that follow.

During our time together, we will do a fair amount of gathering and organizing information. However, my favorite parts are the conversations we will share. There will be reflection, laughter, discussion, and yes—some deep soul-searching along the way. Come prepared to be open, to listen, to gently support one another, and to offer thoughtful perspectives.

By the end of the six weeks, you will walk away with a completed (or nearly completed!) Death Wishes binder containing the important information your loved ones will need to carry out your wishes. You will be easing their burden—giving them the space to grieve rather than scrambling to google the how, where, and when of end-of-life decisions.

What We Will Cover

Week One – Getting Oriented

We’ll dive right in and start by getting oriented. This week includes conversations about personal experiences with death and our own reflections about mortality. You will begin organizing personal, insurance, and medical information and gather the basic details that would be needed in the event of a sudden death (as well as a planned one).

You may feel like sticking a fork in your eye—or mine!—as you begin listing logins and passwords, but know that your family will be very grateful you took the time to do this now.

Week Two – Essentials & Legal Matters

This week focuses on the essential legal pieces, and includes a special guest speaker. Kim Memmesheimer, estate attorney from Seven Rivers Law Offices (sevenriverslawnh.com), will join us to explain key legal considerations and answer your questions.

You will also spend time organizing important documents, confirming that you have decision-makers in place for both financial and medical matters, and reviewing financial accounts, insurance policies, and any debts that will eventually need to be addressed.

Week Three – Care & End-of-Life Wishes

This week feels less checklist-y with more thoughtful and intentional reflection. Through a guided meditation, you will explore, and then document, details that are often overlooked when thinking about end-of-life care.

This includes choices such as where you would like to be, what you want around you, who you do—or do not—want caring for you, and who you would like nearby during your final days.

Week Four – After-Death Plans

This week focuses on the practical arrangements that take place after death. While some people feel these decisions are less important, making them ahead of time can greatly reduce the burden on loved ones during an already difficult time.

You will consider things like final resting place, funeral or memorial arrangements, service details and participants, and important contacts who should be notified. During this week you will also begin gathering information—and ideally drafting—your own obituary and other public announcements.

Week Five – Legacy & Remembering

This week invites you to reflect on legacy. How would you like to be remembered? What stories, wisdom, or memories might you want to leave behind?

You may choose to begin a legacy project, write or record your own eulogy, decide who should receive meaningful personal items (and perhaps why), or write letters—or record video messages—for loved ones to receive after your death or on significant occasions you may miss.

Week Six – Integration & Conversation

Our final week is about reflection and integration. We will revisit any areas that may have felt challenging or unfinished and discuss what it means to become more comfortable with the reality of death.

We will also talk about how to share your completed binder with your loved ones and reflect on your experience throughout the workshop.

Additional guest speakers may join us depending on availability.

Dates: Thursday evenings April 16 - May 23

Time: 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Location: Peace of the Planet- 12 Fern Way, Madbury, NH

Cost: $350 per person, {Early bird rates 15% off until March 31st}

Registration opening on March 21st

Still on the fence?

Find your hesitation and read on!

“Why Do This Now?”

Because “someday” is not a date on the calendar.

Most people don’t wait because they’re in denial—they wait because life is busy, this feels awkward, and there’s always something more urgent. But doing this work now means you get to think clearly, move at your own pace, and make decisions without stress, crisis, or a room full of worried people.

Doing this now doesn’t mean you’re tempting fate.
It means you’re being practical.

Also—your family will be very grateful you didn’t leave this as a scavenger hunt.

You don’t have to do this urgently. You just have to do it intentionally.

“I’m not ready yet.”

Totally understandable. If feeling ready were a requirement, this course would have zero attendees.

Most people don’t wake up one morning excited to organize their end-of-life wishes. Readiness usually appears after we start—not before. Death Wishes is inclusive of those who feel unsure, awkward, or mildly resistant but willing. You can move slowly, skip parts, change your mind, and still be doing this “right.”

“I can do this on my own.”

You probably can. In theory.

In practice, this tends to live in the same mental folder as “organize photos” and “clean out the garage”—important, well-intentioned, and mysteriously postponed. The workshop exists to give this work a time, a place, and a group of people doing it together so it doesn’t quietly slide back onto the someday list.

Think of it as accountability… with snacks and compassion.

“It sounds expensive.”

Fair question. There is a cost.

What most people don’t factor in is the cost of not doing it: missed benefits, rushed decisions, duplicate legal fees, and loved ones taking time off work to figure things out. Death Wishes is designed to save money, time, and emotional energy later—when everything is harder.

Think of it as paying once so your family doesn’t pay repeatedly… in stress.

“I don’t want to think about death.”

Completely reasonable. Most people don’t.

The interesting thing is that avoiding it doesn’t make it go away—it just guarantees someone else will have to think about it later, usually while tired, sad, and overwhelmed. This workshop approaches death in small, practical pieces, with plenty of normal conversation and the occasional laugh.

No spiraling required.

“My family doesn’t like talking about this.”

You’re in very good company.

That’s actually why Death Wishes exists—to give you a place to do the thinking without forcing your family into the conversation before you’re ready. Many people find that once the work is done, sharing it becomes easier and less emotional.

It turns “We should talk about this someday” into “Here’s what I figured out.”

“I’m afraid it will be overwhelming.”

That’s a fair concern—because doing all of this at once would be overwhelming.

That’s why this is spread over six weeks, with structure, guidance, and a room full of people quietly doing the same thing. You’re not expected to solve everything—you’re just asked to work on what’s in front of you.

One section at a time. No heroics.

“I’m healthy. This feels unnecessary.”

Exactly. This is the best possible time.

This work is much easier when you’re healthy, thinking clearly, and not under pressure. Death Wishes is for people who are living well and want to stay that way—without leaving a logistical mess behind.

It’s preventative care… just not the kind insurance covers.

“I’m worried it will be depressing.”

Surprisingly, most people leave feeling lighter.

There’s something oddly comforting about having things in order—and about realizing you’re not the only one who’s been quietly avoiding this. The room usually holds a mix of seriousness, relief, and humor.

It’s not depressing.
It’s clarifying.