Saying goodbye is hard - don’t let it be ordinary

Having spent the past six years learning how creativity when dealing with death can help us, Jude Mannion believes it can be more than just helpful!

What is it that happens when we release our creativity at a time when we are in the deepest pain? Is that which elevates us and makes the send-off as meaningful and memorable as possible because we give ourselves permission to celebrate, as well as to honour?

Does such celebration mean hosting the farewell outside at twilight with kids and dogs running around fire pits, the sound of a band playing favourite songs, the presence of our loved ones’ favourite cocktails being shared, and with their most loved Mexican food offered by a food truck parked up for the event?

“There are very few rules,” she said.

One expression of such creativity lies in the 16 handmade caskets going up for sale at Ponsonby Popup from 12 May. These were made to raise funds for charity and 50% of the profits are headed towards Hospice New Zealand.

Imagine a casket covered with beautiful Freda Kahlo fabric, or another in the shape of a wooden sculpture like a dinghy. A friend is already using one as a coffee table with an acrylic top; another is using one as a glory box!

These unique coffins are now half priced; come, throw one in the back of your car, and take it home.

We get to say goodbye just once; if we add some creativity when we do say goodbye to loved ones, we can just make such parting something even more special – something we will feel for the rest of our lives.

Great Goodbyes Pop-up, 288 Ponsonby Road, T: 022 198 0181, jude@greatgoodbyes.com

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