LIVING WITH OUR MORTALITY

No matter what we accomplish in modern medicine, the death rate remains 100%.  Our aging, illness and dying -  and those of friends and family - may well present the challenge of our lifetime.

This experiential course offers an opportunity to:  explore experience, attitudes and feelings related to dying and death; consider issues and tasks of our own end-of-life time; discuss end-of-life issues in safe and light-hearted setting; gain comfort in supporting friends and family who are dealing with end-of-life issues; and better understand available resources for the final stage of life.

We will spend time alone, in small groups and in the large group.  We will write and draw and talk, with laughter and with tears.  We will have minimal lecture, lots of sharing, and optional reading outside of class.

Class is limited to 20 members.

MARIE KIRN, with degrees in American Literature from Brown University and a career in education, public service and management training, was deeply moved in 1975 by On Death and Dying, by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross.  After working with Kubler-Ross, Marie co-founded Monadnock Hospice in southern NH and the NH Hospice Organization, and later served as Executive Director of each.  She served for nine years as Executive Director of  Hospice of the Upper Valley and Hospice VNH before retiring in 2003.  Marie has had a role as well in the development of Palliative Care at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.