Thriving Through Midlife - Grief and Death as Great Teachers

“Death is a great teacher. Being courageous enough to explore and embrace death as the natural and sacred end of our lives really enhances the quality and depth of our living" - Zenith Virago 

We are taught to fear death. Some believe that talking about death will bring it forward or that it is morbid to do so.  However, research shows that the more we accept and embrace the inevitability of death, the more fully we can live. 

Midlife is often referred to as the youth of old age and for many, it is when we face death for the first time. The death of our parents, partners, friends, pets, and for some, children. These experiences can wake us up to the fact that life is precious and finite.

In this profound conversation, 3 women who are death walkers, and death doulas, share their personal and professional experiences through the final phase of a woman's life.

What's included in your ticket:

1. Sit in on a 50-minute conversation with 3 dynamic women over 50 who are trailblazers in their chosen professions.
2. A replay video of the event
3. Attendees have a chance to win one of two Silver Sirens merch package

Lucky Screen Prize: 

2 x Silver Sirens Merch Pack - Silver Sirens T-shirt and Silver Sirens NoteBook 

SPEAKERS:

MC: Faith Agugu founder of Silver Sirens

Faith is a Sydney-based Psychotherapist who founded Silver Sirens in 2018 after a number of women in a 'midlife crisis' were referred to her. She realised that her cultural lens on ageing differed greatly from those of many of her western sisters and she felt called to change the negative narrative some of these women had internalised about ageing.

Faith creates engaging and uplifting conversations that honour each women's individuality.

Maureen Philbert

Maureen came to Funeral Service by a fortunate turn of fate and has truly found her calling.

After 30 years as a chef, it was certainly a change of pace and a very welcome one.

Working with a small, independent business, gives her the autonomy to help families in a

more personal, tailored way – giving them a service that authentically meets their needs.

Most people have no idea what to do when someone dies - and she's not just talking about

the nuts and bolts of organising a funeral.

She means the real business of grief and mourning – how to best honour a life lost, as well as

those left behind.

So much of this is bound in common attitudes toward death and dying.

In many ways, it’s still shrouded in mystery, fear, and superstition.

And not talked about nearly enough.

Which to her mind, is silly – talking about death and funerals doesn’t make you die, any

more than talking about sex getting you pregnant!

We’ve all been to or at least heard about a service where mourners are left wondering if

they ever really knew the person being spoken about…

Is that how you want to be remembered?

As our aging population dies, those left behind have very differing ideas about how to

say goodbye, she really believes in the importance of the rituals of funerals and why we have

them.

Maureen loves talking about her job.

Tears are never in short supply when someone dies – she's a firm believer in grabbing

whatever laughs come your way.

Zsuzsi Soboslay is its founding practitioner. An artist and visionary bodyworker, Zsuzsi has run clinics, workshops and retreats to help restore vitality and connectedness for nearly 30 years. Her therapeutic bodywork is a practical process for individuals and communities who come looking for optimal physical health, clearer relationships, mental, emotional, and spiritual growth, and help through change. Arts Doula Creative Care Services was established in 2021 to extend expressive arts to a wider community, in person and online. Zsuzsi is also a Celebrant (for birth, death, and other life transitions], and as a certified Dance for Parkinson’s and Dance for MS facilitator.  Her services are available in Canberra, Sydney, Wollongong, and anywhere [globally] online. Love is all there is.

Jackie Bailey

Jackie Bailey is a professional writer and researcher and a recognised international expert on cultural diversity in the arts. Her work has been published widely, including intheRootsanthology from the 2020 SBS Emerging Writers’ Competition. Jackie is also an ordained interfaith minister, trained death walker, and practicing funeral director. Her debut novel the Eulogywas published in June 2022

Find out more about Jackie here: https://jackiesfunerals.com.au/