Our loved ones live on through memories, friendships and acts of kindness to our world.

Amid the COVID crisis, there are positive stories of families and communities doing what they can to keep up morale. Some are holding birthday parades, online dance parties and drawing chalk rainbows. The crisis has brought a return to phone calls and letter writing....

Guidance about gatherings in the wake of COVID-19 have been changing rapidly, but guidelines recommending that Americans avoid groups of over 10 people have touched every aspect of life, from schools to restaurants and bars, weddings and even funerals. Religious...

In these uncertain times, we wanted to reassure you about Solace Cremation’s health and safety practices. Keeping everyone safe At Solace, we are committed to the safety of our employees and communities and doing everything we can to mitigate the possible risks...

As designers, we were inspired to reimagine the deathcare space after having mediocre experiences with the deaths of our father and mother, respectively. We knew there was a better way. We used Design Thinking to blaze a path. So what is design thinking? Here’s a...

Just what is hospice care? Though the number of people receiving care in hospice has been on the rise (1.49 Medicare million patients received hospice care in 2017), there are still many misconceptions that linger about just what it is and who could benefit from it....

As a report by two nonprofit, consumer advocacy groups makes clear, giving consumers transparent pricing for funeral and cremation costs will save them money. Funeral Consumers Alliance and the Consumer Federation of America looked into prices in California where...

You may have heard the term “death doula” in recent years and intuitively understood that it was a growing profession of dedicated people who wanted to help the dying and their families with their end-of-life care. When women began to use birth doulas and midwives,...

This month, we’ve been inviting you to share letters to people in your life who have passed away.  As we shared in our last blog, the act of writing can be healing and sharing those letters can help others. If you’d like to share your letters with us, you can email us...

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, it is the time of year to think about the people we love, even — or perhaps especially — the people who have passed away. If you’d like to join us in celebrating that love, there is more information on how to participate at the...

For the first time since the early 20th century, more people are dying at home than in hospitals. And about half of those who die at home receive hospice help from home health aides, hospice and palliative care workers and nurses. Death doulas are also increasingly...

Writing your own obituary is a great way to help shape your personal life story after you die. There is no right or wrong way to do it, and there are many alternatives to publishing it when the time comes. A recent article in the Seattle Times explained how the act of...

There comes a point when families and patients must decide whether it is time to enter hospice care. There are a number of factors to consider, including whether treatment is no longer effective. It is a difficult decision, but experts agree that choosing to enter...

Just about eight short months after we launched our start-up, we headed south to San Francisco to one of the largest end-of-life symposiums in the country, End Well 19. We knew we would learn a lot about this rapidly-changing field, but we were blown away by the...

With the coming of a new year, many resolve to get in shape or end bad habits. But creating an after-life plan might be the best resolution you’ve ever made because it will take the weight off family members in the future and give you peace of mind right now. Here are...

When someone is grieving, it can be difficult to know what to say. But experts have advice to keep you from either rambling on or saying nothing, both of which could leave you feeling both awkward and guilty. The New York Time’s Crowdwise column has excellent advice...

As more people choose cremation for their loved ones (nearly 90 percent of Northwest residents are expected to opt for cremation by 2030), new markets are popping up with creative options for their “ashes.” A side note: cremated remains, sometimes called “cremains,”...

After losing a loved one during the year, facing the holidays can be tough. But there are small rituals that can help you remember them and give yourself a meaningful, active way to grieve alone or with family and friends. These 10 ideas are just a small fraction of...

As you pull your turkey out of the oven and gather friends and family around the table, why not make room for an often uninvited guest — death. According to “Death over Dinner” founder, Michael Hebb, dinner is the perfect opportunity to discuss a topic that’s been...

By now, you’ve probably heard our story. Two “Nike guys” leave the sneaker giant in 2017 and launch our own creative agency, CO-Lab. Then about a year ago, we start exploring a new business idea. We discover that people want an alternative to the traditional funeral...

Families of veterans may not be aware of the many benefits due to them to honor their loved one’s service to the country after they pass away. These benefits can help defray the cost of arrangements as well as give special meaning to their service, even if they served...

Among the usual pumpkins, ghosts and goblins on neighborhood porches in celebration of Halloween, you may have seen a growing number of Dia de los Muertos-themed decorations and traditions popping up -- altars to relatives who have passed away, brightly-colored, folk...

Learning the difference between palliative care and hospice can be confusing, since both are centered on giving the patient comfort for their symptoms. But palliative care and hospice care, though related, are not the same. Comfort for Symptoms According to the...

Solace Cremation is Bringing Innovative Death Care Services to Seattle Seattle has long been a trend-setting city. The home of Boeing, Microsoft, Starbucks and Amazon, the Emerald City is often on the cutting edge of social trends and inventions. From evaporated milk...