Dessert First

Preparing for Death While Savoring Life

J. Dana Trent

• Publisher: Chalice Press
• Year: 2019
• eBook ISBN: 9780827206700
• Topic: Theology & Religion

In the year she served as a chaplain in a hospital "death ward, " Dana Trent accompanied more than 200 people—and their families—on their passage from life to death. Dessert First gathers those stories and lessons, as well as others from her journey with her dying mom, to illuminate the complexity of death and grief, and how we all might better prepare for a "good death." Dessert First is a deeply personal, touching, and sometimes humorous look at death and dying, and the ways we cope and create meaning for the inevitable end of life. A full appendix includes religious, spiritual, practical, and legal resources for the reader and their loved ones.

Table of contents

• Praise for Dessert First
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Introduction: We’re All Terminal
• Chapter 1: Ashes to Ashes Road Tour
• Chapter 2: The Gas Will Be Gone Soon
• Chapter 3: The Death Chaplain
• Chapter 4: The King and Great One
• Chapter 5: Say Hello to Heaven
• Chapter 6: Let’s Talk about Death
• Chapter 7: Beginning with the End in Mind
• Chapter 8: Preparing for Death while Savoring Life
• Chapter 9: Putting the Fun in FUNeral
• Epilogue
• Practical and Spiritual Resources
• Resource 1: Conversation Starters
• Resource 2: Practical and Legal Preparations
• Resource 3: General Preparation for Care at the End of Life
• Resource 4: Religious, Spiritual, and Sacred Rituals in Preparation for Care at the End of Life and after Death
• Resource 5: Practical Considerations after Death
• Resource 6: Stimp (The Death Pimp) and Martha’s Lessons on Savoring Life while Preparing for Death and after Death
• Resource 7: Anticipating, Acknowledging, and Grieving Your Loss
• Resource 8: Theological Views of the Afterlife
• Resource 9: Quotes and Scripture Passages about Death and Loss
• Notes and Further Reading
• Acknowledgments
• About the Author