The Peaceful Presence Project 2025 Continuing Education Series Presents:

Ceremonies of Remembrance & Bereavement

Online Workshop, Thursday April 17, 2025 from 5:00 - 6:30 pm PACIFIC TIME, $25 Workshop Fee

How do we honor and strengthen the continuity of relationships across the veil of life and death? Holly will share inspiring examples of creative rituals from living memorials and meaningful celebrations of life to home funerals and “re-dos” of ceremonies that went wrong or never happened.

ABOUT THE GUEST PRESENTER:

Holly J Pruett, MA, NEDA-Proficient End-of-Life Doula & After-Death-Care Educator

An experienced and knowledgeable life passage guide, Holly helps individuals, families, and communities to prepare for, live with, and talk about death. Holly is professionally trained as a Life-Cycle Celebrant, Community Death Educator, Home Funeral Guide, and End-of-Life Doula; with two Proficiency Badges from the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance, and certification in Thanatology from the Association for Death Education & Counseling. A well-known conversation leader and consultant, Holly co-created the non-commercial public information website Oregon Funeral Resources & Education, founded PDX Death Café and the Death Talk Project, and facilitated Oregon Humanities’ Talking about Dying Conversation Program.

The Peaceful Presence Project Continuing Education Series Presents:

Shared Outlook on Aging: Building Age-Positive Organizations & Communities 

FREE ONLINE WEBINAR : October 15th, 2024 from 5:00-6:00 pm, PRE-REGISTER FOR THIS FREE ONLINE WEBINAR BELOW!

Guest Presenter : Julia Brown, MA Gerontology, Community Outreach & Engagement Manager, AGE+

Julia Brown, MA Gerontology, has been a Community Outreach and Engagement Manager since 2021 for AGE+, a 501(c)(3) non-profit championing a new vision for inclusive and equitable aging for all Oregonians, especially isolated and underserved older adults in rural areas. With a focus on Eastern and North Central Oregon, she also works statewide on initiatives such as emergency preparedness, digital literacy, and immunization outreach for older adults, as well as education around our shifting age demographics towards creating a blueprint for a multi-sector, comprehensive plan on aging for the state.

She has 30 years of professional experience in fields such as publishing, financial administration, and retail management. An early degree in creative writing, experience as a caregiver, and a passion for connection as a crucial antidote for illness drive her work today. She is an enthusiastic proponent of approaching the aging process with tools that address biological, psychological, and sociological aspects for overall well-being.

Julia is a member of the American Society on Aging and the Oregon Gerontological Association. She also volunteers for the Eastside Village, one of the ten Villages NW which are part of the nationwide Village Movement that supports older adults aging at home in their community.

Support Equitable, Compassionate Presence

We couldn't be more excited to host our supporters IN PERSON at Hanai Foundation in Bend!

Join the groundswell of support for equitable, compassionate end-of-life care in our community and across the country!

We will be in person on Saturday September 21, 2024 beginning at 4:00 pm until 6:30pm for live music with Jenner Fox, stories of our impact in the community, a Before I Die Wall, and a silent auction and raffle as we raise the funds to continue our mission to help our community live well, age well and die well.

Your ticket purchase includes 2 drink tickets, heavy appetizers & dessert, as well as a take home reusable metal cup. TICKETS ON SALE NOW HERE!

Raffle tickets will be sold for $10 each or 5/$40 at the event- bring cash!
Be sure to register in advance for a bidder number. Even if you can't join us in person, you can still participate in the auction!

Thank you to our sponsors!

Financial and Legal Planning at End-of-Life: Core Considerations 

The Peaceful Presence Project Continuing Education Series Presents:

Financial and Legal Planning at End-of-Life: Core Considerations 
Live Online Webinar with The Peaceful Presence Project and Two Spruce Law
Tuesday, May 21, 2024 from 5:00-6:15 pm Pacific Time

End-of-life planning extends beyond mere tax considerations. It involves ensuring that your wishes are legally, medically, and financially acknowledged and honored. In this workshop, we will delve into the intricacies and advantages of proactive estate planning. Topics will include strategies to sidestep the costly and lengthy probate process, essential insights into the fundamentals of a revocable living trust (and techniques to mitigate or eliminate the impact of the Oregon Estate Tax through tax planning language), and the significance of appointing a power of attorney for financial needs and an advanced directive for healthcare matters. Presenters will also address planning for pets and second marriages.

This workshop is designed for those who seek to delve deeper into understanding the financial and legal aspects of end-of-life care. Equip yourself with the knowledge and resources needed to confidently navigate this pivotal stage of life with assurance and clear understanding.

We are committed to making our programming accessible to all. If the $25 tuition creates a financial barrier to your participation, please email info@thepeacefulpresenceproject.org to request scholarship assistance.

ABOUT TWO SPRUCE LAW

Patricia L. Nelson, Attorney

Patricia Louise Nelson (formerly Patricia L. Heatherman) founded her solo law practice in October, 2006.

Before that, she was with the Merrill O’Sullivan, LLP law firm for nearly 12 years, including 7 years as a partner in that firm.

Before moving to Bend, Oregon, in 1995, Patricia graduated from Willamette University College of Law magna cum laude in 1993. She then clerked for the Honorable Judge Edward Leavy of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Portland, Oregon. Since graduating from law school she has served as a board member and the president of Oregon Women Lawyers, a founding board member and president of Oregon Women Lawyers Foundation, a board member and the president of Growing Tree Children Center, a founding member of Cascade Women Lawyers, president of the Deschutes County Bar Association, as a board member and president of ConnectW (formerly the Network of Entrepreneurial Women), a board member of the Spiritual Awareness Community of the Cascades. She is a graduate of Leadership Bend.

In the spring of 2014, she completed a ministerial training course and was ordained as a Minister of Walking Prayer. In 2015 she completed a course to be certified to teach Radical Collaboration. She brings her spiritual walk actively into her law practice.

Hanah Mirahmadi, Attorney

Hanah graduated from UC Hastings College of the Law and was admitted to the Oregon State Bar in 2023. While in law school, she was awarded Best Oral Argument and Runner Up Best Brief in Moot Court. She also was a founding member and president of Hastings Surf, Climb and Bike club. Before attending Hastings, Hanah graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of California, San Diego.

Hanah moved to Bend in 2022 to be close to family and to take advantage of the area’s abundant nature. She loves to fill her free time with activities, including rock climbing, mountain biking, running, reading, and water coloring.

The Extraordinary Grief of Perinatal Loss

The Peaceful Presence Project Continuing Education Series Presents:

The Extraordinary Grief of Perinatal Loss
Live Online Webinar
Thursday, April 18 from 5:00 - 6:15 pm

Facilitators: Elizabeth Johnson, Executive Director of The Peaceful Presence Project and Jennifer Owens, End-of-Life Doula and Founder of From Butterflies to Angels 

Perinatal loss encompasses a profound and often unacknowledged form of grief, one that reshapes the lives of those affected in ways that can be difficult for others to comprehend. The loss of a child at any stage, whether through miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal death, carries with it a unique set of challenges and emotions.

One of the key difficulties faced by those experiencing perinatal loss is the societal discomfort or lack of understanding surrounding this type of grief. The loss of a child often isn't openly discussed or acknowledged, leading to feelings of isolation and alienation for those grieving. 

Using Dr. Alan Wolfelt’s ‘Six Needs of Mourning’ as a foundation, this workshop will explore the unique realities that surround the experience of perinatal loss, as well as how to skillfully create spaces for open dialogue and compassionate care for individuals and families navigating such a grief journey. Tools learned will include~Things to say and not say to grievers, how to stay present in the face of grief, meaningful ways to offer up support for this specific type of loss, and how best to keep a child's memory alive.

We are committed to making our programming accessible to all. If the $25 tuition creates a financial barrier to your participation, please email info@thepeacefulpresenceproject.org to request scholarship assistance.

The Peaceful Presence Project and Bend Film Presents: Jack Has a Plan

Partial event sponsorship generously donated by the Kaycee Anseth Legacy Foundation and The Oregon Community Foundation (OCF)

Sunday, April 14, 2024 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM PDT
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 61980 Skyline Ranch Rd, Bend, OR 97703

Film Director Bradley Berman, will be in Bend for a post-screening conversation and Q&A with attendees to celebrate the first showing of the documentary in Oregon!

Jack Has a Plan 
When Jack, a man with a terminal brain tumor for 25 years, decides to end his life, his family and friends struggle to accept his decision. Jack's best friend documents his three-year quest to die a happy man.

WATCH THE FILM TRAILER BELOW:

“It’s as joyous, thrilling and funny as any film about death could be.” - San Francisco Examiner

“If dying is an art, Jack Tuller is Picasso.” - Meier Movies 

An opportunity to see a life-affirming film about dying in community, with facilitation provided by The Peaceful Presence Project.

A Virtual Screening of "The Last Ecstatic Days" with The Peaceful Presence Project

Thursday, March 14th, 5:00 PM PDT, Live Stream

Details to view the event are private and will be sent along with your ticket purchase.

Synopsis:

Ethan Sisser, a young man with terminal brain cancer, sits alone in his hospital room.  When he starts livestreaming his death journey on social media, thousands of people around the world join to celebrate his courage. Still, Ethan envisions more – to teach the world how to die without fear.  To do that, he needs to film his death.

Honoring Ethan's wish, his doctor Aditi Sethi transports him to an idyllic house in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina. What unfolds next is a story rarely glimpsed: how a community of strangers helps a young man die with grace.

A sensory immersion into leaving the body, “The Last Ecstatic Days”reveals a man who will not let us forget him – even after he’s taken his final breath.

Post-Screening Discussion Facilitated by The Peaceful Presence Project

A public health approach to palliative care is a health promotion approach to end of life care, one that views the community as an equal partner in the long and complex task of providing quality health care at the end of life. Just as health, according to WHO, is ‘everyone’s responsibility’ so too is death, dying, loss and care.

Join us for a conversation with Luc Deliens, Phd, President of Public Health Palliative Care International. This 90-minute community gathering will be a place to learn and share ideas about cross-sector collaboration, workforce development and the involvement of all members of the community in creating a Compassionate Community model of care in Central Oregon.

In partnership with COCC Public Health, The Peaceful Presence Project welcomes you for this engaging event. Limited to 50 attendees.

We’re all going to die; why don’t we ever talk about it?

Tuesday, March 5, 2024 - 5:30 PM 7:00 PM

Paulina Springs Books, 252 West Hood Avenue Sisters, OR

Join C4C plus several local caregivers and “death doulas” as we discuss one of society’s most taboo topics. We’ll dig into stigmas and fears surrounding death, provide a safe space for folks to share their own experiences with grief, and explore ways to more healthily navigate these topics – both as individuals and a community. Complimentary light refreshments will be provided.

https://citizens4community.com/events/lets-talk-mar-24

Join The Peaceful Presence Project for our 2024 Continuing Education Series : OREGON WHOLE BODY DONATION

LIVE ONLINE WEBINAR : THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024 FROM 5:00-6:15 pm PACIFIC TIME

Every year between 150 and 250 altruistic citizens of Oregon and the greater Pacific Northwest donate their bodies to the OHSU Body Donation Program. In compliance with federal and state law, the donors and their families do not receive monetary compensation for their gift. The average donor profile is 72 years of age and includes roughly equal numbers of women and men.

Our guest presenter, Tamara Ostervoss, has almost 15 years of experience in the deathcare industry and serves as Director of Oregon Health and Science University’s Body Donation Program (BDP).   Tamara is nationally recognized as a leader in the ethical management and utilization of whole body donors and is a board member on the West Coast Body Donation Consortium. Her professional interests are in policy development and advocating for the inclusion of underrepresented groups in anatomical resources.

In this live online webinar Tamara will provide general information on whole body donation, services OHSU’s program provides, discussion of the donation process, and provide a time for questions. 

We are committed to making our programming accessible to all. If the $25 tuition creates a financial barrier to your participation, please email info@thepeacefulpresenceproject.org to request scholarship assistance.

Thursday, December 21, 2023 at 5:00 pm, Drake Park, Downtown Bend, Oregon

This year marks the 33nd  anniversary of the National Coalition for the Homeless “Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day” which began in partnership of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council with three objectives: 1) to shine a bright light on the dark truth that homelessness kills; 2) to ensure that those who died are not forgotten; and 3) to mobilize action to end what is often a death sentence — homelessness. It is the fourth annual local remembrance event.

Each year celebrations take place in the form of outdoor vigils to honor our community members who have died while experiencing homelessness in Central Oregon. At the Vigil we will remember those individuals who are known to us and hold space for those we couldn’t reach. While the true count locally is unknown, as housing status is not included in data gathered when a person passes on; the HLC continues to collect the names of the individuals who died this year while living houseless.

Visit cohomeless.org for additional details and livestream link.

Thank you to members of the Homeless Leadership Coalition for planning this year’s Bend area event.

Family-directed after-deathcare: The Doula role

Live Online Webinar, Tuesday Nov. 14, 5:00-6:15 pm Pacific Time

Historically, care for the dead was handled by family and community – and legally, it is still our right to do so. But for many, our ancestral ways of caring for each other after death have been forgotten. We’ll review  the systemic barriers often encountered by families, and how to address these through diligent education and advocacy. Awareness of these barriers, acknowledging them with community partners, and assisting interested families via education and strategizing ways around any barriers, is part of a compassionate, community care model. We will discuss aspects of deathcare now outsourced to professionals – bathing, dressing, and transporting the body; sourcing a casket, shroud or urn; handling the paperwork – and consider the benefits of more hands-on engagement.

We are committed to making our programming accessible to all. If the $25 tuition creates a financial barrier to your participation, please email info@thepeacefulpresenceproject.org to request scholarship assistance.

SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2023

4:00-6:30 pm

We are delighted to invite you to join the groundswell of support for equitable, compassionate end-of-life care in our community and across the state!

Join us IN PERSON at Hanai of Bend on Saturday September 9th for Live music with Honey Don’t, stories of our impact in the community, the Before I Die Wall, and a silent auction and raffle as we raise the funds to keep The Peaceful Presence Project growing and creating change.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW! PURCHASE HERE

End-of-Life Doulas in Rural Oregon: Improved Support for Living with Advanced Illness

Living with serious illness can be difficult, especially for individuals residing in rural Oregon, where palliative care and hospice are limited or nonexistent. In the past several years, the role of the end-of-life doula has emerged to complement the medical care provided for individuals with serious and terminal illness. Embedding individuals trained to the end-of-life doulas skillset in rural settings can promote access to equitable, compassionate care for those facing life-limiting illnesses. In this workshop participants will learn about the Compassionate Communities model of care and how doulas are positioned to provide emotional, spiritual and practical support in collaboration with care teams. The presentation will also highlight a variety of innovative care models being employed with the goal of bringing more equitable end of life care to rural Oregonians.

Presenters: Elizabeth Johnson, MS and Kari Sims Anthon, Certified End-of-Life Doula and Yoga Therapist. 
Registration Fee:

• OGA members: Free!

• Non-members: $10

• Non-member students/seniors and registrants with limited financial means: $5

OGA is a non-profit organization run by volunteers. Events and donations are our main sources of income to fund our educational and networking programs. However, we understand that many of us are struggling to make ends meet these days. No one will be turned away! If you are interested in this topic but unable to afford the reduced registration fee, please contact us at oregongero@gmail.com - thanks to the generous donations of OGA members and friends throughout the year, we can cover a small number of registrations for each event.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & REGISTRATION HERE

‘Grief literacy’ is defined as "skills and knowledge that enable thoughtful action and compassionate care for those in need." In this workshop, participants will learn tangible skills for normalizing grief and supporting others to navigate the multi-layered landscapes of loss. Through a combination of didactic and interactive exercises and discussions, participants will explore the various faces and sources of grief and learn empathy-bridging tools that encourage person-centered care that is connective and affirming.

This is a part of the 2023 Geriatric Competencies Series -- A free monthly workforce development training series focusing on geriatric competencies for medical and mental health professionals and paraprofessionals who work with older adults. One Thursday each month 9-11 am

* Brought to you by the Older Adult Behavioral Health Initiative Specialists of Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson and Josephine Counties. For more info, visit: www.oregonbhi.org

REGISTER ONLINE : https://www.eventbrite.com/e/grief-literacy-tickets-651317246417

We are delighted to bring Garrett Drew Ellis to our Online Community Education Series!
Join us for this upcoming virtual workshop designed to give community members, as well as practicing end-of-life doulas, the inspiration and skills to share your own legacy or help others to communicate theirs.

Cultivating a Living Legacy: Legacy Work, Writing and Practice is a workshop geared towards helping individuals learn the art and skill of legacy writing and cultivation, all for the sake of doing so for both self and others. Through both presentation and group/individual exercises, participants learn what it means to not only cultivate a living legacy for themselves and for others, but to document this through writing memoirs or other legacy focused projects. 

To be fully present and prepared, individuals will need a journal, computer or something to write with. Participants are welcome to supplement the workshop by purchasing and reading Garrett's work: Write Until You Feel Better: Journal Prompts for Writing through Grief and Depression and the forthcoming "A Stone of Help: The Practice of Remembrance for the Management of Grief " (A Stone of Help will be available for purchase on Amazon June 13, 2023)

Workshop cost $25. Please contact us if this pricing is out of reach- we have scholarships available!
REGISTER HERE:

Location

Downtown Bend Library

This is an in-person program. Registration is not required.

This interactive workshop, hosted by The Peaceful Presence Project, will explore the benefits of a holistic approach to planning ahead for living well as we age. Facilitators will guide participants through various preparedness considerations, including a look at the practical, emotional and spiritual complexities that arise during illness and end of life experiences.

Research shows that the more we can talk about and plan for death and dying in a candid manner, the more we can be moved by life. A willingness to entertain states of preparedness allows individuals to be more clear eyed about what logistical, relational and physical realities might need more attention today, bringing more clarity and wellbeing as one nears the end of life.

Participants will gain exposure to a variety of different end of life planning and contemplative resources, including practice with core elements of The Peaceful Presence Project's evidence-based, holistic guidebook, endnotes. Participants are encouraged to bring a pen and notebook.

Facilitated by Elizabeth Johnson, MA and Erin Collins, RN CHPN

In the world we live in, we often find ourselves speechless in the face of another’s grief, or in the throes of our own. As compassionate community members, caregivers and end-of-life practitioners, there are times when “thoughts and prayers” just don’t seem sufficient.

In this two hour, online experiential workshop, we will talk about the true power of prayer, and how we might add authentic prayer to our toolbox of support. We will explore what “prayer” is— it’s history, meaning and depth. In the second hour of the class, we will begin to develop our own personal prayer that we can use to soothe our own frayed edges or to offer as a gift to someone in need of encouragement.

*Scholarships are available: please email info@thepeacefulpresenceproject.org to request.

Molly Lannon Kenny is a teacher, therapist, lecturer, and writer, who has spent over 30 years dedicating her life to individual transformation and radical social change.
It was her first job in Seattle, at an agency that supported adults with developmental disabilities, that sparked Molly’s winding journey of advocacy, curiosity, compassion and equality, and her love of people in all their complexity.

Molly is the recent founder of La Ermita, a center for contemplative community, where she offers a beautiful, sacred and welcoming space, free meditation, classes, workshops and individual therapy sessions, both live and online.

She draws her primary inspiration from Swami Vivekananda, Ram Dass, Larry Ward, Richard Rohr, Howard Thurman, Liz Caemmerer, and her beloved sister, Erin, who died on October 19, 2018, changing Molly’s life and perspective forever.

Molly is an open ocean swimmer and is currently pursuing her Masters in Theology. She is passionate about anti-colonialism, solidarity, and creating meaningful connections with her beloved local community. 

We are so excited for you to join the groundswell of support for equitable, compassionate end-of-life care in our community and across the country!

Join us IN PERSON at Hanai of Bend on Sunday September 11th for Live music with CJ Neary, stories of our impact in the community, the Before I Die Wall, and a silent auction and raffle as we raise the funds to keep this growing project moving ahead on the momentum we are gaining!

Delicious Food and Beverages provided by:
Alpenglow Adventure Catering
Bend Cider, Silver Moon Brewing, Humm Kombucha and Honig Wines

Tickets are on sale NOW: Only 100 Available!.

Join Peaceful Presence, OUT Central Oregon and BendFilm for an engaging and thought-provoking screening and panel discussion of the documentary Prognosis: Notes on Living.

From Citizen Film and Groundspark:
In perhaps her bravest act, Oscar-winning documentarian and LGBTQ+ activist Debra Chasnoff responds to her diagnosis of a deadly disease by turning the camera on herself.

With the help of with her wife, two adult children, and chosen family, she traces a journey through the twists and turns of living with cancer. What emerges is a raw, funny, and profoundly intimate portrait of shifting relationships and identities—a story about holding onto people we love, as we prepare to let them go.

Friend and Supporter of The Peaceful Presence Project, Kathryn Tucker, JD will present a program both in-person and online at Deschutes Library in Bend. Learn more about the pioneering movement to improve care at the end of life, and in the midst of it, through the use of psychedelic medicines.

More information and registration: CLICK HERE.

Join Peaceful Presence Doulas and yoga teachers Erin Collins and Kari Sims Anthon for an intentional, in-person practice to start 2022.
This event is limited to 20 vaccinated participants.
Please visit this link for details and registration.

As we are immersed in the beauty of the season, we are also at the time of year when "the veil thins" and we are more closely connected to those we have lost. 

We are once again gathering on Zoom next Sunday for our 4th Annual Dearly Departed Virtual Vigil at 4:00pm PST. We would love to have you join us in community  to remember all of our Dearly Departed.

REGISTER BY CLICKING HERE.