Blog archive
June 2023
Bridget Brewster Discovers Village Benefits
06/04/2023
Rumor of Humor #16
06/04/2023
Communications Project with Cal State LA
06/02/2023
Creative Aging
06/01/2023
May 2023
One Villager's Story
05/31/2023
Pasadena Area Liberal Arts Center
05/31/2023
Pasadena Village Responds to Rainbow Flag Burning at Pasadena Buddhist Temple
05/31/2023
Plan Ahead - And Be Prepared
05/31/2023
Tuesday, May 23 Pasadena Celebrated Older Americans
05/31/2023
Reparations, Social Justice Activity
05/24/2023
Rumor of Humor #14
05/19/2023
Rumor of Humor #13
05/12/2023
Issue #12
05/09/2023
Science Monday - Review of Meeting on April 10, 2023
05/09/2023
Conversations Re African American Artists Before 1920
05/08/2023
Beyond the Village – Suzi and Phil Hoge
05/01/2023
Congratulations Wayne April! Honored at UNH
05/01/2023
Table Topics
05/01/2023
Volunteer Appreciation at the Village
05/01/2023
“ACCIDENTAL HOST—The Story of Rat Lungworm Disease”
05/01/2023
April 2023
Jumbo Joy
04/24/2023
Pasadenans Recent Experience With Racism
04/23/2023
Recent Events Reflecting Racism
04/23/2023
Fig and Goat Cheese Bruschetta
04/18/2023
Photography for Social Justice
04/11/2023
Issue #8
04/07/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - Catherine Deely
04/06/2023
Creative Writing in Older Adults
04/06/2023
Gifts of Love
04/06/2023
March 2023
Issue #7
03/31/2023
Issue #6
03/26/2023
Great Decisions update
03/14/2023
Dominion Lawsuit, South Africa and 710 Stub
03/08/2023
February 2023
2023 DEI Progress
02/27/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - Doug Colliflower
02/26/2023
CONVERSATIONS WITH ART
02/26/2023
GREAT DECISIONS
02/26/2023
OLDER ADULTS RESOURCE FAIR
02/26/2023
The Important, Influential Books in our Lives - Revisited
02/26/2023
History, Resolution of the 710 Freeway
02/19/2023
Eminent Domain, 710 Highway
02/13/2023
Bernard Garrett, 710 Freeway
02/06/2023
Men's Times Gatherings
02/03/2023
January 2023
Pasadena's Senior Commission
01/30/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - JIM HENDRICK
01/27/2023
GRATITUDE - IT'S GOOD FOR YOU!
01/27/2023
JEFF GUTSTADT - FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST
01/27/2023
Bernard Garrett, Incredible Black Entrepreneur
01/17/2023
What is the "Spirit Talk" Group About?
01/16/2023
Same Ol’ New Year, Brand New Me
01/12/2023
Review of 2022, Consideration of 2023
01/06/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - PATTI LA MARR
01/03/2023
FROM THE CHAIR
01/03/2023
WALK WITH EASE
01/03/2023
Table Topics
By Priyanka KumarPosted: 05/01/2023
The Pasadena Village “Table Topics” program provides an informal forum for discussing a topic of interest to our members. Gathered around a table enjoying a meal together can be an easy, sociable way to discuss difficult topics. The April Table Topics covered a rather macabre subject: what would you like done with your remains? The members around the table had a variety of fascinating insights into this topic.
Toni Cavanaugh Johnson, who had brought up the topic, was not able to join us, but her choice is literally out of this world! She and her husband decided to have their remains launched into space as part of the Celestis space burial service. Toni said, “When I die, both of our ashes will be launched together so we can circle around our children and grandchildren and all of you. We like to travel together…” For more information, check out Celestis here.
Other members were more “grounded” when thinking about what they wanted done with their remains. Dave Folz would like to be part of the forest near Lake Arrowhead! He has fond memories of Lake Arrowhead from the many summers he spent there as a child. It turns out that Lake Arrowhead is one of the locations used by “A Better Place Forest”. This organization “will return your ashes to the earth beneath a memorial tree your family and friends can visit for years to come”. The tree replaces the customary tombstone. See the Better Place Forest website here for more information.
Anne Hill has a relaxed approach on what should be done with her remains. She has let her children know that she wants to be cremated and wants her ashes to be scattered near water or in a forest. She is not so relaxed about the other details of her passing. She has meticulously organized her wishes, from her memorial service to her account passwords to where she has stored the extra house key! She has written down all of this information for her children so they have everything they need at her passing (even though her children tell her they don’t want to think about this topic!)
As someone who falls in the category of “child,” I totally understand what Anne’s children are thinking. However, I admire all of these Village members for being so diligent as to plan ahead. Such forethought will make things so much easier for us “children”.