Blog archive
April 2024
Tulsa reparations, Religion and Politics
04/09/2024
March 2024
Trumps War with Black Women
03/31/2024
Addressing The Needs of Older Adults Through Pasadena Village
03/25/2024
Coming Soon: More Resources for Older Americans, Online and in Person
03/25/2024
Community Building Locally and Nationally
03/25/2024
Preparing for the Future with Ready or Not
03/25/2024
Volunteering is at The Heart of the Village
03/25/2024
Women's Liberation: Then and Now
03/25/2024
Writing Memoirs Together
03/25/2024
Current Views on Current Events
03/20/2024
Unchained
03/18/2024
Rumr of Humor issue # 2409
03/10/2024
Blacks Portrayed by European Artists
03/03/2024
Rumor of Humor #2408
03/03/2024
February 2024
Caring for Ourselves and Each Other
02/27/2024
Doug Colliflower Honored
02/27/2024
Great Decisions Connects Us to the Worldwide Community
02/27/2024
Letter from the President
02/27/2024
Pasadena Village's Impact
02/27/2024
The Power of Touch
02/27/2024
Villages as a New Approach to Aging
02/27/2024
Addressing Gang Violence in Pasadena-Altadena
02/21/2024
Rumor of Humor Issue 2407
02/19/2024
Thank You For Caring.
02/12/2024
Rumor of Humor 2405
02/11/2024
Curve Balls
02/10/2024
Sylvan Lane
02/10/2024
Rumor of Humor 2404
02/09/2024
Larry Duplechan, Blacks in Film
02/03/2024
January 2024
Pasadena Village Joins Community Partners in Vaccination Campaign
01/29/2024
Rumor of Humor #2403
01/28/2024
Pasadena Village Joins Two Healthy Aging Resource Projects
01/25/2024
Decluttering: Do It Now
01/24/2024
Village Volunteers Contribute to the Huntington Magic
01/24/2024
Villagers Creating Community
01/24/2024
Villagers Reflect on Black History Month
01/24/2024
Walk With Ease, 2024
01/24/2024
Wide Ranging Discussion on Current Issues
01/22/2024
Wide Ranging Discussion on Current Issues
01/22/2024
Rumor of Humor # 2402
01/21/2024
Rumor of Humor # 2401
01/15/2024
Re- Entry Programs, a Personal Experience
01/08/2024
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”.