A group of leading death educators, academics, funeral professionals and end-of-life advocates gathered in London to explore how society can become more comfortable talking about death. They also discussed how funerals, cremation, education and technology may evolve as attitudes toward mortality change. The Gathering of Death Literacy and End-of-Life Conversation…
Read MoreDeath educator, speaker, and author Gail Rubin, known internationally as The Doyenne of Death, announces the release of her newest book, 98.6 Mortality Movies to See Before You Die. This groundbreaking guide uses films and television shows to spark meaningful conversations about mortality, funerals, grief, and end-of-life planning. Scheduled for…
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The Before I Die New Mexico Festival and Death Is Not a Dirty Word Resource Fair drew an enthusiastic crowd of more than 200 attendees on Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Albuquerque. An additional 60 participants joined virtually via Zoom for three panel discussions…
Read MoreBy Thomas A. Parmalee Gail Rubin, 65, may be able to put a Before I Die Festival into a box, but you’d be hard pressed to put her into a box. She’s not a licensed funeral director, she’s not a traditional supplier to the death-care profession and she’s not a…
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Gail Rubin, the “Doyenne of Death,” took home the prestigious Community Educator Award from the Association for Death Education and Counseling at its recent conference in Houston. The award is in “recognition of her accomplishments and dedication to the field of thanatology.” In a post on LinkedIn, Rubin shared that…
Read MoreThe sixth annual Before I Die New Mexico Festival is set to take place in Albuquerque, New Mexico from Oct. 16 to Oct. 21, 2023. This thought-provoking event aims to foster a collective exploration of life's most meaningful aspirations and encourage open conversations about mortality, dreams and the human experience.…
Read MoreFuneral directors and cemeterians who want to generate preneed sales can learn how to hold an end-of-life conversation-starting event with the Before I Die Festival in a Box by Gail Rubin, a certified thanatologist known as "the doyenne of death." (A doyenne is a woman considered senior in a group…
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