The End-of-Life Journey: Transforming Sorrow into Celebration

March 15, 2021
Hosted by Ron Roel

[Download MP3] [itunes] [Bookmark Episode]

Guest Information

Episode Description

Helping a loved one prepare for the end of life is uncharted territory for many of us. But this challenge is also a part of life’s natural journey, which provides a unique opportunity for families to support and honor their loved ones. In this unusually open and inspiring conversation, Susan Capurso, an End-of-Life Doula, and Lisa Strahs-Lorenc, a bereavement specialist, discuss how they guide families emotionally, practically, and spiritually through this difficult phase to a place of calm, peace and acceptance—and yes, celebration. Susan and Lisa also offer comprehensive courses and workshops to help people—no matter what their age—create a legacy of their life through written remembrances, recorded audio and video stories, scrapbooks and other vehicles, so current and future generations will be able to remember and cherish them for who they are. And they provide an array of resources and strategies that enable individuals to live life fully after the loss of a loved one, to move on, accept and discover their own journey.

45 Forward

Monday at 12 Noon Pacific Time on VoiceAmerica Variety Channel

Thanks to advances in medicine and health, most of us are just at half-life when we reach our mid-40s, with many potentially productive years ahead. But there’s no road map to prepare us for this period. That’s where 45 Forward comes in.

My show provides you with strategies to shift the traditional waiting-for-retirement model to a journey of compelling life chapters. Each show tackles an aspect of health, finance, family and friends, housing, work and personal pursuits as part of an integrated plan. Experts discuss topics like revitalizing relationships, creating mini-retirements, managing the maze of technology, finding your next homestead and caring for aging parents.

The show instills confidence, and hopefully some comfort, amid the stresses permeating today’s society. Fear of the future is not knowing how to prepare for it. 45 Forward does not proffer prefabricated answers, but helps you shape your life amid the daily anxieties of our time.

Ron Roel

I’m a veteran journalist who spent a wide-ranging career covering business, politics and social issues, the last two decades focusing on the blend of diverse life skills I call successful aging.

I have written extensively on aging topics, spoken at conferences, radio and TV shows, and launched several entrepreneurial ventures, discovering along the way that the path to aging well also requires an unexpected entrepreneurial vision. I spent 20 years as a writer and editor at Long Island’s daily newspaper, Newsday, helping to found Act 2, a weekly section for 50-plus readers. I created Roelresources.com, a website offering practical advice and inspirational essays for people ages 40 and above. I have been a volunteer and consultant to AARP Long Island, writing articles, advocating for seniors, and developing action plans for the AARP Age-Friendly Communities initiative.

I am active in programs and organizations that support seniors, such as the National Aging In Place Council and the Senior Umbrella Network. I have developed a special expertise in family caregiving, as one of four brothers who took care of their mother for almost 25 years. I regularly collaborate with many professionals who provide services and support for older Americans, and I am completing a book for caregivers on Long Island, “The Caregiving Navigator/How to Plan, What to do, and Where to Turn When Caring for you Aging Loved Ones. And Yourself,” scheduled for publication in early 2021.

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