Triggered by the death of her Dad a few days ago, Jo reflect with Stig on what makes a good death. They think about how to talk about death and the dangers of assuming that it is always terrible and tragic. As chaplains we must be cautious and tentative in locating just how people might be feeling about their own death or that of their loved one. Death is a wholly individual experience and not a path that we travel more than once, so it is unchartered territory. Some people may be strengthened by the presence of others and others may wish to die alone as a deeply personal and private experience. The challenge can be in reading the situation. At times relief is part of the emotional mix and this is legitimate, not something to feel guilty about. There can be humour and serendipity - not everything needs to be solemn or explained. And we reflect on how, as a chaplain, knowledge of your experience of loss can trigger others to share theirs and how loss of parents is different and can have lifelong reverberations.
