Heidi Satterthwaite, who sadly passed away last year at the age of 34 due to a rare form of cancer, made a remarkable choice before her death. She decided to celebrate her life with her loved ones and organized a living funeral, joining a growing trend. With her military husband, Heidi had the opportunity to live in various places, and her warm and inviting personality helped her build a tight-knit community of friends. Jenna Satterthwaite, Heidi’s older sister, appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Women’s Hour to discuss their experience of hosting the event and celebrating Heidi’s life while she was still present.
According to Jenna, the living funeral was a magical and deeply emotional celebration of Heidi’s life. The event resembled a wedding, incorporating elements such as speeches, toasts, dancing, and an energetic playlist that kept everyone on their feet. Jenna shared that initially, they were uncertain about the turnout, fearing they may have only a handful of guests. However, to their surprise and delight, 200 people attended, having made significant efforts to be there and express their farewells to Heidi.
When asked how the living funeral compared to a traditional funeral in terms of providing closure, Jenna likened it to an exclamation point at the end of a sentence – the sentence being Heidi’s life. She described it as a rare moment of reflection and celebration that we often overlook in our fast-paced lives. Jenna highlighted the difficulty humans face in truly celebrating and appreciating life, as we are always chasing the next goal. Coming together as a group to commemorate Heidi’s life offered a special opportunity to acknowledge her existence in a meaningful way.
Jenna also discussed the surge of energy and adrenaline that accompanied the realization that it was time for Heidi to pass away. Channeling this energy into a joyous celebration aligned perfectly with Heidi’s desires for herself and those she left behind.
Jenna shared that Heidi had researched how to navigate the grieving process for herself and her family while she was still alive. In addition to the living funeral, they also held an “at home funeral” after Heidi’s death, choosing to keep her body at home for three days. This decision allowed them to avoid the trauma of strangers removing Heidi’s body and reinforced the belief that she belonged to her loved ones.
During the interview, Jenna also recited a poignant poem she had written about her experience, emphasizing the importance of throwing a party rather than a funeral if one has advance notice of their impending death.
Notably, another living funeral was organized by Kris Hallenga, the founder of the CoppaFeel breast cancer awareness charity. Kris, who is battling stage 4 breast cancer, wanted to celebrate her life through a living funeral. This event was arranged in collaboration with Legacy of Lives, an organization that assists individuals in planning the type of funeral that aligns with their wishes. CEO Rebecca Peach spoke on the show about the significance of living funerals, emphasizing the importance of honoring the deceased’s voice and legacy. Rebecca stressed that many people neglect to plan the kind of funeral they desire, and Legacy of Lives aims to provide free support to those making end-of-life arrangements.
Rebecca also highlighted the taboo nature of discussing death and the difficulties surrounding offering support in such situations. She hopes that by speaking out, she can help demystify death and provide assistance to individuals and families navigating this challenging topic.
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