Serene Karplus, Nederland.  Many who knew Dave Felkley saw him as a mentor, a man who figured out how to live well and how to die well. Dave was a man who purposely kept life simple, took notes, and did his homework. And then told anyone who would listen, so we could learn from him.

Americans fear death. We all know we can’t get out of this life alive, but we seem to feel like when the time comes, we’ll figure out a way we can somehow wriggle out of the inevitable. If we don’t acknowledge it, it won’t happen to us. If we ignore it, death will go away. We are so busy celebrating life and its many successes, we can’t fathom the day when we won’t be here.

At some point, many of us own up to the truth. Talking about death doesn’t make it arrive any sooner. Just as health insurance does not make us suddenly sick and life insurance does not make us suddenly die, planning for an event with an unknown date does not make it magically materialize.

We can prepare for events that happen when we are busy living our lives. Accident, injury, or illness can hit at any age, when we least expect them. Easing our fears through learning and by setting pen to paper to plan ahead are valuable tools to help us focus on living well without worries. Regardless of our framework of beliefs – religious, atheist, or anywhere in between – dying is a physical change with possible medical, financial, ethical, or legal concerns.

Gathering in community creates a natural environment to learn and act on considerations that may ease a future transition for ourselves or someone we love. A weekly series of workshops and guided conversations about the end of a Life Well Lived provides us with some of the many tools we may need as we look at life’s ultimate transition.

Young and old are welcome to participate in free workshops offered through June. The workshops are appropriate for people of any faith – or none – without any pitches about religion or business. Attend one or all on Sundays at 11:15 a.m., after the services at Nederland Community Presbyterian Church, 210 N. Jefferson Street, Nederland.

June 7: Preparing for Hospice

Hospice Chaplain Reverend Will Reller

June 14: Planning Your Arrangements

Funeral Director Mike Murphy

June 21: The Medical System

Emergency Physician Dr. Don Stader

June 28: Leaving Your Legacy

Financial Planner Sherry Kenney

For those seeking additional inspirational thoughts to ponder, the morning can include the 10:00 a.m. service that precedes the workshops, at which the pastor will discuss related topics such as “Grief & Celebration,” “From Dust to Dust,” “Forgiveness and Reconciliation,” and “What’s next? Heaven? Hell? Hope!”

The hosts offering this series emphasize that attendance at services is ABSOLUTELY NOT required for participation in the separate workshops offered later in the morning.

For further information, please contact Hansen Wendlandt at ncpcpastor@gmail.com or 303-258-3579.