End of Year Wrap Up 2024

Words from Victoria Spence:

Hello everyone and thank-you for taking the time to read our Life Rites end of year missive. 2024 has been a huge year; both in terms of our company growth and within the landscape of end of life, after death and funeral care. We remain proudly independent, offering a unique set of services and skills.  We have cared for more people this year than ever before. We have consolidated our doula work, our community outreach and grown our team. 

Notable experiences and developments this year include: 

Continued community relationships

Life Rites has continued to strengthen our community relationships and partnerships, reinforcing our commitment to holistic end-of-life care and community and cultural literacy and knowledge.  We are proud to collaborate with the social work department of Sydney University to position Life Rites as a best practice model in supporting families through the complexities of end-of-life care. Our connection with ACON has been instrumental in developing and launching a series of workshops tailored for the LGBTQI community, addressing grief and bereavement through suicide loss, with sensitivity and care. Our team has actively participated in Death Cafes and community death literacy programs, fostering open conversations about death and grief in their local areas. As part of Dying to Know Day, we hosted our annual open day, inviting the public to explore our premises and learn about our compassionate approach to funeral services. We were also thrilled to be part of The Sydney Festival of Death and Dying, a vibrant event that brought the community together to share knowledge, stories, and creative practices surrounding death. These collaborations reinforce our dedication to empowering communities with understanding and support during life's most profound transitions.

The gift of our Cuddle Cot

This year, we received the gift of

a Cuddle Cot to better support families experiencing the heartbreak of infant loss. The Cuddle Cot provides families with precious time to spend with their baby, allowing them to create memories, say goodbye, and grieve at their own pace. This was a legacy gift from Nicole Grundy and Bears of Hope for which we are extremely grateful. By providing this invaluable resource, we hope to offer comfort during an incredibly difficult time and give families the space to honour their baby's life with love and tenderness. Supporting families through infant loss remains a deeply meaningful part of our work, and we are honoured to walk alongside them in their journey.

First full year of Voluntary Assisted Dying in NSW (VAD)

Life Rites has supported  many families navigating VAD as NSW passes its first full year of this option at end of life becoming legally available for eligible individuals. As this deeply personal choice becomes more accessible, we have worked to improve our understanding, literacy, and care practices to ensure compassionate support for individuals and their family during this profound time. And within the broader community. Each experience has deepened our appreciation for the courage and thoughtfulness behind such decisions, allowing us to develop specialised services both to the person choosing VAD and those who love them.  We remain committed to offering a safe space, guidance, and respect for all families as they honour their people with dignity and grace.

Australia and NSW have some of the strictest guidelines for eligibility of VAD and community attitudes, feelings and understanding have continued to grow and develop over the year that it has been available. We thank the VAD Dr’s, nurses, pharmacists, witnesses and volunteers for all you do as families and communities navigate this offering within our end of life choices.

Life Rites Mortality Doula and Holistic Funeral Director, Sarah Barry (pictured) wrote, “When it came to my friend and doula client using VAD, I was grateful that she was able to access a safe and peaceful way to die. Her terminal illness had taken so much, and accessing VAD gave her autonomy over her own body when she needed that the most. She chose her moment well, and it was a privilege to be there at her final breath, and to then be able to step in as her funeral director for continuity of care. I feel comforted knowing that people at the end stages of life who choose to can have Voluntary Assisted Dying as a safe, supported and viable option, and I feel at peace knowing I could be there for my friend in this way.”

Life Rites welcomed Ben Gibson and Chantel Jurcevic into the fold

This year, we welcomed Ben Gibson and Chantel Jurevic to the Life Rites Funerals team. Ben brings a wealth of experience and a deep passion for the end-of-life space, with a focus on holistic care, personalised ceremonies, and death literacy. With his background in funeral services, death education, and community engagement, Ben has enriched our team’s capacity to support families through meaningful and authentic experiences. His compassionate approach and dedication to supporting communities align perfectly with our values, and we are thrilled to have him as part of the Life Rites family.

Chantel has been proactive in ensuring Life Rites continues to have a presence in social media. With her creative vision and passion for meaningful storytelling, Chantel has brought new energy to our online presence. Through her thoughtful approach, she has helped us share our values, connect with communities, and raise awareness about the importance of holistic end-of-life care. We are excited to see how her expertise continues to enrich our outreach and engagement in the year ahead.

Arts and Cultural Programs

Life Rites has continued to deepen our involvement in arts and cultural programs, exploring the intersection of creativity, community, and mortality. Highlights included  our resident Co

smic Nuns - Sarah Barry, Victoria Spence, and Aunty Rhonda Dickson, producing ‘Death Rites and Life Rites as part of the NSW Art Gallery’s Public Programs in association with the Louise Bourgeois exhibition. The Cosmic Nuns were also honoured to  open ACON’s World Overdose Awareness Day (pictured). A night of storytelling, deep listening and performances that acknowledged this day and the impact on communities. This year also saw Victoria Spence offering the Community Memorial Picnic among Friends as part of The Cementa Festival in the rural town of Kandos, further demonstrating the power of art and ritual in navigating grief and loss.

Looking ahead, we are excited about several projects currently in development, set to debut in 2025, including Grief Works 2, the launch of the Life Rites podcast, our inaugural doula workshop and training program and a series of talks on art and mortality. 

As always, we are full and engaged in the provision of the very best care for all who walk through our door as well as continuing to develop the skills of our team and the literacy of our communities and culture.

Thank you for your support in 2024. Go gently at this time of year and we wish you a gentle and restorative time in 2025.

Love,
The Life Rites team.