Life Rites Public Programs 2023
At Life Rites we want people to be death literate. We are committed to holding space for conversations and deeper understanding about mortality, illness, dying, death, so we all know what we can do and why we are doing it.
Almost 20 years into the practice, in late 2019 Life Rites stepped into bricks and mortar premises for many reasons. First and foremost, to be able to offer all care onsite in our own mortuary. A total privilege and how it should be.
Running a close second to this, was to hold community events in our venue at 118 Durham St, Hurstville. We had BIG PLANS to throw open our doors to our communities. Things changed in the world in 2020 and well, you know why this has been a long time coming!
We had our inaugural Open Day and death cafe as part of Dying to Know Day in August 2022. We launched our premises and showed people around the funeral home. When we broke off into groups for the tours, so many people chose to join the group visiting the mortuary first….so curious…..
So, it is with great excitement and pleasure that we announce the Life Rites public programs for 2023! Please pop the following dates in your diaries. Hoping to see you there and also do let us know what you would like to come to, to know about, watch and participate in. Share your curiosities and ideas - we are listening!
For now, we would love to invite you to our -
Dying To Know Day, Life Rites Open Day & Death Cafe
Saturday August 12th, 10am - 4pm.
Life Rites @ The Boutique Funeral Home, 118 Durham St, Hurstville.
Our whole team will be present and we will speak to the cornerstones of our doula led, holistic funeral care.
We will again offer tours of our space.
We will be available to answer your questions over tea and cake and hear from you, our community, what you wish to know or experience in your end of life and funeral care.
Before this, we will be offering three film nights, followed by conversation, with tea and snacks:
Friday Film Nights at the Fun Home
6:30pm arrival for 7pm Screening
Life Rites @ The Boutique Funeral Home, 118 Durham St, Hurstville,
Entry by donation
Friday May 19th - 'Departures', 2008.
A newly unemployed cellist takes a job preparing the dead for funerals and begins to perfect the art of "Nokanshi', acting as a gentle gatekeeper between life and death and the family of the departed. The film follows his profound and sometimes comical journey with death as he uncovers the wonder, joy and meaning of life and living. Winner of the 2009 Academy Award for Best International Feature. RSVP here.
Friday June 30th - 'Truly, Madly, Deeply', 1990
A classic. Juliet Stevenson and Alan Rickman star in this story of a woman dealing with inconsolable grief over the death of her partner, who gets another chance when he returns to earth as a ghost.
RSVP link will be available closer to the time on our blog.
Friday September 15th - 'Dick Johnson is Dead', 2020
As her father lives with dementia and nears the end of his life, filmmaker Kirsten Johnson stages his death in inventive and comical ways to help them both face the inevitable. A moving, poignant and entirely original lens on family, memory, loss and love.
RSVP link will be available closer to the time on our blog.
Community Memorial Event
Sunday November 12th, 1pm - 4pm
Following on from the 10 year strong, Picnic Among Friends, we offer a community memorial ceremony and event that brings us together in a beautiful space for creative grieving.
Stay tuned for more details!