30 Funerals in 30 Days

The Doyenne of Death Crashes: Funerals, that is.  You've heard of wedding crashers?  Well, this is ... different.  Yes, it is time for Gail Rubin's Second Annual

30 Funerals in 30 Days Challenge

Gail Rubin, aka The Doyenne of Death, is a politically correct funeral crasher. Starting September 30, she will attend 30 funerals or memorial services in 30 days and write about each on The Family Plot Blog. The 30 Funerals in 30 Days Challenge will end on October 30, the 12th annual Create a Great Funeral Day.

Rubin, the author of A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Don’t Plan to Die, is a Certified Celebrant who brings light to a dark subject and helps get funeral planning conversations started.  She says:

Just like the lead characters in the cult film Harold and Maude, I’m attending funerals for people I don’t know. I intend to honor the family and the life of their loved one. This 30 Day Challenge will show there’s no need to fear having end-of-life conversations. Just as talking about sex won’t make you pregnant, talking about funerals won’t make you dead – and your family will benefit from the conversation.

The First Annual 30 Day Challenge ran from October 30 to November 29, 2010, and was described as

"a tour de force, and a valuable piece of social history"

Gail attended public events listed in the obituary pages of her local newspaper - memorial services and funerals, religious and non-religious events, expected and unexpected deaths.  Here is how she started out last year:

Come join Gail this year at:  

http://thefamilyplot.wordpress.com/