FIRST PLACE AWARD WINNER in the Pastoral Ministry category for books, 2013 Catholic Press Association Awards. ( www.catholicpress.org)
A compassionate guide that will enrich the spirit of all those who journey with the dying.
Embracing the End of Life offers caregivers practical tools and guidance to ensure that the journey through aging and the end of life is dignified.
Equally helpful for family members or health care providers, Embracing the End of Life is filled with inspirational stories. It explores important issues including loss, suffering and spiritual care, while considering aspects of dying well, caring well and grief.
Questions provided in the book help caregivers examine their own beliefs about dying so they can help others who face these difficult issues.
Embracing the End of Life is a valuable tool for understanding the special needs of those in the final stage of their lifeʼs journey, and assisting them to live life as fully as possible until they breathe their last.
Michelle O’Rourke RN has a background in emergency nursing, hospice palliative care, parish nursing and pastoral ministry. A frequent speaker and educator, she helped design and open the ten-bed Chatham-Kent Hospice in 2016 and is the author of Befriending Death: Henri Nouwen and a Spirituality of Dying. (Orbis). She is active educating, supporting hospice care, and assisting the Henri Nouwen Society with new materials and retreats for caregivers.
Eugene Dufour is a clinically trained therapist and international speaker on the topics of compassion fatigue, critical incident stress debriefing, bereavement, hospice palliative care and pastoral care. The former Executive Director of the Bereavement Ontario Network, he currently works as a therapist with the Star Family Health Team in Stratford, Ontario.
For more on Michelle O’Rourke, click here.
What people are saying about Embracing the End of Life:
“I believe that this book makes a significant contribution to the literature on the care provided by those who accompany the dying. For the good of the dying, and for the benefit of their care partners, it deserves the reader’s careful attention.
– John Engel, as reviewed in Journal of Palliative Care 28:3 / 2012; 181
“With over 50 years combined experience of pastoral care, lay ministry, nursing, hospice care and counseling between them, O’Rourke and Dufour have written an exceptional guide to understanding; addresses the questions that surround end-of-life illnesses, aging, dying well with dignity at the end of life, and how best to approach the contexts where the personal skills are blessings to the dying, their families, and the pastoral minister.”
– Catholic Press Association, June 2013
“This book is a wonderful gift. The focus on gentle but straightforward approaches to issues relevant to death and dying is refreshing. I would highly recommend this book to clinicians, volunteers and anyone who walks with another person in their journey of terminal illness.”
– Darcy Harris, PhD, FT, Thanatology Coordinator, King’s University College, London, Ontario
“A vital contribution to both the living and the dying.”
– Eunice Gorman, RN, PhD, RSW and Laura Lewis, PhD, RS W, from the Foreword
“The authors’ voices speak from the pages! Their thoughts on ‘being with’ and ‘companioning’ illustrate much grace and respect. A wonderful, practical approach to providing spiritual support.”
– Kath Murray, RN, MA, Certified Hospice Palliative Care Nurse (Canada), Founder and Director, Life and Death Matters
“A fabulous resource. I look forward to keeping copies with me as I care for my palliative clients. I know I will reach for it as often as I reach for my pain and symptom management guidebooks.”
– MaryBeth Cadotte, RN, Palliative Resource Nurse, Chatham, Ontario
“Addresses all key issues and emotions faced at the end of life. Readers will relate easily to this difficult topic.”
– Sherri Auger, President of Caring Matt ers and co-auth or of Now What? A Practical Guide to Dealing with Aging , Illness and Dying (Novalis)