Seminar to tackle tough topic: Death

Don't know what to say when a loved one has been diagnosed with a terminal disease? Feel awkward talking to a grieving friend?

On Saturday, St. Luke's Episcopal Church will present a free discussion forum on "Conversations with Death."

According to Georgianne Jessen, a co-organizer of the event, "This will not be about preaching religion. It's about the communication people need in their own lives."

The Rev. Nolan Redman, a retired Episcopal priest and a panel speaker at the seminar, has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.

"People don't know what to say to someone who has cancer," Redman said. "Some people avoid talking to me because of that. I think it's fear. There's a lot of discomfort about this.

"The purpose of this event is to encourage people to not fear dying themselves and to not fear talking about dying to others. It's so important because so many people die without having had conversations with their families."

The "Conversations with Death" program was started a few years ago in Sandpoint. This will be its first year in Coeur d'Alene. At Saturday's event, guest speaker Dr. Robert Ancker of Hospice of North Idaho will join several panelists from the Sandpoint program. Following the presentations there will be group discussions.

"We're either going to break up into table discussions or a room discussion," Jessen said. "It depends on the dynamics of the group.

"Hopefully what each participant will take away is a better understanding of what they need to say to family or friends about how they want to live while they're dying - about what they want their life to be while they go through the dying process."

The event is 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 14, in the parish hall of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Coeur d'Alene.

Information: 664-5533 or www.stlukescda.org