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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Herb Rothschild Jr.: Respecting limits ... A Q & A with Schneider interim director Scott Malbaurn ... Four & Twenty Blackbirds Bakery takes flight to new roost ... Herb Rothschild Jr.: Respecting limits ... A Q & A with Schneider interim director Scott Malbaurn ... Four & Twenty Blackbirds Bakery takes flight to new roost ... BUSINESS PROFILE Shenandoah Living Funerals Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Oct. 28, 2014 at 6:49 PM Posted Oct. 28, 2014 at 6:49 PM » RELATED CONTENT • Hats with a Past • The Haven • Advanced Photo & Imaging • Universal Rites Tattoo • Lashland • Fretwell Music • Loving the leather at Village Shoes • Organic & Healthy » Social News Shenandoah Living Funerals • Talent, Oregon  Owner: Vivian Weston   •   shenandoahlivingfunerals.com •  213-200-3464 What service do you offer to the dying and their families? There are too many people who might want to gather friends and family, before the loved one dies, so the person doesn’t miss out on their own funeral. They can hear what people have to say about them — and they can also say what they want to loved ones while they are still here. What will it be like for them? They share pictures, songs, food, music. It’s customized to what they want it to be like. What is your role in the event? They contact me on my website. We meet and talk about it and I arrange everything, including the photographer, catering, venue — and I clean up afterward. I can lead the event or not, as they wish. It can be in a church or synagogue or a park or in their home. I’m an event planner for it. It sounds very different from a memorial. It can be fun. We can put the "fun" back in funeral but, of course, it’s not flippant and is not intended to be a circus. It’s just as sad and serious as a memorial, but you, the die-ee, as I call it, get to be there, with the people you love around you, gathering in your honor. The upside of such an event is you give everyone weeks to get ready. They don’t have to come in an emergency state of mind. Everyone is relaxed. There’s a video for good memories, so the family can play it forever and the dying person can get comfort from seeing it again and again. There can be religious elements or none. The downside might be if people start telling things they’ve held back or if the dying person does. But no one can control that. How did you get this idea? I saw it on a TV show and I thought, wouldn’t it be fun to go to your own funeral, instead of being in a box and not able to hear anything. I thought, let’s talk about all the important things of your life, what you’ve done, how you’ve affected people in your life and how they’ve affected you.   What does it cost? I’m just starting out so I’m starting with $500 minimum and it depends on how many people and other factors. Tell us about yourself. I’m a physical therapist. I’m 61. I’m from Los Angeles. I was a theater major at UCLA and a physical therapy graduate of St. Mary’s Physical Therapy in LA. I live with my longtime partner, Steve. I have two stepchildren. I love pickle ball and just won at women’s doubles at Rogue Valley Country Club. I love my black mutt Maya, who has such a kind face and I named her after Maya Angelou. DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Oct. 28, 2014 at 6:49 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501