Patrick McNally

For many, the idea of returning our bodies to the earth is a sacred and appealing concept. Those of us with a special bond to a particular patch of earth have found ways of making this return even...

In Portland Oregon's beautiful Rose City Cemetery, there is a section of Gypsy graves. The monuments on these graves are interesting enough during most of the year because of the photographs of men...

Designer Nadine Jarvis has produced some very thought provoking art work using cremated remains. But before you say, "Oh, I've seen those paintings and glass sculptures with the ashes mixed in"...

Participation is powerful. Often, children lack an opportunity to truly participate in the funeral services for their loved ones. When I was 8 and my brother 9, our father died after a few months of...

"The clear, melodic notes of a brass band marching along Chinatown's Stockton Avenue catch the attention of an Asian woman picking over produce at a sidewalk vegetable stand. As the band turns the...

When I was an apprentice, the directors told me a story that has shaped the way I view funerals and family requests to this day. Sometimes it happens that two people who are very close die at nearly...