Pocket Cemetery Inspired by Recent Celebrity Deaths

The pre-release of the new iPhone app, Pocket Cemetery has been inspired by the recent series of celebrity deaths, most notably Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Ed McMahon and Billy Mays.

Remembering Michael Jackson


Remembering Farrah Fawcett and Billy Mays


About Pocket Cemetery

According to their Website Pocket Cemetery is the first iPhone application that allows users to create virtual memorials for departed loved ones using customizable tombstones with pictures, bios and favorite memories. Users can easily create personalized plots for dead relatives, friends, pets, celebrities or anyone they want to memorialize. Aside from creating memorials, Pocket Cemetery also allows users to place virtual flowers on graves along with sending personal prayers and messages to dead loved ones.

Debating the Merits of Pocket Cemetery

Technology people are twittering and debating the merits of an application like Pocket Cemetery. Many feel it is exploiting those who have experienced a loss. With an introductory price of $1.99 and the regular price of $2.99, it seems like a very small price to pay for an application that could be very beneficial in helping someone cope with a loss.

Share Your thoughts on Pocket Cemetery

You can share your thoughts on Pocket Cemetery on the Pocket Cemetery page or by Tweeting your thoughts on Twitter with the hashcode #iGrief.

I am curious to know what some of the other people in the fields of grief, loss, bereavement and death and dying think about using new technologies to help those grieving a loss.

More:

Dyer K. 2009. Pocket Cemetery: A Way to Carry Departed Loved Ones in a Pocket. Squidoo.com.

Press Release. 2009. New iPhone App Memorializes Dead Loved Ones In The Palm Of Your Hand. PRWeb.

Rest in Peace - June's Deaths

People often believe when a celebrity dies, they go in three's. This isn't the case for the month of June.

There must be something in the air or the planets must be in the wrong alignment during the month of June. In the span of a couple of weeks we have lost more than just a few celebrities. Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, Billy Mays and early in the month David Carradine.

Hopefully the trend won't be continuing into July. Yesterday we saw the death of Karl Malden.

Some of these deaths were more anticipated--Ed McMahon and Karl Malden both advanced ages, Farrah Fawcett battling cancer--some of these deaths were sudden, accidental and unexpected--Michael Jackson and Billy Mays both only 50 years old.

I found this image from Mary Ann Hernandez this morning and the photo was such a good visual and a healing visual in some ways. It helped put all of these deaths into some perspective.

The other song that has been going through my head this week after hearing the death of Michael Jackson is the Righteous Brothers, Rock and Roll Heaven.

If there's a rock and roll heaven,
Well you know they've got a hell of a band.

Thoughts and condolences to all of the families, friends and fans of those who have died this June.

More:
Dyer KA. 2009. Twitter to Announce Deaths, Send Sympathies and Condolences. Squidoo.
Dyer KA. 2009. June 25, 2009. A “Where were you when…” Day. Grief, Loss and Bereavement Edublog.

Image Source: Mary Ann Hernandez. R.I.P. Creative Commons. Some Rights Reserved.

More on Helping Children Cope if Harry Potter Dies

Apparently I had a lot of thoughts on the upcoming Harry Potter Book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" and the possible impact a death of any of these fictional character friends may have on young readers. As parents we'd like to shelter our children from the pain of dealing with a death.

More on Helping Children Cope with the Death of a Friend
After writing yesterday's post on Children are likely to Grieve Over Any Deaths in the Latest Harry Potter Book for this blog more from the position of a grief and loss expert, I contributed some additional thoughts on Helping Children Cope if Harry Potter Dies for the Type-A Mom site, more from the position of being a concerned parent, who is also a grief and loss expert.

This newest blog includes more reasons for concern, why the death of Harry Potter is a big deal along with the Tips for Helping Children Deal with the Death of a Beloved Fictional Friend.

Helping Children Cope with Death and Dying
Perhaps the important thing for parent to remember in the likelihood that several of these characters dies is to try and support your child and help him or her cope with the loss of a friend.

Much as we might like to shelter our children from the realities of death and dying as a parent, the reality is death is a part of life. Last spring, my daughters had to cope with the death of their grandfather.

Read the New Article and Bookmark it
Visit the Type-A Mom site to read Helping Children Cope if Harry Potter Dies.

While visiting the Type-A Mom site, be sure to Digg the article, Babblz the article and add it to your favorite bookmark site.

Source:
Dyer KA. Helping Children Cope if Harry Potter Dies. Type-A Mom Site. July 19, 2007.

Photo Source: Joel Terrell. A Mother and Son Moment. Royalty Free Use.

Children are likely to Grieve Over Any Deaths in the Latest Harry Potter Book

There have been hints that two of the major characters in Harry Potter, including possibly Harry himself, will be killed in the last of the Harry Potter books, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" due out on Saturday July 21, 2007.

Author J.K. Rowling is expected to kill off two characters in this last book as a way to indicate to readers that the Harry Potter series is finally over. There is a concern that young fans of Harry Potter and his friends may have difficulties coping with the death or deaths if their favorite characters are killed off.

Is it Death for Harry Potter?

Deaths of Public Figure can become Teachable Moments
When Steve Irwin was suddenly killed in September last year I was the Death, Dying and Bereavement Guide at About.com. I wrote about talking to a child about the death of the Crocodile Hunter, as being a teachable moment* for parents to share with their children.

With J.K. Rowling's plans to kill off one or more of the Harry Potter characters another teachable moment* may emerge--an opportunity for parents talk with their children about death. It is likely that many children will be saddened by the loss and truly grieve any of the death(s) in the Harry Potter book.

These teachable moments* can be an excellent opportunity for parent to explain the dying and death to a child. In the latest case, parents will probably need to address the death(s) of one of their "friends," the Harry Potter characters.

*A teachable moment is a moment of educational opportunity: a time at which a person, especially a child, is likely to be particularly disposed to learn something or particularly responsive to being taught or made aware of something.

Coping with the Death(s) of a Harry Potter Character(s)
For avid Harry Potter fans it may be very difficult for them to cope with the death of one or more of their characters. Even though parents may take the realistic view that “it’s just a book” the Harry Potter characters are very real to children, and they may be saddened and distressed. Parents, counselors, teachers, psychiatrists and children’s camp leaders are anticipating a lot of teary fans after reading the final book.

Children can experience different emotions in response to a death, even the death of a fictional character. Some will become sad, many will cry, other will become distressed. Other children may not appear to be distressed, rather will take the deaths in stride (or more likely may not want to talk about it). These are all normal reactions to a death.

Depending on the way the death(s) occur, many children may be confused disappointed or distraught. Parents should be sure that they know about how the deaths occurred, in order to answer questions. Read the book or check the fan sites for details.

How to Help Children Cope with a Death
According to child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. David Fassler:

The death of a well-known public figure can be hard to comprehend or accept. Understandably, some young children may feel sad or confused.

As parents, teachers and caring adults, we can best help by listening and responding in an honest, consistent and supportive manner.

When trying to help a child cope with death it is helpful to:

• Know what is going on with the death (In the case of Harry Potter, read the book or synopsis).
  
• Answer his or her questions about death in simple terms.
• Not minimize the loss.
• Listen to your child.
• Be supportive if the child is emotional. (A normal response.)
• Be supportive if the child is not emotional. (Also a normal response.)
  
• Be available when the child is ready to talk.
• Let your child have time to grieve, be upset and talk about what they are experiencing.
• Give your child different ways to express the loss--verbal, written, creative, musical and physical.

Additional Resources to Help Children Cope with Death

• Helping Children Cope with Death - By Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT from Journey of Hearts.
• Talking to Children About the Death of a Public Figure - By Dr. David Fassler, from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
• Helping Children Cope With Loss - A shorter article from the National Mental Health Association
• Talking To Children About Death - An extensive article from Hospice Net, based on a Key Not Speech by J.W.Worden PhD
• The Child's Loss: Death, Grief and Mourning - From Dr. Bruce Perry of the ChildTrauma Academy.
• Helping Children Cope with Death - Online version from MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving). Also available as a downloadable PDF File brochure.
  

Sources:
Meltz BF. What is a parent to do if Harry or Ron dies? July 18, 2007. The Boston Globe.
Dyer KA. Talking to a Child about the Death of Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin ~ A Teachable Moment. September 10, 2006. Dying.about.com
Definition. Teachable Moment. Encarta® World English Dictionary [North American Edition] © 2007.

Photo Source: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The Leaky Cauldron. http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/