Tag: die

Our two dogs—what my wife and me considered our first "children"—graduated to the dog park in the sky.

Ivy, a 16-year-old blue Merle Australian shepherd, and Hunter, a 14-year-old black chow shepherd mix, lived long, relatively healthy lives. However, in the end, we felt we had to assist them along their journey allowing them to leave with dignity and not suffer unduly.

Both Ivy and Hunter were adopted after an early life of abuse. Ivy sprung back very well after she adjusted to her new family.

Have you defined what it means to you to "die well?" If you’re like most of us, the answer is probably "no." For my husband Bruce, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer, dying well meant he died at home surrounded by his loving family, free of fear and pain.

While most Americans prefer to die at home and have control over their healthcare decisions, this is not the case for many of us. Although 90% of those on Medicare say they want end-of-life care at home, only one-third achieve it.

Life insurance for married couples is a good idea, especially if you have or plan to have kids. But knowing you need life insurance and buying it are two different things, and it can get complicated trying to get the right type and amount.

The coverage you get can protect your partner from a financial crisis in the event of your death. But even the general understanding that you need insurance might not be enough, so it’s important to consider your personal needs.

The following is a round-up of news items compiled by the Hitched editors during the week of August 14, 2014.

Dying From A Broken Heart Might Be Real
Last month, Don and Maxine Simpson, a couple from Bakersfield, CA, who had been married for 62 years passed away just four hours apart, according to their hometown paper The Bakersfield Californian. Maxine had been battling bladder cancer, and on July 14 Don broke his hip and entered the hospital after contracting pneumonia. On July 19th, Don had his bed moved next to Maxine's so the couple could be next to each other. On July 21, Maxine passed away at roughly 7 a.m. and just four hours later Don passed. While the local paper doesn't mention the cause of Don's death, it might have been from a broken heart.

No matter how many times you wished your mother-in-law were dead when she unexpectedly dropped in for a visit, would you be ready to cope with the real thing? When your spouse loses a parent, you may be thrown into an uncharted ocean of emotion you may not be ready for. "When a parent dies, part of your past dies," says Heidi Horsley, a therapist and grief expert