Saying Goodbye To Someone You Love is a compilation of true-life stories about how others have faced end of life and grief.  Hundreds of poignant, touching, loving, humorous personal experiences address readers' concerns and curiosity about how others have faced life's final chapter with love and dignity. 

The narratives complemented interspersed with practical suggestions.  Those caring for a loved one through the last stages of life will find suggestions on how to follow their hearts and their instincts in an endeavor to say a meaningful goodbye.  For those who are grieving, the true-to-life-stories demonstrate how others have navigated the tidal wave of emotions and reactions that characterize the grief process.  For health care professionals and those who are offering support to others, Saying Goodbye To Someone You Love provides a new perspective on the challenges of caring for the dying and living with grief.   Specific topics include talking about death, hospice, funerals, grieving, and celebrating life.

Saying Goodbye To Someone You Love empowers readers by:

Introduction; 1. The Elephant in the Room; 2. The Conversation; 3. The "H" Word...What is Hospice?; 4. Caregiver Challenges; 5. Celebrating Life; 6. Preparing to Say Goodbye; 7. Final Moments; 8. Funerals; 9. Memorials; 10. Grieving; 11. What About the Children?; 12. Supporting Those Who Grieve; 13. Creating a New Life; Epilogue; Resources

About the Authors

Norine Dresser is a folklorist and writer. She is the author of Multicultural Manners: New Rules of Etiquette for a Changing Society; Come as You Aren't: Feeling at Home with Multicultural Celebrations and also wrote the eight-year award-winning Los Angeles Times column, "Multicultural Manners." She has a BA in anthropology and an MA in folklore / mythology, both from UCLA. She taught for twenty years at California State University Los Angeles, lectures frequently, and has worked with a variety of government agencies and associations including the New York State Department of Health, Food Stamp and Nutrition Workers; Methodist Hospital of Southern California; Children's Hospital of Los Angeles; and the American Dietetic Association. She is an internationally recognized expert on cultural traditions and rituals from around the world.

Fredda Wasserman, MA, MPH, LMFT, CT is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified in Thanatology: Death, Dying and Bereavement.  She is a Clinical Director of Adult Programs and Education at OUR HOUSE Grief Support Center, the leading non-profit grief center in California.  She received her Masters degree in Health Education & Health Administration from the UCLA School of Public Health and her Masters in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University.  Fredda  presents workshops and seminars on end of life and grief for therapists, clergy, educators, and medical professionals at locations throughout the country including the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California.  Recognized as an expert in guided imagery, Fredda has created a series of guided meditation CDs for relaxation and stress management and maintains a private psychotherapy practice in Los Angeles.