GUILFORD — On Saturday, March 11, from 3 to 5 p.m., Brattleboro Area Hospice will host a reading, song, and conversation event based on Kathy Leo's new book, On the Breath of a Song; the Practice of Bedside Singing for the Dying.
The event will take place at the Guilford Community Church at 38 Church St. This event is free and the public is encouraged to attend.
The community is invited to spend reflective time listening to stories and songs as members of the Hallowell chorus share selected readings from Leo's book. The stories invite you into the room with Hallowell as they sing around a bedside where someone is taking their final breath, according to a news release.
After 13 years of visiting people in the Brattleboro community, Hallowell members have learned the practice of being present and kind while standing close to death and in the heart of grief. But perhaps the greater gift, after years of being with the dying, is the gift of gratitude, kindness, and love that follows them home after each sing.
There are many ways to be with death and dying. Come hear about the possibility of witnessing wellness and beauty at the end of life. People will be invited to share thoughts, personal experiences, and responses in a safe and guided space.
Brattleboro Area Hospice is an independent, nonprofit organization that provides nonmedical support to dying and grieving community members and volunteer-staffed assistance with Advance Care Planning. It is 100 percent locally funded, provides services free of charge, and is located at 191 Canal St. in Brattleboro. Contact them at 802-257-0775 or 802-460-1162, or visit www.brattleborohospice.org.
For more information on the event, or to RSVP, contact the office, call Kathy Leo at 800-257-0294, or email info@brattleborohospice.org.