In Lieu of Flowers

A thought-provoking exploration of life''s most profound transition With candor and refreshing perspectiveNancy Cobb infuses the oft-avoided subject of death with light presenting it as a natural process to be honored rather than feared. This meditation on grieving is personal and persuasive sustenance for the mind and the soul. Wally Lamb #1 New York Times bestselling author An elegant book ... that lets readers know they arent alone.The Wall Street Journal. Grieving is as natural as breathing for if we have lived and loved surely we will grieve. . . .Nancy Cobb meets death in the most vital of placesin the lives of everyday peopleand in doing so has found a way to make the darkest of subjects more approachable and the deaths of those she has lovedand death itselfa subject to explore rather than to avoid.Cobb''s personal experiences become a point of departure for what amounts to adeeperconversation about loss. She shares moments of her own mourning and draws others into the conversation as well: among them a bank teller who still dreams of her deceased grandmother two small children who bury a wild bird in its final nest beneath a maple tree and a hospice nurse who acts as an end-of-life midwife. Cobb invites us to explore death through the shared humanity of everyday people allowing their voices to demystify the inevitable while offering solace.Whether you are mourning a loved one caring for someone at the end of life or seeking wisdom on this universal experience In Lieu of Flowers is a deeply comforting companion. Its gentle candor and hard-won insights will inspire you to embrace grief fully while finding light in life''s final transition.