Aurora Mortuorum
Aurora Mortuorum is an Iowa City-based death doula service that provides thoughtful & compassionate end-of-life planning for humans and companion animals.
20/05/2020
"I engage with death on a regular basis, as a death doula, crematory operator, wildlife educator specializing in birds of prey, and unabashed taphophile. Death is as much a part of my life as, well, living. ... In this column, we’ll glimpse behind the veil that divides this world from the next, and unearth our own mortality. Let us explore the landscape of death and dying together with honesty, humor, reverence, and love."
Check out this pre-COVID column about death I wrote for The Real MainStream as the first installment of an ongoing series 💀🖤
Approaching death: a different look Today, modern American society tries to bury death. Many go to great lengths to avoid discussing death, or even acknowledging it. As though not talking about it will prevent it from happening.
18/04/2020
My new column about grief and shadowloss is live on The Real MainStream! I was so inspired to write about this topic because so many of us don't have a name for what we're experiencing right now, where there is sadness, loss, and grief but not necessarily any evidence or proof of what we've lost. I hope it brings comfort and healing it you need it 🖤
Shadowloss: a new understanding of loss and grief As COVID-19 sweeps across the globe, we are faced with the very sudden and very real concept of loss. Loss, as it is associated with illness, often revolves around the idea of death. And while the thought of losing loved ones to the virus is without a doubt in the forefront of many people’s minds,...
27/03/2020
This 15-minute video by The Order of the Good Death provides some really helpful fact-based, non-fear-mongering information about death and funerals in the age of .
Funerals in the Age of Coronavirus "How Philadelphia Handled the 1918 Influenza Pandemic with Caitlin Doughty" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lH2Laha7llI "TALKING ABOUT DEATH DURING COVID-19"...
SHADOWLOSS: a term coined by thanatologist Cole Imperi to describe "A type of loss that has a multi-faceted impact on not only the life of an individual, but also the social network in that person’s life. Shadowlosses may or may not be associated with a death and are most often not. Shadowlosses impact a person’s social connections, status in the community, overall well-being and family relationships."
From being laid off to event cancellations to not being able to hug our friends and so much more, we are all experiencing our own versions of shadowloss right now.
What shadowloss(es) are you grieving? Please share in the comments below 🖤
PS - please feel free to share this post.
01/09/2018
Listen up! Yesterday Science Friday aired a really interesting segment about alternative options for body disposition, ecological burial options, and the emergence of online memorials.
Tech Changes The Face Of Death From environmentally-friendly funerals to the act of grieving, technology is changing our relationship with death.
Aurora Mortuorum * Dawn of the Dead
Aurora Mortuorum is Dawn Frary, an Iowa City-based death doula, crematory operator, writer, educator, and artist. Dawn is passionate about providing a more personal and family-focused alternative to our modern death practices by working with clients to develop end-of-life plans, legacy projects, and personalized death rituals and ceremonies. Her sincere intention is to guide families through difficult times with compassion, honesty, and love.
In 2018 Dawn received certification as a death doula and home funeral guide, studying under Rev. Angie Buchanan of Earth Traditions Ministry.
Death Doulas (also referred to as Death Midwives, End-of-Live Doulas, Soul Midwives, Thanadoulas, etc.) provide a holistic approach to death care, educate the public about alternative options to what we now consider “the norm” when it comes to death, funerals, and body disposition, and offer gentle guidance regarding the many ways to navigate the threshold between this world and the next. Most importantly, Death Doulas provide clients with a personal, meaningful, and reverent end-of-life experience.
Death Doulas are not medically trained, nor do we serve the same purpose as funeral directors. We exist alongside these professions in order to fill the gaps. We straddle the threshold between this life and the next, serving as companions, advocates, escorts, and guides.