A Before I Die Festival gives people a reason to visit a funeral home or cemetery before experiencing a death in the family. These events allow people to ponder their mortality without fear, prepare advance medical directives, create estate plans, and help communicate their wishes to family and loved ones.

Schedule:

Before I Die NM Festival Day One

Location: Passages International Headquarters, 4516 Anaheim Ave. NE, ABQ, NM 87113

Theme: Eco-Friendly Funerals

Before I Die Festival Eco Friendly Funerals8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Check in/coffee
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Welcome by Darren Crouch, president of Passages International and the Green Burial Council, discussion of eco-friendly funerals and Etern.Life geo tag program. (viewable on Zoom)
10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. A representative of Better Place Forests talks about their innovative memorial forests that provide a natural alternative to cemeteries. (viewable on Zoom)
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Tour of Passages International headquarters, lunch with Death Cafe discussion.
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Panel discussion: Desert, Forest, Sea, Etc. – Eco-Friendly Disposition Options, panelists TBA (viewable on Zoom)
2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Demonstration of shrouding process. (viewable on Zoom)
3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Bamboo and Jute Casket Assembly Contest. (viewable on Zoom)
November 1 Evening Event: Mortality Movies Showing and Discussion
Location: Death Doula Professionals, 1724 Moon Street NE, ABQ, NM 87112
6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Watch a film related to to the day’s theme of environmental issues and death, and stick around for an insightful conversation. Attendees to vote on the choice of the 1973 classic Soylent Green or the 2014 documentary, A Will for the Woods.