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In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli speaks with archaeologist and museum lecturer Ellen Marie Næss from the Museum of the Viking Age in Oslo. Together, they discuss how Norse communities approached death, burial, grief, and legacy.

From funeral rituals and fate-driven beliefs to the poetry of grief and the legacy of honor, this conversation reveals how the Norse faced death and what we can learn from them today.

Key topics include:
- Norse views on death, destiny, and the afterlife
- What Viking funerals actually looked like (hint: not always burning ships)
- Gender, status, and symbolism in burial practices
- The emotional power of Sonatorrek and skaldic poetry
- How grief and memory shaped Norse culture

This episode connects ancient practices with the ways we continue to honor and remember the dead today, reminding us that death has always been part of the human story.

Links/Resources

• Guest: Ellen Marie Næss – Museum of the Viking Age, Oslo
  https://www.vikingtidsmuseet.no/english
• Host: Traci Arieli – https://www.comfortingclosure.com
• Sonatorrek (Translation): https://lyricstranslate.com/en/sonatorrek-loss-son.html
• The Hávamál Quotes: https://www.thenarratologist.com/best-havamal-quotes-about-death
  – Wardruna’s musical rendition of Sonatorrek: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRQBxwzB2S0

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes and to help normalize meaningful conversations about death, dying, and grief.

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message.

In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli speaks with Ruby Cohen Love, founder of Cafe Mortel, about reimagining what a funeral can be. Ruby shares her journey from struggling with fear of death and bipolar disorder to creating deeply personal and artistic memorials that reflect the true essence of a life.

Together, they explore how funerals and memorials can move beyond tradition, why planning ahead is a gift to loved ones, and how art, food, music, and personal storytelling transform grief into legacy. Ruby also opens up about envisioning her own funeral as a fashion exhibition, hosting “funeral rehearsals,” and her mission to design ceremonies that are authentic, beautiful, and sustainable.

Key takeaways:

• How fear of death can evolve into creative meaning-making
• The role of art, design, and ritual in end-of-life planning
• What it means to create a funeral that truly reflects a person’s life
• Why pre-planning is an act of love and service to family
• How Cafe Mortel helps people design unforgettable memorials

This episode will inspire you to think differently about funerals, death, and the legacies we leave behind.

Links/Resources

• Guest: Ruby Cohen Love – Cafe Mortel: https://www.cafemortel.world
• Host: Traci Arieli – Comforting Closure: https://www.comfortingclosure.com

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes!

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message.

In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli explores pediatric palliative and hospice care with Shekinah Eliassen, CEO of George Mark Children’s House.

They talk about what makes George Mark one of the few places in the country offering whole-person care for seriously ill children and their families at no cost. This episode covers:

• The difference between pediatric palliative care and hospice care
• What support looks like for the whole family
• Why most families do not learn about this kind of care until they are in crisis
• What it would take to build more homes like George Mark across the United States

This conversation is for anyone who wants to understand how to better support children and families living with serious illness.

Links/Resources

• Guest: Shekinah Eliassen, CEO of George Mark Children’s House – https://www.georgemark.org
• Host: Traci Arieli's Website – https://www.comfortingclosure.com

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