Editor’s Note
Hiya,
Today, we’re bringing you certified-fresh advice from our ‘Dear Reaper’ advice columnist Becky Robison. And on the latest ep of her pod, Becky gave us a rah rah for our story on how we’re all suddenly going woo woo. Check it out.
We’re also unveiling our first selection for the members-only Read in Peace Book Club, which we think is the perfect companion for curling up in all this post-daylight savings darkness.
How was your Halloween? Scroll to the end for a peek at this editor’s costume. We’d love to see your looks, too — reply to this email with a pic, or tag us on all the socials so we can amplify.
Thanks for being with us.
— Delaney + Team GraveSite
Short Read · Dear Reaper
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Dear Reaper: My father insists on being cremated because it’s cheapest. But mom and I don’t want to burn him up. What should we do?
Will it help if the Reaper says all three of you are wrong?
Becky Robison
A word from our ad partner:
What shapes the way we see our bodies? Allure Perspectives, hosted by Allure editor-in-chief Jessica Cruel, explores beauty, health, identity, and culture through candid stories and expert insights.
Launching ‘Read in Peace’ Book Club
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Dark Season is For Reading
Molly Horan
It’s dark by dinnertime now, so we’re inviting GraveDiggers to stay in and cozy up with a book about death. Our Read in Peace Book Club opens this month with After Life (2025) by Gayle Forman.
Columnist Molly Horan will post the reading schedule and a new prompt each week in the community hub, then host a live Zoom discussion on November 19 at 7 p.m. ET.
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Dark Szn Kicked off With Scads of Halloweek Recs — Catch up Here
Plus, a new BTS vid! ↓
New to grief horror? TikTok horror creator Alexandria Brooks says start with Bring Her Back and explains why it’s "a great way to dip your toes in."
GraveSightings · Death News from Elsewhere
Death is big business: Progressive think tank Groundwork Collaborative breaks down the debt and paperwork that’s “burying American families” in a robust new report. For more pointers on how to navigate the thicket, read our primer on funerals and the fine print by Kelli Finger.
“I wrote a book about death. Here’s what people really think about dying,” says Suzy Hopkins, who became a first-time author in her late 50s to help her 20-something daughter cope with existential anxiety.
Roundup: How to keep going while grieving as a college student. A writer. A triathlete. A shopaholic. A sex craver. An animal. A reluctant AI user. An aging, raging comedian. Two bereaved sons on a podcast. Two Black widowers with a podcast. Tl;dr: there’s no one right way.
It’s high time to nix the “Die Like a Man” mentality, says one career pilot and mountaineer.
DNA testing has just linked dead serial killer Ted Bundy to another murder, bringing the total to “at least 30 women and girls in multiple states,” CTV News reports.
ICE announces third detained death in 8 days. Austin Kocher brings the data for this horrifying trend.
In memoriam: Dolores Huerta, labor leader and civil rights icon, died at age 96, “surrounded by her close family.” Barbara Barrie, Oscar nominee and member of the original Broadway cast of “Company,” died at 95. She opted for medical assistance. Sir Patrick Stewart, Star Trek phenom, died at age 86.
An 80-cent plastic pouch is saving thousands of women from dying in childbirth, according to a New York Times piece.
On the (Halloween!) centennial of Harry Houdini’s death, a new book, and a newly published essay he'd penned way back when, resurface questions over when and how he died.
Wired’s Miles Klee wants the internet to die already.
You’ve heard of near-death experiences, but what about shared death experiences?
Hope you had a freaky Halloweekend!
Founder and Editor-in-Chief: Delaney Rebernik
Consulting Producer: Alexis Haut
Audience Editor: Charli K. Elder
Managing Editor: Jennifer Baik
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