DEATH BY JOY

The true story of one woman’s choice to find joy in dying, and her unforgettable discoveries along the way.

DEATH BY JOY: An Escorted Journey is the companion book to James Cribb’s profoundly moving documentary film.

“This is an astonishing film which I think will set a precedent for the future on how to perceive and appreciate death.”

– Dr. A-M. Ghadirian, professor emeritus at McGill University Faculty of Medicine, noted author, and psychiatrist

Now in book form, Mary’s momentous undertaking is expanded upon, allowing for deeper insights into her joyful passage: to be read, pondered, reread, and digested as time and emotions permit. Here is a portrayal of dying from a perspective wildly at odds with society’s grim take on the subject. How could Mary, confronted with a damning diagnosis, choose a joyful path to death, and stride with such carefree steps along it?

This extraordinary journey challenges the prevailing belief that dying and dread must walk hand in hand to the grave; that grief must impregnate every aspect of death. Set against today’s end-of-life scene driven by entrenched medical and commercial interests, DEATH BY JOY clearly illustrates an inspiring alternative—one where family, friends, and palliative care providers share in a revealing exploration of life’s final challenge.

Here is an opportunity to witness, as Holly Pruett, Life-Cycle Celebrant, wrote, “the possibility of death as we so rarely experience it today: death that is not feared but embraced for the deep healing, wild creativity, and engaged community it invites.”