Carrol Krause, who gifted us with her conscious dying process, has died.

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Carrol Krause’s article on reading the ingredients of Ensure went almost as viral as the How We Die article, and ignited a commentary thread that felt decidedly more polarizing than the comment thread on How We Die which was, in the main, achingly compassionate. I wonder why that is? Perhaps because the entire subject of food and nourishment is such a hot button ticket right now, with people either “eating well” (i.e., organically, local, etc.) or continuing to pollute their bodies with processed “food.” (You can sure tell what side of this controversy I’m on!)

Carrol’s facebook page spoke of leaving “soon” for the past month or so. For awhile there, starting October 28th, she had refused all food, due to a large tumor which obstructed her digestive system. When I discovered that she was still alive in January, I realized she must have started to eat again, and apparently she did, at least to some extent.

Carrol finally did exit her body on January 29. Given the ground-breaking service that she offered to her community in Bloomington, Indiana, by living with apparently terminal cancer in such a profoundly active and aware manner, I was hoping that the local paper would serve her memory with a real story on this contribution. But no, at least not yet. Her obituary, which she wrote herself, appeared today.

Excerpt:

Although Carrol’s cancer was very rare and malignant, she resolved not to surrender to anger, fear, doubt or depression. She did not view her cancer as a struggle, a battle or a fight. Rather, she used it as an opportunity to maximize her enjoyment of daily life. After she knew her cancer had returned, she threw herself a Last Chance To Dance party during which she danced for three hours virtually non-stop. Her courage and grace inspired countless friends and readers.

I reposted a number of her articles on this blog. Here’s the final one, which I did not post at the time:

I Am Not Bowie

And here’s the post she wrote about her “Last Chance to Dance Party:”

Half-Full or Half-Empty?

May we all be gifted with enough forewarning to be able to perform the short or drawn-out completion of this one life on Earth with even one-tenth of her beautifully imaginative reach. Truly, one person like Carrol can transform this death-defying, death-dealing culture. Please spread her writings far and wide.

www.storiesbycarrol.wordpress.com

About Ann Kreilkamp

PhD Philosophy, 1972. Rogue philosopher ever since.
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2 Responses to Carrol Krause, who gifted us with her conscious dying process, has died.

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