TREASURING LIFE: BEFRIENDING DEATH

Written for anyone age seventeen or over, Treasuring Life: Befriending Death encourages the reader to live life each day to the fullest and to see “suffering love” as something every human being experiences. Death is presented as a natural event along life’s journey, not something to be feared. The stories – all of them true – have been written by caregivers, hospice nurses, health aides, social workers, mothers, sisters, priests, deacons, teachers and lay volunteers. Written in a style that is at once simple, spiritual, informative, appealing, relevant and hope filled, this work will be helpful to anyone who has or will have at some time to make important end-of-life decisions for themselves or for others.

About the Author: Dorothy J. Monks, OP, holds an MA in history from Villanova University, an MRE in religious education from Immaculate Conception Seminary, an MS in pastoral counseling from Iona College, and a PD in religious studies from Fordham University and had basic training for spiritual direction at the Center for Spirituality and Justice, Bronx, NY. She spent many years as a teacher and counselor in elementary high school, and college and in the Pastoral Care Center of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, she ministered in the Education Department, Office of Catechesis and Worship and was the Director of the Office of Family Ministry. She then made a transition to health care as a chaplain at Good Samaritan Hospice (now Good Shepherd Hospice), West Islip, NY. She ministered as Director of Pastoral Care at Our Lady of Grace Parish, West Babylon, NY and is a Reicke Practitioner. Presently, she is teaching in the “Opening Word Program” at the Motherhouse of Sisters of St. Dominic, Amityville, NY.