Sarah Chavez
LightNews LightNews
banner
sarahcalavera.bsky.social
Sarah Chavez
@sarahcalavera.bsky.social
1.5K followers 170 following 280 posts
Chicana. Author of WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT DEATH 📚 Helping people live & die better at orderofthegooddeath.com, Ask a Mortician, & radicaldeathstudies.com 💀 Death + food, ritual, folklore, horror, film, culture & society

🔸 https://msha.ke/sarahcalavera
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
sarahcalavera.bsky.social
Sarah Chavez @sarahcalavera.bsky.social · Mar 5
📚 My book WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT DEATH is out today!

While death & grief is something kids will inevitably experience, as a society we haven’t done a very good job preparing them for it.
The book cover of We Need to Talk About Death. It shows an illustration of a young boy holding a photograph. An adult (in a faded outline) is hugging him. The background of the book cover is white. There is a green border around it. Author Sarah Chavez seated in an orange chair holding a copy of WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT DEATH
sarahcalavera.bsky.social
👉 www.disappearedinamerica.us
Graphic for day of the dead national days of action blue background with illustrations of cempasuchil
November 1, 2025 at 7:43 PM
sarahcalavera.bsky.social
It’s Halloween season and people want to talk about death, so I’m booked and busy like Lizzie

www.eventbrite.com/e/inviting-d...
Flyer for Inviting Death to Dinner event featuring image of the cover of Rosie Grant’s book To Die For Flyer with off white background photo of female figure at center holding a human skull. Text in orange reads the women, the witch, & the dead, with the order of the good death logo at top in black
October 8, 2025 at 6:19 PM
sarahcalavera.bsky.social
Don't You Be Afraid Of Ghosts! They're Your Best Friends, Says Woman

Freeport Journal-Standard, Illinois, 1923
Newspaper headline reads Don't You Be Afraid Of Ghosts! They're Your Best Friends, Says Woman
October 2, 2025 at 9:11 PM
sarahcalavera.bsky.social
With all eyes on LA the past few days I can’t help but note the eerie similarities in events that played out here over 80 years ago from June 3rd to 8th—the Zoot Suit Riots. A time when Chicanos & other poc were targeted, their communities terrorized & subjected to violent attacks.
Black and white photograph from the zoot suit riots in La in 1943. A large group of white men some wearing sailor suits and other military uniforms, many of them holding clubs in the streets of dtla
June 8, 2025 at 8:02 PM
sarahcalavera.bsky.social
Ghost bike memorials make a site of death visible, but they can also reveal the social and economic vulnerabilities of those who died

#WorldBicycleDay

www.bicycling.com/culture/a347...
I Build Ghost Bikes — Here’s What It’s Taught Me About Who Dies on a Bike
Here’s what these white-painted tributes can tell us about who dies on a bike
www.bicycling.com
June 3, 2025 at 6:45 PM
sarahcalavera.bsky.social
In today’s What the Helly?

An AI generated video of a man killed in a road rage incident was allowed to “talk” to the courtroom & provide the victim’s own impact statement at killer’s sentencing hearing.

Family said judge was “moved” by video & gave max sentence

www.10news.com/science-and-...
Road rage victim in Arizona resurrected through AI to deliver his own impact statement
A man who was killed in a road rage incident in Chandler, Arizona was brought back to life through artificial intelligence to deliver his own victim impact statement during his killer’s sentencing.
www.10news.com
May 9, 2025 at 7:12 PM
sarahcalavera.bsky.social
Craterellus cornucopioides were referred to as "The Trumpet of the Dead," as it was believed the dead buried beneath played them
*doot doot* #FolkloreThursday
Vintage illustration of a trio of brown toned mushrooms that resemble trumpets
May 8, 2025 at 5:24 PM
sarahcalavera.bsky.social
April 30th, is Walpurgisnacht (Witches’ Night), also known as the ‘other Halloween’ — a night that belongs to WITCHES
Black and white artwork of a group with witches in brooms
April 30, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Reposted by Sarah Chavez
folkhorrorrevival.bsky.social
Tonight is St Mark's Eve, when, according to English #folklore, if you sit in a church porch tonight and stay silent from 11 pm to 1 am you will see a procession of the ghosts of all the people in the village who will die during the coming year.
Extract from the poem 'The Vigil of St Mark' (1806) by James Montgomery: Tis now, replied the village belle, St. Mark’s mysterious eve, And all that old traditions tell I tremblingly believe; How, when the midnight signal tolls, Along the churchyard green, A mournful train of sentenced souls In winding-sheets are seen. The ghosts of all whom death shall doom Within the coming year, In pale procession walk the gloom, Amid the silence drear. Full poem here https://rictornorton.co.uk/gothic/montgom.htm A vintage photograph of a procession of ghostly figures walking along a pavement in front of a large wooden door and brickwork. Picture credit: Anonymous, "The ghost of Bernadette Soubirous", 1890, Albumen silver print
April 24, 2025 at 6:59 PM
sarahcalavera.bsky.social
First, paging #horrorcommunity #horrorsky #filmsky #mutantfam - we’re hosting a The Shrouds giveaway over at @ordergooddeath.bsky.social

I have a LOT to say about Cronenberg’s latest film as it sits firmly at the center of my horror + funerals + the dead body wheelhouse. For now, I’ll share this
ordergooddeath.bsky.social Order of the Good Death @ordergooddeath.bsky.social · Apr 23
GIVEAWAY!

What if you could watch your person decompose after they die? Resurrect them as an AI avatar or chatbot?

Legendary filmmaker David Cronenberg explores these questions in his new film, The Shrouds opening nationwide on 4/25
theshrouds.film
Poster for David Cronenberg's film The Shrouds, a man and woman are overlooking a cemetery illuminated by tombstones that incorporate screens
April 23, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Reposted by Sarah Chavez
ordergooddeath.bsky.social
Modern funeral options like casketed burial and cremation contribute to deforestation, and create carbon emissions and toxic byproducts.

Over 60% of Americans are interested in greener options, but what are they?
#EarthDay
Green graphic with white text and illustration of partial earth Green graphic with white text and partial line illustration of earth. Text reads what are my green death options?
April 22, 2025 at 5:52 PM
sarahcalavera.bsky.social
"You and i are Earth 1661”

A tin-glazed earthenware plate found in a London sewer
#EarthDay
Photo of white plate found in sewer with the words you & i are Earth written on it in blue
April 22, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Reposted by Sarah Chavez
gabbydarienzo.com
I’m so excited to introduce a new game: Seasonala Cemetery – explore the serene beauty of an urban cemetery and see how it changes in real-time with the time of day and seasons. A completely free game coming soon to Windows/Mac

Wishlist: store.steampowered.com/app/3272690/Seasonala_Cemetery/
April 15, 2025 at 4:07 PM
sarahcalavera.bsky.social
#Yellowjackets season 3 finale screening with Sophie Nélisse, Samantha Hanratty, Sophie Thatcher, Courtney Eaton, & Liv Hewson
April 12, 2025 at 4:08 PM
sarahcalavera.bsky.social
currently waiting to get into the #Yellowjackets finale screening & a man is out here going up & down the line asking “Have you heard about Jesus?”

SIR, HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THE WILDERNESS?
April 12, 2025 at 1:38 AM
sarahcalavera.bsky.social
Good to know that the morgue has the ideal conditions for both bodies AND books

pasadenanow.com/main/pasaden...
Screenshot of linked article headline. Black text in white background Pasadena Library Moves Rare History Collection to Former Hospital Morgue for Safekeeping
April 4, 2025 at 7:48 PM
sarahcalavera.bsky.social
Not a resident of Texas & still want to support? I’ve included ways you can help at the link provided!

I’m also looking for Texas funeral directors to testify in Austin on Monday morning, so if you’re interested lmk!
ordergooddeath.bsky.social Order of the Good Death @ordergooddeath.bsky.social · Apr 3
TEXAS - URGENT CALL TO ACTION!

There is a hearing on Texas' human composting bill on Monday, April 7th--your representatives want to hear from you!

For simple instructions on how you can voice your support via website or in person head to our website: www.orderofthegooddeath.com/get-involved...
Graphic with white background and outline of Texas with flowers. Text reads Texas residents, urgent call to action. Legalize human composting in Texas!
April 3, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Reposted by Sarah Chavez
ordergooddeath.bsky.social
Our next Mortal Media Club is coming up next week 3/26! We’ll be discussing reproductive justice & the important role the death positive movement has to play with @sarahcalavera.bsky.social & the Abortion Conversation Project www.orderofthegooddeath.com/membership
Illustration of a grim reaper surrounded by pop culture representations like a video game controller, movie ticket, cell phone in pink and blue
March 21, 2025 at 7:37 PM
sarahcalavera.bsky.social
The neighborhood children are outside playing and the eldest (8 years old) is leading them in an “Elon Musk Sucks!” chant while my dog barks along. This is powerful magic
March 20, 2025 at 2:07 AM
sarahcalavera.bsky.social
For Pi Day here’s a bit about the history of funeral pie, served at funeral meals among Old Order Mennonite and Amish communities
whatscookingamerica.net/history/pieh...

📷: @thepieous
Photograph of a pie with ornate crust work? Crust art? Yes, this is art, featuring crust formed into fancy filigrees, with skulls. To be clear this is not an example of a funeral pie as mentioned in the post, but I WOULD love to have this served at my funeral, so…
March 14, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Reposted by Sarah Chavez
allisoncmeier.bsky.social
If you want to join any of my spring cemetery happenings, in person in Brooklyn and Buffalo to talk trees and grave history, and online to talk symbolism, I have a new newsletter for you mailchi.mp/ab8d89c57e2d...
As Winter Fades, Cemetery Events Revive! 👻 🌸
mailchi.mp
March 13, 2025 at 6:52 PM
sarahcalavera.bsky.social
someone just asked me about my weekend plans and i
A skeleton sculpture laying (relaxing?) on its side in a red velvet lined open casket, all cozy and content looking and how I’m trying to be this weekend. Source: Johann Christian Ludwig Lücke, Skeleton in a coffin (1743) Overhead view of a skeleton sculpture laying (relaxing?) on its side in a red velvet lined open casket, complete with luxurious tassels pillow all cozy and content looking and how I’m trying to be this weekend. Source: Johann Christian Ludwig Lücke, Skeleton in a coffin (1743)
March 11, 2025 at 9:18 PM
sarahcalavera.bsky.social
In today’s research find of the day—when a female embalmer is asked if she’s afraid of the dead, she says no, just snakes and drunk men.

(From the Birmingham Post, 1932)
Screen shot of headline from 1932 newspaper reads “woman embalmer fears snakes and drunk men”
March 5, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Reposted by Sarah Chavez
ordergooddeath.bsky.social
TOMORROW come learn about the important work of Finding Ceremony with @intersectionist.bsky.social —a descendent-led reparationist process for restoring the lineages of care, reverence, & spiritual memory to the work of caring for their dead.
Register: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Graphic with pink, blue, and lavender abstract spaces background, with a photo of Dr. Lyra Monteiro, wearing a black and white plaid shirt. Text in black reads Finding Ceremony for Ancestors Held in Colonial Institutions, Wednesday February 26th, 4pm PST
February 25, 2025 at 7:07 PM
sarahcalavera.bsky.social
Where can you find the most viral food trend in China? At a funeral home

www.bbc.com/news/article...
Guizhou: Chinese foodies pose as mourners to try funeral home's noodles
The noodle dish, provided only to mourners, has gone viral on Chinese social media.
www.bbc.com
February 26, 2025 at 6:55 PM