Sarah Chavez
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sarahcalavera.bsky.social
Sarah Chavez
@sarahcalavera.bsky.social
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
Pinned
📚 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.
November 1, 2025 at 7:43 PM
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...
October 8, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Don't You Be Afraid Of Ghosts! They're Your Best Friends, Says Woman

Freeport Journal-Standard, Illinois, 1923
October 2, 2025 at 9:11 PM
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.
June 8, 2025 at 8:02 PM
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
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
Craterellus cornucopioides were referred to as "The Trumpet of the Dead," as it was believed the dead buried beneath played them
*doot doot* #FolkloreThursday
May 8, 2025 at 5:24 PM
April 30th, is Walpurgisnacht (Witches’ Night), also known as the ‘other Halloween’ — a night that belongs to WITCHES
April 30, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Reposted by Sarah Chavez
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.
April 24, 2025 at 6:59 PM
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
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
April 23, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Reposted by Sarah Chavez
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
April 22, 2025 at 5:52 PM
"You and i are Earth 1661”

A tin-glazed earthenware plate found in a London sewer
#EarthDay
April 22, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Reposted by Sarah Chavez
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
#Yellowjackets season 3 finale screening with Sophie Nélisse, Samantha Hanratty, Sophie Thatcher, Courtney Eaton, & Liv Hewson
April 12, 2025 at 4:08 PM
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
Good to know that the morgue has the ideal conditions for both bodies AND books

pasadenanow.com/main/pasaden...
April 4, 2025 at 7:48 PM
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!
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...
April 3, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Reposted by Sarah Chavez
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
March 21, 2025 at 7:37 PM
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
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
March 14, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Reposted by Sarah Chavez
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
someone just asked me about my weekend plans and i
March 11, 2025 at 9:18 PM
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)
March 5, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Reposted by Sarah Chavez
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...
February 25, 2025 at 7:07 PM
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