The Daily

A New Way to Mourn

Apr 24, 2020

Catherine Porter, an international reporter for The New York Times, joins retired minister Wayne Irwin, known for his expertise in funeral rituals, to discuss the profound shifts in mourning during the COVID-19 pandemic. They share a touching love story marked by adventure and heartache, culminating in a virtual farewell to Wayne's wife, Flora May. The conversation highlights the emotional complexities of online memorials, navigating grief in a digital world, and the importance of community support when traditional rituals are altered.

44:13

Creator website

Episode guests

Wayne Irwin

Catherine Porter

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Episode notes

Intro

4min

Love and Grief in a Pandemic

13min

Navigating Virtual Mourning: A Digital Farewell

3min

Honoring Flora: A Virtual Celebration of Life

19min

Reflections on Loss and Literary Connections

4min

Uncovering Truth in Crisis

5min

He was a pastor. She was a poet. They found a second chance at love and traveled the world together, visiting Antarctica, Mount Sinai and Alaska. Today, we hear how he memorialized her life when she died in quarantine. Guest: Catherine Porter, an international reporter for The New York Times, spoke with Wayne Irwin, a retired minister of the United Church of Canada, about the loss of his wife, Flora May. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily.

Background reading:

The rituals of our lives have been transformed. An expert on gathering shares advice for birthdays and baby showers in our new audio series, “Together Apart.”

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