Former N.Y.U. dean reflects on brother’s legacy and promotes end-of-life care options in final interview.
When the call ended, I was left with a mix of emotions. On one hand, I felt honored that Ms. Thaler had chosen to share her story with me. On the other hand, I was saddened by the thought of her impending death. As an obituary writer, I am no stranger to death and loss, but this felt different.
I arranged to meet with Ms. Thaler the following day. She greeted me with a warm smile and a firm handshake. We sat down in her living room, surrounded by family photos and mementos. She began to tell me about her life, her struggles with cancer, and her decision to end her own life on her own terms.
Ms. Thaler was a remarkable woman. She had dedicated her life to helping others, first as a social worker and later as a dean at New York University. She was fiercely independent and had always been in control of her own destiny. But now, faced with the prospect of a slow and painful death, she had made the difficult decision to end her life on her own terms.
As we talked, I was struck by Ms. Thaler’s courage and strength. She was facing death with a sense of peace and acceptance that I had never seen before. She spoke candidly about her decision to end her life, about her fears and her hopes for the future. She wanted her story to be told, not as a tragedy, but as a celebration of a life well-lived.
After our meeting, I sat down to write Ms. Thaler’s obituary. It was a difficult task, but one that I approached with a sense of reverence and respect. I wanted to capture the essence of who she was, to honor her life and her legacy. I wanted to tell her story in a way that would do justice to the remarkable woman she was.
Ms. Thaler’s obituary was published in the New York Times on Sunday, Nov. 17. It was a fitting tribute to a remarkable woman who had lived her life with courage, grace, and dignity. It was a reminder that death is not the end, but a part of the journey we all must take.
In the days that followed, I received an outpouring of messages from readers who had been touched by Ms. Thaler’s story. Many shared their own experiences with loss and grief, and thanked me for telling her story with compassion and empathy. It was a humbling experience, and one that reminded me of the power of storytelling to connect us all.
As I reflect on my encounter with Ms. Thaler, I am reminded of the importance of living life to the fullest, of cherishing each moment, and of facing death with courage and grace. Ms. Thaler’s story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit, and a reminder that even in death, there is beauty and grace to be found.
I am grateful to have had the opportunity to meet Ms. Thaler, to hear her story, and to share it with the world. She may be gone, but her legacy lives on in the hearts of all who knew her. And her story will continue to inspire and uplift those who hear it, reminding us all to live each day with purpose, passion, and gratitude.
Source: The NY Times
