The Author

John L. Abraham, an Episcopal Priest and  Thanatologist, is a professional speaker, trainer, and consultant with more than 40 years of experience as a counselor, therapist, patient-care advocate, and health care administrator.  He has worked in hospitals, hospices, religious institutions, schools, and social service agencies.

    John has given presentations to many professional organizations such as: hospice staff, nurses, paramedics, social workers, police, clergy, emergency caregivers, home health staff, nursing home and assisted living staff, educators, and others.  He is the author of several chapters of death-related books and numerous such articles, and has also published in such journals as Thanatos, Omega, and several nation-wide newsletters.

    His experience in many different disciplines gives John a truly holistic perspective that takes into consideration our physical, psychological, and spiritual dimensions. He is a dynamic instructor who has presented workshops for institutions in ten states. He also offers a host of specialty services to cater to the unique needs of his clients. John serves a wide range of individuals, corporations, partnerships, and non-profit organizations and is an expert in the field of Thanatology.

Thanatology: Hospice & Death Education Experience:

• Elected to serve on National Board of Directors, June 2012 to June 2016, Funeral Consumers Alliance (www.funerals.org).
• Co-planner in founding nation’s third Hospice, Washington, DC,.
• Co-founder, President, Hospice of Montgomery Inc.: community education, marketing, fund-raising, public relations.
• Foundation Board President, Professional Advisory Board Member, Community Hospice, Tucson, AZ. Director of Support Services, third in management leadership, responsible for administration, volunteers, psychosocial, bereavement, spiritual care, and pre-hospice programs. State and local hospice board and training duties.
• Board member, Bereavement Consultant, Trainer, Hospice of Greater Grand Rapids. Board, Community Counseling Center.
• Committee Chair, National Association for Death Education and Counseling. State of MI ADEC Board. Lifetime member since 1977. Nominated for National ADEC Board. Several ADEC National Annual Conference presentations, including two in 2008.
• Teacher and Author: Instructor, created and implemented curriculum for Death Education, Auburn University, Sociology Department; developed University of Arizona Medical School Death Education Class; created national newsletter column: “Jest Death!” Study of death-related humor; published in “Thanatos” and other books and journals.
• Chaplain, Tu Nidito Children’s Hospice of Tucson.
• Compassion & Choices AZ: President; Board member, then Executive Director.
• Bereavement Consultant, Trainer and Counselor. For three decades conducted numerous workshops and consulted on thanatological issues for various groups: hospice professional and volunteer caregivers; bereavement groups; emergency personnel; funeral personnel; physicians; churches.
• The American Academy of Bereavement: International Conference; Plenary Presentation “Jest Death”: An Examination of Death-Related Humor”; Plenary Session Panel Moderator “Panel Symposium: Death-Related Issues”.
• The Center for Transformational Healing, Board member.
• American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Conference:Widowed Persons’ Service, Presentation.
• Founder: CARE = Clergy About Recognizing End-of-life.
• Certified in Thanatology: Death, Dying and Bereavement.
• Certified Fellow in Thanatology: Death, Dying and Bereavement
• Board Member, Vice-President, Funeral Consumers Alliance of Southern Arizona.
• Board Member, Memorial Society of Prescott, 2007.
• Funeral Consumers Alliance of Northern AZ, President.
• Elected: Secretary and Steering Committee of Arizona Hospice Bereavement Association, 2006.
• Selected to give two presentations at ADEC (Association for Death Education and Counseling) National Conference.
• Board Member: Unitarian Universalists of Central Delaware.
• Advisory Council: Equality Delaware.