Lisa Smartt – One of the ways people bring closure to their lives is through their final requests. The most common requests in the Final Words Project were humble ones related to visiting with friends and family members and enjoying certain small pleasures, like a last bottle of a favorite beer.

Those who are dying often wait for certain friends or relatives so they can say good-bye. Final requests often take the form of ensuring that those they love will have all they need to continue forward. A typical example was a man’s advice to his daughter to make sure that his granddaughter “gets lots of guitar lessons.” To that, he added, “She is very talented, you know.” Another father told his son, “I am worried about your mother. She doesn’t seem well.” Continue reading →