agebuzz Guest Blogger: Kathleen Rehl

By Kathleen M. Rehl, Ph.D., CFP®   Editor’s Note: This is the first in a new series by Kathleen M. Rehl chronicling her move into a Continuing Care Retirement Community. You may recall Kathleen’s earlier pieces for agebuzz—her poem, Waiting List, and her practical guide, Navigating the Future: Our Checklist…

By Kathleen M. Rehl, Ph.D., CFP®   Not long ago, I found myself reflecting (again) on the unavoidable: mortality. My late husband, Tom, and my dear mother passed within weeks of each other years ago. While their physical presence is gone, their spirit and love are still with me. I’m…

By Kathleen M. Rehl, Ph.D., CFP®, CeFT® Emeritus   The last few minutes of my late husband’s life were the most intimate we ever experienced—quiet moments where words were unnecessary, replaced by the warmth of holding hands and a shared presence that spoke more deeply than language. Just a month…

By Kathleen M. Rehl, Ph.D., CFP®, CeFT® Emeritus    My late husband died in my arms two months after his cancer diagnosis, whispering the word “love” on his lips and locking eyes with me. Mom passed a month later, as my brother and I held her hands. And I was…

By Kathleen M. Rehl, Ph.D., CFP®., CeFT® Emeritus       What’s a Legacy Letter?   We all want to be remembered, to leave something behind at the end of our life —more than just money and “stuff.” What influence do you want to have when you’re gone?   You…

  We all know we’ll meet our end But with silence we pretend That’s not our fate, won’t happen to us We push it aside with little fuss. Tiptoeing around the pachyderm To skirt the end-of-life alarm Wills, trusts, and directives Decisions wise but often postponed Yet, the elephant looms…