Dorothy Argeanton, Jan 12, 1922 – Nov 8, 2010

Today, on the 8th of November, 2010, Dorothy “Dottie” Argeanton passed on from this life on earth.  I’m new to the Argeanton family so I didn’t know her as well as everyone else, but she really did make an impression on me with her laughter, smiles, songs, stories and fun-loving personality.

The last few years have been tough for everyone in the family, especially considering the deteriorating effects Alzheimer’s disease has had on grandma Dottie’s memory and quality of life, but even up until the end of her life you could see that sparkle that made her who she was – someone special that we’ll all remember forever.

I find it more and more difficult to deal with death, the older I get.  I would rather not hear about it, talk about it, or discuss it – as if it doesn’t exist.  Yet, it most certainly is real and today it smacked me in the face like nothing else.

I started thinking about my yoga practice and how it relates very closely to the virtues of life and death.  “Savasana” is the resting pose we do at the end of each practice and it is literally translated to “corpse pose” which is a preparation for death, as we let our bodies sink into the earth and contemplate the end of our physical existence in this body.  It’s a calm and invigorating practice of surrender.

It’s strange to think I have been welcoming that thought all year in my yoga practice and today when I had to face reality of a loved one passing on, it was a amazingly difficult to process.  I tried to be calm and silent and thoughtful, but I couldn’t stop the tears from rolling down my face.  Maybe my yoga practice was preparing me for the release of emotions and tears that I’ve been holding back about death for years.

In yoga philosophy, the tendency toward abhinivesha, “clinging to life,” is said to exist in all people, regardless of wisdom, age, wealth, or experience. We cling because we are afraid of the transition of death and of the pain, suffering, and decline that we may experience at the end of life. So we devise strategies to avoid thinking about death, such as acquiring material goods or experiences (including spiritual ones) or using drugs, or constantly creating “busyness” to fill up our time.

-Yoga Journal

I dedicate today to you Dorothy Argeanton, for your love, laughter, and sparkle.  If you can hear this, “We miss you.”

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Funeral Services will be held for Dorothy Argeanton on Wednesday 11-10-2010 at 8:30AM

St. Bernard Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home
701 West Virtue Street
Chalmette, LA 70043-1254
(504) 279-6376