End of Life Lessons from Joan Rivers

Joan Rivers, an iconic comedian, passed away last week, and her death seemed to shock the hearts of many.  But why was her death so alarming?  Perhaps it was her vivacity, zest, and boldness that made her seem anything but eighty-one.  Perhaps it was because Rivers, unlike many of us, was not uncomfortable with the notion of growing old or dying.  She told jokes about death—even her late husband’s suicide was not out of bounds. 

Rivers was never afraid to face the reality that she was growing older.  Losing her memory because of aging was one of her go-to comedy sources, “I must admit I am nervous about getting Alzheimer’s.  Once it hits, I might tell my best joke and never know it.” 

While estate planning is about wills and trusts, it is also so much more than that.  End of life planning is a critical aspect of this field of law, evidenced by Rivers.  On September 4, Melissa Rivers made the decision to take her mother off life support.  Although a difficult decision, she knew it was the right one, as this was a conversation she and her mother had previously had. 

Advance directives allow family members to make medical and termination of life support decisions for someone who becomes unable to do so.

See Danielle and Andy Mayoras, Joan Rivers Can Help With Difficult End-Of-Life Conversations, Forbes, Sept. 10, 2014. 

Special thanks to Jim Hillhouse (Professional Legal Marketing (PLM, Inc.)) for bringing this article to my attention.