ABSTRACT

Master narratives of “Good death” that render the circumstances surrounding COVID-19 fatalities as inherently “Bad” exacerbate the profound layers of grief people are experiencing as a result of the pandemic. This (re)defining moments essay engages autoethnographic writing and eulogy as methods to resist such master narratives. In particular, the author re-stories the loss of Katherine, a beloved one who died of COVID-19 “alone” in a hospital. The eulogy opens opportunities for sensemaking and (re)framing that allow the author and others to move from questioning why our loved ones have to die alone to asking how we resist master narratives of Good death and lonely dying. In particular, the ceremonial narrative counter-stories Good death by exploring alternative understandings of dying alone and through honoring the many ways that Katherine dedicated her life to “accompanying” those experiencing loneliness in the face of suffering.

摘要

“好死”的主要叙述使围绕 COVID-19 死亡的情况本质上是“坏”的，这加剧了人们因大流行而经历的深层次悲痛。这篇（重新）定义时刻的文章将民族志写作和悼词作为抵制这种主流叙事的方法。特别是，作者重述了凯瑟琳的逝去，她是一位心爱的人，她在医院“独自”死于 COVID-19。悼词为意义建构和（重新）构建提供了机会，使作者和其他人能够从质疑为什么我们所爱的人必须独自死去，转向询问我们如何抵制关于善终和孤独死的主要叙述。尤其，