The Art and Soul of Sanctuary: Abode Co-Founders Edwin and Patsy Sasek on Weaving Beauty into End-of-Life Care

About this episode

Co-founders Edwin and Patsy Sasek discuss their journey in creating Abode, a sanctuary for end-of-life care that integrates art, nature, and spirituality.

For the final episode of the season, host Natalie Buster sits down with the visionaries behind Abode Contemplative Care for the Dying : co-founders Edwin and Patsy Sasek . Edwin and Patsy share the journey of creating Abode, a space that many guests, staff, and volunteers describe not just as a facility, but as "coming home". They detail how their vision transcended mere caregiving, instead weaving their profound love of art, nature, and spirituality into the very foundation of the building. Learn about the spiritual significance of the property's design, including the over 20 oak trees whose roots symbolize communication and support for the home's mission. Most movingly, Edwin shares the special story of how prayers and scriptures from various world traditions (Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, Native American) were physically written on note cards and placed inside the walls and on the beams during construction, ensuring the house itself is a constant source of blessing and grounding. [00:00:00] Host's First Impression: Natalie describes her first visit to Abode, feeling that it was a special, peaceful place, like "coming home" and a "safe nest.&quot…

People in this episode

Host: Natalie Buster

Guests: Edwin Sasek, Patsy Sasek

Topics covered

• end-of-life care
• spirituality
• art
• nature
• community
• design

Keywords

• end-of-life care
• Abode
• spirituality
• art
• community support
• design philosophy
• oak trees

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Abode Contemplative Care for the Dying

Books & works: Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, Native American

More episodes of Before You Go

• We're All Going to Die: Ossuary Jeweler Kristin Bunyard on Death, Art, and Preparation · November 10, 2025 · 24 min
• Kindred Spirits: From Broadway to Bedside Care with Shavonne Conroy · November 3, 2025 · 40 min
• The Stories Caregivers Carry: Narrative Medicine with Vive Griffith · October 27, 2025 · 36 min
• Poetry as Survival: Laura Van Prooyen on Grief, Healing, and the Power of Words · October 20, 2025 · 39 min
• Grief Dialogues: Putting Death and Dying on Stage with Elizabeth Coplan · October 13, 2025 · 37 min
• The Modern Mortician: Green Burials, Grief Dogs, and Death Care Reimagined · October 6, 2025 · 30 min