Death Cafe profile for DeathCafeIowa
Location: United States
https://www.facebook.com/deathcafedesmoines/
About DeathCafeIowa:
Hello! We are Buffy and Becca, of the Young Bereavement Professionals Group located in Des Moines, Iowa. We started hosting monthly Death Cafes back in September of 2015 and absolutely love being able to host them for our community! They have been pretty successful with multiple regulars that come to our Death Cafes.
What brings you to Death Cafe?
The conversation! It is always so interesting to see what people want to talk about and where the conversation goes during our time together.
What would you like your legacy to be?
Just like Death Cafe's motto...to help “increase awareness of death to help people make the most of their (finite) lives”!
Thoughts for sharing:
Death is not the opposite of life, death is the opposite of birth.
Contact DeathCafeIowa
DeathCafeIowa's posts on the Death Cafe website
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss and the Iowa Death Collective
March 19, 2024, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
Free
Death Cafe Iowa has been a monthly gathering since October 2015. This Death Cafe went virtual with the pandemic and has stayed so that people from anywhere can join us ...
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss and the Iowa Death Collective
Feb. 20, 2024, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
Free
Death Cafe Iowa has been a monthly gathering since October 2015. This Death Cafe went virtual with the pandemic and has stayed so that people from anywhere can join us ...
Death Cafe write up: Virtual Death Cafe Iowa
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Jan. 5, 2024, 5:51 p.m.
We had a vitual Death Café on December 19, 2023 via Zoom. Elliott from Iowa Death Collective facilitated the café with two people attending. In our short discussion, we talked about funerals and deaths occurring during the holidays and how people cope. It was also mentioned that sometimes time doesn’t even help enjoy the holidays. This time included a brief conversation about the need for more events pertaining to certain types of causes of death, because people do find comfort being around others who have had similar significant losses. Discussing disposition of our bodies was briefly mentioned. We finished the café discussing requirements for funeral homes in ...
Death Cafe write up: Virtual Death Cafe Iowa
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Dec. 11, 2023, 2:39 p.m.
We had a virtual Death Café meeting on November 21, 2023 via Zoom. Buffy Peters from Hamilton’s Academy of Grief & Loss was our facilitator. There were a total of five people who joined Buffy online.
During our time, we discussed the importance of finding people who are comfortable talking about death and dying, which Death Café is a comfort zone. It was mentioned that providers having comfort during conversations about death and dying can be valuable for patients and a great resource. Listening is so important while talking to someone about death & dying. We spent time discussing different words used to talk about death, dying, and how ...
Death Cafe write up: Virtual Death Cafe Iowa
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Oct. 25, 2023, 8:35 a.m.
We had a virtual Death Café meeting on October 17, 2023 via Zoom. Buffy Peters from Hamilton’s Academy of Grief & Loss was our facilitator. There were a total of six people who joined Buffy online. Many thoughts and ideas about death and dying were metioned during the meeting. We spent some time discussing how we remember our loved ones and different ways to make remembrance unique and meaningful. This time also included a brief discussion about how we handle end of life processes and ways to enhance end of life and death. We talked about different ways that people seek comfort, like, art therapy, yoga, and meditation ...
Death Cafe write up: Virtual Death Cafe Iowa
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Sept. 28, 2023, 1:46 p.m.
We had a virtual death café on September 19, 2023 via Zoom. Buffy Peters from Hamilton’s Academy of Grief and Loss was our facilitator. There were a total of nine people who joined Buffy online.
One thing that we focused on discussing, is when to have conversations with loved ones about death. For some, it is so important to have conversations pertaining to our wishes, what we do and don’t want, transportation and disposition of our bodies, what is & isn’t allowed in our state, and all things death. For others, they would rather not have those discussions and let their loved ones make those decisions ...
Death Cafe write up: Virtual Death Cafe Iowa
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Aug. 22, 2023, 10:31 a.m.
We had a virtual Death Café meeting on August 15, 2023 via Zoom. Buffy Peters from Hamilton’s Academy of Grief & Loss was our facilitator. There were a total of five people who joined Buffy online.
While many topics were discussed during this meeting, we also spent time sharing links for various death related topics. We spent time discussing how different cultures have different customs regarding home deaths, including a conversation regarding if you would be comfortable purchasing a home that someone has died in. We bounced to talking about laws pertaining to families handling funeral services in their homes and what is required for that.
We also ...
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss and the Iowa Death Collective
Dec. 19, 2023, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
Death Cafe Iowa has been a monthly gathering since October 2015. This Death Cafe went virtual with the pandemic and has stayed so that people from anywhere can join us ...
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss and the Iowa Death Collective
Nov. 21, 2023, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
Death Cafe Iowa has been a monthly gathering since October 2015. This Death Cafe went virtual with the pandemic and has stayed so that people from anywhere can join us ...
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss and the Iowa Death Collective
Oct. 17, 2023, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
Death Cafe Iowa has been a monthly gathering since October 2015. This Death Cafe went virtual with the pandemic and has stayed so that people from anywhere can join us ...
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss and the Iowa Death Collective
Sept. 19, 2023, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
Death Cafe Iowa has been a monthly gathering since October 2015. This Death Cafe went virtual with the pandemic and has stayed so that people from anywhere can join us ...
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss and the Iowa Death Collective
Aug. 15, 2023, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
Death Cafe Iowa has been a monthly gathering since October 2015. This Death Cafe went virtual with the pandemic and has stayed so that people from anywhere can join us ...
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss and the Iowa Death Collective
July 18, 2023, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
Death Cafe Iowa has been a monthly gathering since October 2015. This Death Cafe went virtual with the pandemic and has stayed so that people from anywhere can join us ...
Death Cafe write up: Virtual Death Cafe Iowa
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on June 21, 2023, 3:07 p.m.
For our June Death Café Iowa, we met via Zoom with facilitator, Buffy Peters, from Hamilton’s Academy of Grief and Loss. Four individuals attended the Death Café this month which made for a small and intimate group.
One member had recently been to a child’s funeral and brought many questions to the group conversation in regards to younger age deaths. We talked about the uncertainty of death and how a child’s death can make us rethink our own expectations of death especially the time frame in which death is “supposed” to happen.
In the case of our member who recently experienced a child’s funeral ...
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss and the Iowa Death Collective
June 20, 2023, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
Accepts donations
Death Cafe Iowa has been a monthly gathering since October 2015. This Death Cafe went virtual with the pandemic and has stayed so that people from anywhere can join us ...
Death Cafe write up: February Online Death Cafe Iowa CST
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Feb. 22, 2023, 2:40 p.m.
February Death Café Iowa was held on Tuesday February 21st where Buffy Peters, facilitator, had four individuals join her for conversation surrounding death and dying. We had such great conversation this month and we are so thankful for every individual who joins us! Here is a little bit of what this group chatted about.
The first topic of interest was the topic of burial vs. cremation as forms of final disposition. Conversation about “not wanting to take up real estate” in terms of a burial but respecting others’ choices to decide what is best for them. Rituals, such as a burial, and how those impact communities and ...
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss
Dec. 19, 2023, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss
Nov. 23, 2023, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss
Oct. 17, 2023, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
Death Cafe: September Online Death Cafe Iowa CDT
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Dec. 29, 2022, 9:53 a.m.
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss
Sept. 19, 2023, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss
Aug. 15, 2023, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss
July 18, 2023, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss
June 20, 2023, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss
May 16, 2023, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss
April 18, 2023, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss
March 21, 2023, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss
Feb. 21, 2023, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss
Jan. 17, 2023, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
Death Cafe write up: May Online Death Cafe CDT
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on May 26, 2022, 2:52 p.m.
This month's Death Cafe was held on May 17th with around 8 attendees from all over the United States. A lot of good conversation was had this month!
Funeral traditions were discussed and a members talked about why we still carry on with old traditions in funerals if they have no personal meaning. What are the individual's own wishes as apposed to what the traditions are was a great topic of discussion! Members asked what options they have if they want to have a non-traditionsl funeral and members mentioned starting a google doc of wants for a funeral.
Members also thought about how to honor their ...
Death Cafe write up: March Online Death Cafe CST
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on March 17, 2022, 10:09 a.m.
For our March Death Café, we met via Zoom and Jennifer Leatherby from the Iowa Death Collective facilitated. They were assisted in facilitation by Buffy Peters from the Bereavement Professionals Group. We had a group of five individuals. We had two individuals join us from out of state, one from the West coast and the East coast and the other individuals joined from Iowa.
We began our group by talking about the history of Death Café’s and how the discussions have changed over the years. As a group we reflected on the opportunities Covid-19 has brought to our Death Café. Our group has grown into a community ...
Death Cafe write up: February Online Death Cafe CST
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Feb. 22, 2022, 10:41 a.m. 1 comment
For our February Death Café Iowa, we met via Zoom and Buffy Peters from the Bereavement Professionals Group facilitated. We had a group of eight individuals. Some joined from Iowa, California, Connecticut, and even Vancouver, Canada.
Our group’s conversation was mainly about preplanning, life as an elder, and supporting elders. As far as preplanning goes, we talked about the need to build a community of support because you just never know when you will need that community. Life is short. We talked about how difficult it can be to ask for help though when trying to build this community. In Western cultures, independence is valued, but in ...
Death Cafe write up: January Online Death Cafe Iowa CST
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Jan. 20, 2022, 2:35 p.m.
For our January Death Café Iowa, we met via Zoom. Buffy Peters from the Bereavement Professionals Group and Jennifer Leatherby from the Iowa Death Collective facilitated the group. We had a group of seven individuals. Most were joining from Iowa, but we also had individuals join us from the West and East coasts.
We began our group by talking about tragedy and the responses to tragedy by individuals and the community. Depending on the tragedy that occurred, we talked about how it’s easy to want to blame the incident on something, but why? The person that died in the incident is a person loved by someone, so ...
With Bereavement Professionals Group and The Iowa Death Collective
Jan. 18, 2022, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
Free
Death Cafe write up: December Online Death Cafe CST
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Jan. 18, 2022, 10:59 a.m.
For our December Death Café Iowa, we met via Zoom. Buffy Peters from the Bereavement Professionals Group facilitated the group. We had a group of eight individuals for December’s Death Café. There were individual’s from out-of-state and in-state joining in on our conversation.
This month’s discussion centered around the holidays and how death and grief affects the holiday experience. Some individual’s talked about creating new traditions to honor their loved one(s) throughout the holidays. One individual shared that her family had tried to create a new tradition the previous year, but it didn’t serve its purpose, so she had to try something ...
Death Cafe write up: Online Death Cafe Iowa CST November
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Jan. 5, 2022, 1:05 p.m.
There were four individuals who attended our Death Café in November. The group talked about a variety of topics, the first being do not resuscitate (DNR) orders. Individuals talked about the different types of DNRs in Iowa and the forms to fill out to have your DNR request honored. Iowalegalaid.org was mentioned as a good resource for DNR forms.
One individual mentioned that they had been to a dying expo and shared their experience at that event. Medical assistance in dying in relation to the Iowa legislation was discussed, and it was mentioned that the Hospice association has been lobbying against medically assisted death. Palliative care was ...
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss
Dec. 20, 2022, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss
Nov. 15, 2022, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss
Oct. 18, 2022, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss
Sept. 20, 2022, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss
Aug. 16, 2022, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss
July 19, 2022, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss
June 21, 2022, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss
May 17, 2022, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss
April 19, 2022, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss
March 15, 2022, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss
Feb. 15, 2022, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss
Jan. 18, 2022, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
Death Cafe write up: Online Death Cafe Iowa CDT October
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Oct. 27, 2021, 2:06 p.m. 1 comment
There were five people present at the Death Café Iowa this month! This month’s conversation centered more around older individuals and ideas of death. When people age they are realizing they are closer to death, one attendee mentioned their 51st high school reunion coming up and how that triggered them to think about growing older and the end of life. Members went on to talk about how important it is to make each day count, and that when saying goodbye to loved ones making sure they know their love for you because that could be your last moment with them.
The topic of death doulas is ...
Death Cafe write up: Online Death Cafe Iowa CDT September
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Oct. 27, 2021, 2:05 p.m.
There were eight individuals in attendance at this month’s Death Café. Many topics were discussed this month but some of the highlights include showing up authentically, road blocks to grief, and interest in death work.
One attendee brought up the book Journey of Souls by Michael Newton, and another attendee talked about their work as a psychopomp.
Members discussed how important it is to show up wherever you are authentically. Without authenticity you cannot make as big of a difference. When you are working with a dying individual authenticity is key. There might be barriers because of differing values and beliefs but that does not mean you ...
Death Cafe write up: Online Death Cafe Iowa CDT August
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Aug. 18, 2021, 12:55 p.m.
For our August Death Café Iowa, we met via Zoom. Buffy Peters from the Bereavement Professionals Group facilitated the group. There were four individuals who attended the Death Café this month which made for a small group with some great conversation. Two attendees were from other states which lead to other great perspectives!
Death is an experience that elicits many feelings. In this week’s group feelings surrounding death were expressed. Some individuals felt a sense of acceptance, adventure, curiosity, and peace in regards to death. Other individuals associate heartbreak and ‘feeling heaving’ with death. An individual expressed that she doesn’t want to do death alone, but ...
Death Cafe write up: Online Death Cafe Iowa CDT July
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on July 21, 2021, 12:42 p.m. 1 comment
For our July Death Café Iowa we met via Zoom. Buffy Peters from the Bereavement Professionals Group facilitated the group. There were three individuals who attended the Death Café this month which made for a small and intimate group.
The topic of death doulas and the controversy of their titles was brought up. Some may say that death doulas should be more appropriately called death companions, because their tasks differ a little bit from what birth doulas do. In a birth there is a midwife and possibly a doula, but in death there is not someone there necessarily to help you die- so what does that leave the ...
Death Cafe write up: Online Death Cafe Iowa CDT June
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on June 25, 2021, 10 a.m.
For our June Death Café Iowa we met via Zoom. Buffy Peters from the Bereavement Professionals Group facilitated the group. There were three individuals who attended the Death Café this month which made for a small and intimate group.
The topic of how the pandemic influenced death and grieving was talked about significantly within the group. Between sub-topics of interrupted rituals, impact on children, “shadow loss” for the whole world, and even focusing our attention on what is important. Postponed grief also worked into the mix and the group mentioned how important rituals are in grief.
The medicalization of death and dying was brought up by a participant ...
Death Cafe write up: Online Death Cafe Iowa CDT May
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on June 2, 2021, 9:56 a.m.
For our May Death Café Iowa we met via Zoom. Buffy Peters from the Bereavement Professionals Group facilitated the group. There were three individuals who attended the Death Café this month which made for a small and intimate group.
The topic of one’s awareness around death was brought up. Pre-planning and the act of smart funeral planning is important for family members. Death Doolas can be part of the pre-planning for death. Some individuals do not want family members to be around them if they are sick and dying, which is where a Death Doula would step in and be that support system for the individual.
The ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Iowa CDT
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on April 21, 2021, 10:16 a.m.
For our April Death Café Iowa we met via Zoom. Buffy Peters from the Bereavement Professionals Group facilitated the group. There were 7 individuals who attended the Death Café this month.
The first topic we came across was the idea of do I really know what I want towards my own death? A participant had shared that they had a near death experience that made them question if they really wanted what they had planned for their end-of-life care. This individual had asked for a Do Not Resuscitate order (DNR), but when the time came, was asking themselves if that’s what they really wanted. The conversation turned ...
Death Cafe: Online Death Cafe Iowa CST December
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on March 31, 2021, 1:52 p.m.
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief and Loss
Dec. 21, 2021, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
Death Cafe: Online Death Cafe Iowa CST November
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on March 31, 2021, 1:49 p.m.
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief and Loss
Nov. 16, 2021, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief and Loss
Oct. 19, 2021, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
Death Cafe: Online Death Cafe Iowa CDT September
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on March 31, 2021, 1:44 p.m.
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief and Loss
Sept. 21, 2021, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief and Loss
Aug. 17, 2021, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief and Loss
July 20, 2021, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief and Loss
June 22, 2021, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief and Loss
May 18, 2021, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
Death Cafe write up: March Death Cafe
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on March 17, 2021, 10:17 a.m.
For our March Death Café Iowa we met on Zoom. Buffy Peters and Hannah Moldovan, our intern, from the Bereavement Professionals Group facilitated the group. There were 12 individuals who attended the Death Café and we even had a participant from North Carolina.
The first topic we focused on was deciding the type of disposition one wants when they die. There are those who want a more natural method of being buried so that they can decompose more naturally. Some individuals do not wish to be cremated for many reasons but some may include religious beliefs, cultural associations, or environmental beliefs as well. The question of why cement ...
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief and Loss
April 20, 2021, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CDT)
Free
With Hamilton's Academy of Grief and Loss
March 16, 2021, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
Death Cafe write up: Online Death Cafe Iowa CST
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Feb. 23, 2021, 12:55 p.m.
For our February Death Café Iowa we met on Zoom. Buffy Peters and Hannah Moldovan, our intern, from the Bereavement Professionals Group facilitated the group. There were 13 individuals who attended the Death Café and participants were from everywhere including Massachusetts, California, and Canada.
The first topic we talked about was Death Doulas. A few participants were either practicing Death Doulas or on the path to becoming Death Doulas. Death Doulas are non-medical aids to individuals towards the end of their death to make sure that what they want to happen is carried out. Doulas keep their clients comfortable during the last stages of death and are there ...
With Bereavement Professionals Group
Feb. 16, 2021, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (CST)
Free
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Iowa Online CST
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Dec. 22, 2020, 1:09 p.m.
For our December Death Café Iowa we met on Zoom. Buffy Peters and Becca Suvalsky from the Bereavement Professionals Group facilitated the group. In total there were 7 people in attendance, 2 men and 5 women, and participants ranged in ages and professions. We had individuals join from Iowa and California. Several interesting topics were brought forward for discussion.
A few topics included:
How talking about the end of life brings people together. Especially right now a lot of people seem to be realizing that they have a knowledge gap when it comes to death and dying. How we have seen death in our lives is how we ...
With Bereavement Professionals Group
Dec. 15, 2020, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central Time)
Free
Death Cafe: Online November Death Cafe Iowa CST
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Oct. 23, 2020, 10:28 a.m.
With Bereavement Professionals Group
Nov. 17, 2020, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
Free
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Iowa Online CST
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Oct. 23, 2020, 10:16 a.m.
For our October Death Café Iowa we met on Zoom. Buffy Peters and Becca Suvalsky from the Bereavement Professionals Group facilitated the group. In total there were 5 people in attendance, 2 men and 3 women, and participants ranged in ages and professions. We had individuals join from Minnesota, Canada, and Iowa. Death Café Iowa is officially international now J.
Several interesting topics were brought forward for discussion.
A few topics included:
Death experiences: Members discussed and shared personal stories of witnessing someone die. Everyone’s death experience is so different. One member shared about the program, No One Dies Alone (NODA). Several hospitals have this program in ...
With Bereavement Professionals Group
Oct. 20, 2020, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
Free
Join Death Cafe Iowa for our next Death Cafe via Zoom! While we have to be physically distant that doesn't mean we can't be social. If you are ...
Death Cafe write up: Online Death Cafe Iowa CST
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Sept. 16, 2020, 10:45 a.m.
For our September Death Café Iowa we met on Zoom. Buffy Peters and Becca Suvalsky from the Bereavement Professionals Group facilitated the group. In total there were 7 people in attendance, 2 men and 5 women, and participants ranged in ages and professions. We had individuals join from California, Connecticut, Florida, and Iowa. Several interesting topics were brought forward for discussion.
A few topics included:
Elliot Dallen article from the Guardian: One member brought an article by a young man who was actively dying from terminal cancer. The author talked about how by not avoiding death he was not avoiding life. Another member mentioned that we need to ...
With Bereavement Professionals Group
Sept. 15, 2020, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
Free
Death Cafe write up: Online Death Cafe Iowa CST
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Aug. 19, 2020, 3:14 p.m.
For our August Death Café Iowa we met on Zoom. Buffy Peters and Becca Suvalsky from the Bereavement Professionals Group facilitated the group. In total there were 5 people in attendance, 2 men and 3 women, and participants ranged in ages and professions. We had individuals join from California, New Jersey, and Iowa. Several interesting topics were brought forward for discussion.
Topics included:
Lifeweb360: LifeWeb360 is a memorialization website where people can create a LifeWeb account for a loved one who has died. Friends and family members can leave messages, videos, and pictures of the person. We discussed how a lot of funeral homes have something like this ...
With Bereavement Professionals Group
Aug. 18, 2020, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
Free
With Bereavement Professionals Group
July 21, 2020, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
Free
Death Cafe write up: May Iowa Virtual Death Cafe
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on May 26, 2020, 9:18 a.m.
For our May Death Café Iowa we met on Zoom. Buffy Peters and Becca Suvalsky from the Bereavement Professionals Group facilitated the group. In total there were 14 people in attendance, 2 men and 12 women, and participants ranged in ages and professions. Several members had to jump off before we were able to take the picture. We had individuals join from California, Florida, Iowa, and Colorado. It has been really fun to meet different people from across the county that also want to talk about death. Several interesting topics were brought forward for discussion.
Topics included:
Alternative funerals: Several members shared examples of alternative funerals and how ...
With The Bereavement Professionals Group
May 19, 2020, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
Free
Death Cafe write up: April Death Cafe Online
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on April 28, 2020, 8:14 a.m.
For our April Death Café Iowa we took the plunge and went virtual with a Zoom meeting! Buffy Peters from the Bereavement Professionals Group facilitated the group. In total there were 5 people in attendance, 1 man and 4 women, and participants ranged in ages and professions. One exciting addition was a member from California that was a Death Doula! Several interesting topics were brought forward for discussion.
Topics included:
Death doulas
Obituaries and what we would or would not want to include in ours. One member commented “how do you fit a big life into a little obit?” Another member shared that she wrote two for her ...
With Bereavement Professionals Group
April 21, 2020, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
Free
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Iowa
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Feb. 19, 2020, 3:17 p.m.
For February’s Death Café Iowa we met at Palmers Deli & Market on Ingersoll. Buffy Peters and Becca Suvalsky (members of the Young Bereavement Professionals Group) facilitated the group. We had 6 people in attendance, 1 man and 5 women, and participants ranged in ages and professions. Several interesting topics were brought forward for discussion during this month’s death café. Topics included obituaries, the podcast “Adventures of Memento Mori”, and how our belief systems determine how we respond to death. Each group member shared openly and we had a great conversation. We look forward to more interesting and insightful conversations next month.
With Berevement Professionals Group
March 24, 2020, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central )
Free
With Bereavement Professionals Group
Feb. 18, 2020, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
Free
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Iowa
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Jan. 22, 2020, 1:47 p.m.
For January’s Death Café Iowa we met at Palmers Deli & Market on Ingersoll. Buffy Peters and Becca Suvalsky (members of the Young Bereavement Professionals Group) facilitated the group. We had 11 people in attendance, 3 men and 8 women, and participants ranged in ages and professions. We had several new group members in attendance this month. Several interesting topics were brought forward for discussion during this month’s death café. Topics included the choice to stop eating at the end of life, the movie “Just Mercy”, and how members might feel if they knew they knew they were going to die in the next 10 minutes. We ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Iowa
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Dec. 30, 2019, 1:39 p.m.
For December’s Death Café Iowa we met at Palmers Deli & Market on Ingersoll. Buffy Peters and Becca Suvalsky (members of the Bereavement Professionals Group) facilitated the group. We had four people in attendance, 3 women and 1 man, and participants ranged in ages and professions. Members brought several interesting topics to the group this month. We had a really good conversation at this month’s Death Café.
One group member brought an article that discussed the history of death certificates. This lead to a really interesting conversation about birth and death certificates. We also discussed the importance of having a death certificate and what it is used ...
With Bereavement Professionals Group
Jan. 21, 2020, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
Free
With Bereavement Professionals Group
Dec. 17, 2019, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
Free
With Bereavement Professionals Group
Nov. 19, 2019, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
Free
Death Cafe write up: October Death Cafe Iowa
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Oct. 16, 2019, 10:54 a.m.
For October’s Death Cafe Iowa we met at Palmers Deli & Market on Ingersoll. Buffy Peters and Becca Suvalsky (members of the Bereavement Professionals Group) facilitated the group. We had three people in attendance, 2 women and 1 man, and participants ranged in ages and professions. Members brought several interesting topics to the group this month.
We have recently noticed a growing number of podcasts that discuss death and dying. One group member started listing to a new podcast called “Last Day” that discusses the opioid epidemic and shares some stories of individual's last day before they died from a drug overdose. Another podcast that was mentioned ...
With Bereavement Professionals Group
Oct. 15, 2019, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
Free
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Iowa
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Aug. 22, 2019, 11:50 a.m.
For Augusts Death Café Iowa we met at Palmers Deli & Market on Ingersoll. Buffy Peters and Becca Suvalsky (member of the Bereavement Professionals Group) facilitated the group. We had 8 people in attendance, 3 men and 5 women, and participants ranged in ages and professions.
Members brought several interesting topics to the group this month.
Several group members brought things to discuss such how religion influences our feelings about death, leaving a legacy, and ceremonial traditions after someone has died. Another group member brought up the book “Finishing Strong” by Barbara Coombs Lee which sparked a lot of conversation about the organization “Compassionate Choices” and member’s opinions ...
With Bereavement Professionals Group
Aug. 20, 2019, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
Free
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Iowa
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on July 18, 2019, 3:09 p.m.
For June’s Death Café Iowa we met at Palmers Deli & Market on Ingersoll. Buffy Peters and Becca Suvalsky (member of the Bereavement Professionals Group) facilitated the group. We had 8 people in attendance, 1 man and 7 women, and participants ranged in ages and professions.
Members brought several interesting topics to the group this month.
Several group members brought things to discuss such as the book dying well by Ira Byock. A few of the group members are actually part of a book club that is going to be starting the book in September. Another group member brought up the topic of what happens when someone dies ...
With Berevement Professionals Group
July 16, 2019, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
Free
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Iowa
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on June 19, 2019, 1:19 p.m.
For June’s Death Café Iowa we met at Palmers Deli & Market on Ingersoll. Becca Suvalsky (member of the Bereavement Professionals Group) facilitated the group. We had 8 people in attendance, 2 men and 6 women, and participants ranged in ages and professions.
Members brought several interesting topics to the group this month.
Several group members brought things to discuss such as an article that was published a number of years ago form the “End Well” conference in San Francisco. The article discussed using natural relaxants such cannabis and psilocybin mushrooms for those suffering. These drugs have been linked to dramatically helping those who are at the end ...
With Bereavment Professionals group
June 18, 2019, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
Free
With Bervement Professionals Group
May 21, 2019, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central )
Free
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Iowa
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on April 18, 2019, 2:10 p.m.
April’s death café Iowa was held at Palmers deli & market on Ingersoll. Buffy Peters (member of the Bereavement Professionals Group) facilitated the group. Five members were in attendance this month including two males and three females. All participants ranged in ages and professions.
Members this month brought several interesting topics to discuss including the use of DNA tests to predict at what age you will die. The research has shown to be 76% accurate. Several members also discussed a few books that group members have heard about and/or read. The books were “Being Mortal”, “The Slow Death of Nancy Coran”, and “When Breath Becomes Air”. That ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Iowa
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on March 27, 2019, 12:49 p.m.
For March’s Death Café Iowa we met at a Plymouth Place on Ingersoll. Buffy Peters and Becca Suvalsky (members of the Young Bereavement Professionals Group) facilitated the group. We had 9 people in attendance, 1 man and 8 women, and participants ranged in ages and professions.
Members brought several new interesting topics to the group this month. Topics included the Scro Machine by Dr. Philip Narco which is a portable nitrogen machine in Sweden that is being used to assist in death with dignity. The group also discussed animal taxidermy, donating body to science, and a recent article about a body farm in Colorado that has been ...
With Young Bereveament Professionals Group
April 16, 2019, 6.15 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central )
Free
Looking for some clarification on what to do with the surveys when they are finished? Do we need to keep them after we have read through them?
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Iowa
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Feb. 25, 2019, 2:04 p.m.
February’s death café Iowa was held at Plymouth place on Ingersoll. Buffy Peters and Becca Suvalsky (members of the Young Bereavement Professionals Group) facilitated the group. We had 7 women in attendance. All participants ranged in ages and professions.
This month’s death café was a little smaller due to impending weather. However, the members that did attend brought several interesting topics to discuss. Topics included discussions about death with dignity and the book “Final Exit” by Derek Humphry. The group also discussed death of a pet, feelings when a loved one dies, and how group members wish to feel when they die. Several group members shared ...
With Buffy Peters
March 19, 2019, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central Time)
Free
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Iowa
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Feb. 25, 2019, 1:25 p.m.
For January’s Death Café Iowa we met at a new location this month. The group met at Plymouth Place on Ingersoll. Buffy Peters and Becca Suvalsky (members of the Young Bereavement Professionals Group) facilitated the group. We had11 people in attendance, 4 men and 7 women, and participants ranged in ages and professions.
We had several new group members in attendance. Introductions focused on what brought the new and returning group members to death café. The overall consensus was curiosity. Several topics were brought forward for discussion during this month’s death café. Topics such as celebration of life services, death with dignity act, the Swedish death ...
With Young Berevement Professionals Group
Feb. 19, 2019, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
Free
The Young Bereavement Professionals Group hosts monthly Death Café's on the third Tuesday of each month from 6-7:30pm.
At a Death Café, people “eat cake and discuss death ...
With The Young Bereavement Professionals Group
Jan. 15, 2019, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
Free
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Iowa - June
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on July 9, 2018, 1 p.m.
We were a small group in June – largely due to the BEAUTIFUL weather we had that day—so there were just 4 of us. We talked about:
· “We Croak” app that send 6 random reminders throughout the day that you are going to die, along with a quote about death/living fully
· That cremating and wearing jewelry in memory of a pet seems to be more acceptable that for the death of a person
· Physician assisted suicide vs. death with dignity: the difference and importance of language
· “Degrees” of suicide causes: mental illness, physical illness, doctor assisted, revenge, self-preservation
· Suicide attempts at the border (separation of families)
· The ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Iowa - May
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on May 17, 2018, 12:46 p.m.
It will come as no surprise that our 2018 May Death Café was another wonderful event! We had 11 people participating, including three first-timers. Our topics this month included:
Being the person to ask “How was the funeral?”
Diane’s “Dead Spread” Pinterest board
Creating a “Death Box”, which includes things like pictures you would like used at your funeral, your obituary, list of favorite things, list of things NOT wanted, who to notify (and not notify) when you die
Several people in the group have read and recommended Being Mortal, which also has a documentary by the same name.
TED talks about obituaries
Running out of cemetery ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Iowa - April
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on May 14, 2018, 3:13 p.m.
Our Death Café was a great one in April!!! We had 4 new people join us for the first time, three of which were students who were participating for extra credit in a Death as a Part of Life class through Iowa State University.
As is often the case when we have new people in our group, part of the conversation revolved around grief and how to approach it in our own lives as well as how to talk to grieving people. We discussed using the concrete word ‘DIED’, especially with children, grief platitudes and telling grievers how to feel, being grief-shamed, and secondary losses. We also talked ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Iowa - March
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on March 26, 2018, 10:50 a.m.
We had a GREAT Death Café this month, where we talked about home funerals, attending our first funerals as children (and how that impression formed our opinions as adults), differences between visiting a healthy grandparent and seeing them at time of death, the importance of talking about people who have died, Amish death customs, reincarnation, mediums, dreaming of loved ones, restorative arts for open-casket funerals, invitation-only funerals, and of course, cats, ducklings, and goslings. J
With Young Bereavement Professionals Group
Dec. 18, 2018, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
0
When you arrive at Death Cafe, we have two questions for you: What is your name, and why did you choose to come tonight? You can choose to participate by ...
With Young Bereavement Professionals Group
Nov. 20, 2018, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
0
When you arrive at Death Cafe, we have two questions for you: What is your name, and why did you choose to come tonight? You can choose to participate by ...
With Young Bereavement Professionals Group
Oct. 16, 2018, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
0
When you arrive at Death Cafe, we have two questions for you: What is your name, and why did you choose to come tonight? You can choose to participate by ...
With Young Bereavement Professionals Group
Sept. 18, 2018, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
0
When you arrive at Death Cafe, we have two questions for you: What is your name, and why did you choose to come tonight? You can choose to participate by ...
With Young Bereavement Professionals Group
Aug. 21, 2018, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
0
When you arrive at Death Cafe, we have two questions for you: What is your name, and why did you choose to come tonight? You can choose to participate by ...
With Young Bereavement Professionals Group
July 17, 2018, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
0
When you arrive at Death Cafe, we have two questions for you: What is your name, and why did you choose to come tonight? You can choose to participate by ...
With Young Bereavement Professionals Group
June 19, 2018, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
FREE
When you arrive at Death Cafe, we have two questions for you: What is your name, and why did you choose to come tonight? You can choose to participate by ...
With Young Bereavement Professionals Group
May 15, 2018, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
0
When you arrive at Death Cafe, we have two questions for you: What is your name, and why did you choose to come tonight? You can choose to participate by ...
With Young Bereavement Professionals Group
April 17, 2018, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
0
When you arrive at Death Cafe, we have two questions for you: What is your name, and why did you choose to come tonight? You can choose to participate by ...
With Young Bereavement Professionals Group
March 20, 2018, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
0
When you arrive at Death Cafe, we have two questions for you: What is your name, and why did you choose to come tonight? You can choose to participate by ...
With Young Bereavement Professionals Group
Feb. 20, 2018, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
0
When you arrive at Death Cafe, we have two questions for you: What is your name, and why did you choose to come tonight? You can choose to participate by ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Iowa
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Nov. 27, 2017, 10:54 a.m.
November’s Death Café was small but mighty. While we only had 4 participants, they were all part of our regular group so we were all comfortable with one another and that help lead to a deeper conversation.
Our topics varied widely. We talked about the idea of a celebration of life and the need for those left behind to feel open to mourn the loss of someone they love. We talked about veterans, the struggles they come back to in civilian life, and the ever increasing suicide rate for their population. We talked about grieving over the loss of things and the things people say to try ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Iowa
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Oct. 24, 2017, 3:18 p.m.
Our October Death Café was a bittersweet one to say the least. Carrie Bauer, Buffy Peters and Carmen Elliott (members of the Young Bereavement Professionals Group) are the facilitators for the group and this was the last Death Café in Iowa for Carrie as she has accepted a position in Colorado. Hopefully she can find Death Café people out there but the Iowa Death Café people had to say our goodbyes to Carrie.
After catching up during this Death Café we started talking about cremation jewelry. One participant recently had a dog die and brought some of the cremation jewelry she purchased online. That spurred an interesting conversation ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Iowa
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Sept. 26, 2017, 11:54 a.m.
Our September Death Café marked our 2 year anniversary of meeting regularly in the Des Moines area! Carrie was so kind of bring a special cake with a “2” candle for participants to enjoy. Carrie Bauer, Buffy Peters and Carmen Elliott (members of the Young Bereavement Professionals Group) facilitated the group and there were 7 people in attendance, 6 women and 1 men.
Some of our regulars had been on a tour of Woodland Cemetery in Des Moines the week before they discussed that tour. Another topic that was discussed was the idea of mourning wear and jewelry to commemorate people who have died. One participant found a ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Iowa
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Aug. 22, 2017, 10:41 a.m.
For our August’s Death Café Iowa we met at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway in West Des Moines, Iowa. Carrie Bauer and Buffy Peters (members of the Young Bereavement Professionals Group) facilitated the group. There were 10 people in attendance, 8 women and 2 men, and participants ranged in ages and professions.
Because most of the group has been to our Death Café’s before introductions tended to focus on updates and thoughts since the last Death Café. Some topics that sprung were the importance of talking more openly about death, questions and ideas about what to include in wills, who should be the executor, family traditions ...
With The Young Bereavement Professionals Group
Dec. 19, 2017, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
FREE!
This will be a fun evening bringing people together in a positive and safe setting for open conversation about all aspects of death, dying and living. Not a support group ...
With The Young Bereavement Professionals Group
Nov. 21, 2017, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
FREE!
This will be a fun evening bringing people together in a positive and safe setting for open conversation about all aspects of death, dying and living. Not a support group ...
With The Young Bereavement Professionals Group
Oct. 17, 2017, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
FREE!
This will be a fun evening bringing people together in a positive and safe setting for open conversation about all aspects of death, dying and living. Not a support group ...
With Young Bereavement Professionals Group
Sept. 19, 2017, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
FREE!
This will be a fun evening bringing people together in a positive and safe setting for open conversation about all aspects of death, dying and living. Not a support group ...
With The Young Bereavement Professionals Group
Aug. 15, 2017, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
No charge
This will be a fun evening bringing people together in a positive and safe setting for open conversation about all aspects of death, dying and living. Not a support group ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Iowa
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on July 19, 2017, 10:36 a.m.
July’s Death Café was the 7th for Death Café Iowa of the year. For this meeting we met at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway in West Des Moines, Iowa. Carrie Bauer and Buffy Peters (members of the Young Bereavement Professionals Group) facilitated the group. We had 7 people (all women) in attendance ranging in ages and professions. Introductions seemed to focus on events that has happened in our lives since the last Death Café. We talked quite a bit about Jon Underwood’s death, funeral and the legacy he left behind. Other topics initially discussed were a member’s trip to China and the quality of ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Iowa
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on July 19, 2017, 10:03 a.m.
This was the 6th for the Death Café Iowa Group for 2017. We met at Caribou Coffee on Ingersoll Avenue in Des Moines, Iowa. Carrie Bauer, Carmen Elliott, and Buffy Peters (members of the Young Bereavement Professionals Group) facilitated the group. We had 9 people (8 women, 1 man) in attendance and they ranged in ages and professions. Some topics that came up during introductions were: green cremation, cremation by freezing, wanting an ‘advanced directive kit’, sound wave tattoos and the app that makes listening to your loved ones voice via the sound wave tattoo possible, cremated remains in an urn in a stuffed animal (comforting for ...
With The Young Bereavement Professionals Group
July 18, 2017, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
None
Death Café is a casual event that brings people together in a fun, positive and safe setting for open conversation about all aspects of death, dying and living. This Death ...
With The Young Bereavement Professionals Group
June 20, 2017, 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (Central)
None
Death Café is a casual event that brings people together in a fun, positive and safe setting for open conversation about all aspects of death, dying and living. This Death ...