Denver Death Cafe October 2014
A write up of Denver Death Cafe-October
By Anita Larson
Denver Death Café Summary
October 26, 2014
Thank you to First Universalist Church for hosting the October Denver Death Cafe and providing refreshments. Thank you to Ardis, Rod & Ilene for setting everything up and that funny cake!
Anita Larson, Celebrant & Facilitator opened the meeting by talking about the “Before I Die” project and the positive responses it is getting globally. Candy Chang painted the side of an abandoned house in her neighborhood with chalkboard paint and stenciled it with a grid of the sentence “Before I die I want to ____”. Anyone walking by could pick up a piece of chalk, reflect on their lives and share their personal aspirations in public space. It was all an experiment; within hours the entire wall was filled and people were writing in the margins.”
Denver Death Café attendees filled in their own blanks with – Before I die I want to……
Clean out the basement.
Have my autistic 7-year-old grandson have a conversation with me.
Go to South Africa and be in a shark cage with sharks swimming all around me.
Finish my book on family history – I’m a genealogist.
See as much of the natural world as I can.
One individual shared an article from Scientific American magazine about Vivid Dreams Comfort the Dying. Here’s a link to it: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/vivid-dreams-comfort-the-dying/ Discussion about the afterlife included references to movies and blogs. Near death experiences are different than those who experience after-life experiences. One participant shared an excerpt from a blog her daughter wrote about a 20-year-old friend who died from an aggressive form of cancer. Questions arose about whether you want to die, have a terminal illness, good deaths and painful deaths. What it’s like to watch a loved one take their last breath. Do Not Resuscitate Forms – where to place them and what if they are not followed by the paramedics? Compassion & Choices conversations with opinions on both sides – the current laws in Colorado, how other states handle the process and working with physicians. Differing religious viewpoints on the right to die and dying with dignity. This topic seems to come up at almost every Death Café. Talk about terminology – please don’t say I passed – I died. Some prefer the word “transition” when referring to someone who has died.
In one word – how would you describe your experience today? Enjoyable, life-affirming, interesting, inspiring, good stories, uplifting, sweet, confusing, educational, thought provoking and a relief. One regular attendee came up to me after the Death Café and said, “I wish we could have this every week. Death Café is heavenly!” The conversations continue….
The last Denver Death Café in 2014 is Sunday, November 16th from 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Heflebower Funeral Services, 8955 S. Ridgeline Blvd. Ste. 100., Highlands Ranch, CO 80128
Please arrive a few minutes early to secure a seat and grab some refreshments.
We begin promptly at 3:00. No RSVP required.
“Talking about death leads to a good life.”
With Gratitude,
Anita Larson, Facilitator & Celebrant
P.S. No Death Café scheduled for December – enjoy your holidays! See you in January 2015.