Latest Death Cafe News

Death Cafe write up: Monmouth County Death Cafe

Posted by Beth Almerini on April 10, 2017, 12:03 p.m.

Nourishing conversations, tasty treats, happy laughter, gentle disagreements, new participants, and many points of view charactericized this meeting. This was a more intimate group than at our last Death Cafe and the conversation was a bit deeper. The newer participants were in their 30s and had a great deal to contribute.  We all enjoyed the conversation so much, we've decided to meet again in May!

Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe SE Portland

Posted by Christine Borchert on April 7, 2017, 3:03 p.m.

April 7th turned out to be a pretty major windstorm but that didn't keep the 2 guests from traveling 45+ minutes to attend. 

The conversation flowed really well after the introduction. 

We talked about protecting each other from sadness around dying.

We talked about how to offer the opportunity to talk about a loss with a friend.

We talked about how to be okay with not being everything to everyone and how to prioritize our needs without feeling selfish.

We shared our stories of loved ones who died, shed a few tears and left feeling like kindred spirits who just spent an hour and a half together ...

New Blog post: Because I could not stop for Death

Posted by Fustbariclation on April 7, 2017, 4:57 a.m. 1 comment

Because I could not stop for Death 

Because I could not stop for Death – 
He kindly stopped for me –  
The Carriage held but just Ourselves –  
And Immortality.

We slowly drove – He knew no haste
And I had put away
My labor and my leisure too,
For His Civility – 

We passed the School, where Children strove
At Recess – in the Ring –  
We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain –  
We passed the Setting ...

Death Cafe write up: Belleville, IL Death Cafe

Posted by maggieboone on April 3, 2017, 12:53 p.m.

3252017 Belleville Death Café Summary

We had another great discussion. One thing that came up with one of the participants was the idea of saying, “He’s dead” did not feel quite natural (and maybe in my opinion uncomfortable anxiety on both ends of that conversation) and the preferred reference was “passed away” or “passed on”.  Where did these euphemisms originate and why? The rational attitude is not fear of death or a desire to put it off for as long as possible, but perhaps to make it more comfortable to talk about it.  What happens when a loved one has died and someone calls or asks about ...

Resource: The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully.

Posted by Kathleen W on April 3, 2017, 11:22 a.m.

"It is the impermanence of life that gives us perspective.  As we come in contact with life's precarious nature, we also come to appreciate its preciousness. Then we don't wan to wast a minute... Death is a good companion on the road to living well and dying without ...

New Blog post: The Exeter Death Cafe

Posted by Alizoun@alid.co.uk on April 2, 2017, 4:06 p.m. 3 comments

WHY WE ADORE BEING THE EXETER DEATH CAFÉ HOSTS (and we don’t think we are weird!).  WE’D LOVE TO SEE YOU THERE

Gina Awad and Aly Dickinson love hosting Death Cafes. We do, we do!  We joined forces in 2015 to run the first Exeter Death Café.  It seemed like a natural partnership with Gina being the Founder of the Exeter Action Dementia Alliance having done so much to make Exeter a Dementia ...

Death Cafe write up: Albany WA Death Cafe

Posted by Albany WA Death Cafe on March 31, 2017, 9:27 a.m.

Nice change of scene for today's gathering - we had a picnic at Allambie Park Natural Burial Area. Around eighteen of us got together,  complete with chairs,  tables (even a lace tablecloth) and of course,  our Thermoses and cake.

Given the location,  it's not surprising that the discussion today largely centred on funeral options,  including relative costs,  the range of caskets available and  build-your-own coffin projects. 

We talked at length about Natural Earth Burial - what it is (interment in a fully biodegradable coffin, with no synthetic materials, in a relatively shallow, minimally marked grave),  how it came about in our region (extensive lobbying around 6-7 years ago ...

Death Cafe write up: Cheddar Death Cafe

Posted by elizabethherridge on March 31, 2017, 7:14 a.m.

This was a lively, interesting Death Cafe.  Full of laughter.  Good cake.  Interesting subjects.  21 attendees, split into three groups.  With hindsight we would have moved around halfway, but it was a learning curve.  Hope to have another one in the not too distant future.  Conversation flowed easily and we had lots of literature for people to pick up... like, Is Your Green Burial Really Green, etc.  Useful tool is the Good Funeral Guide.  Topics covered a large range from euthanasia, roadside shrines, who do you want present at your death, end of life care, end of life care plans, DNR and many more.  We used this website ...

New Blog post: Three Thought-Provoking Death Practices From Around The World

Posted by ash_stevens on March 30, 2017, 5:26 p.m. 3 comments

The ideology of death is a fascinating thing. It may seem that there is only one way of viewing it and conducting the process, but the ideas we’re immersed in are not universal. The beliefs and practices surrounding death will vary by country, culture, region, and religion/philosophy. At first, these death rituals may appear strange, but when you explore them deeper, the strangeness takes new form. Consider these three rituals from across the ...

Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe ZARAUTZ (SPAIN)

Posted by Iñaki Peña Bandrés on March 29, 2017, 11:11 p.m. 1 comment

It took place on March 23, 2017. In the coastal town of Zarautz (Basque Country), at Hotel Alameda.

Hosted by nurse Amaia Artze and doctor Iñaki Peña, and attended by a total of 14 people:

• 7 women and 7 men.
• Below 50 year old 7 people and >50 another 7.
• 6 health proffesionals, 8 people holding another employment status.

People came from different backgrounds: 

• One man came from a Christian parish an one couple from a Buddhist community.
• One 60 year-old woman was going through the anticipatory grief for her husband, ill with cancer.
• One 40 year-old woman told us about having esoteric experiences.

Short video ...

Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe in Nelson, New Zealand

Posted by Kristinerose on March 28, 2017, 11:54 p.m.

There was a small number of particapants at this meeting..which allowed all present more time to speak There was a palitable sence of intamacy as stories around loss were shared.. The particapants are aware it is not a bereavement support group. But the safety in the group is such that the emotion of saddness showed its face. One particapant suggested the language to desribe Death Cafe as " Refreshing-Delicious".. and I dont think she was refering to the beverage and cake, although that was good too. Other coments were "Great to share thoughts-hope open speech (about death) spreads to more people in the community...and " Wonderful- THank-you."

Death Cafe write up: Hornby Island, BC Death Cafe VIII

Posted by Sylvia Sienikehä Elysiana on March 28, 2017, 3:28 p.m.

Great group and conversation... Alternative options for burial and cremation. Creative ideas and solutions.

Death Cafe write up: St Albans Death Cafe

Posted by KRay on March 27, 2017, 9:57 a.m.

The venue was welcoming and comfortable with lots of yummy cakes to choose from. The Death Cafe meeting took place in the private dining room which was a lovely space for a couple of hours of interesting and thought provoking discussion. Everyone comes to a Death Cafe for a different reason and everyone has a different perspective to offer or a different question to ask.   

Death Cafe write up: Aberystwyth Death Cafe

Posted by NicolaDunkley on March 27, 2017, 8:36 a.m.

There were 7 of us at the latest Death Café in Aberystwyth. It was co-facilitated  by Nic Dunkley and Ian Kavanagh. Viv Hammond gave her apologies. Evaluations came back saying:

Overall, how would you rate this event? 5=excellent. 1=poor.

2 offered 5, 4 offered 4 and 1 offered 3.

-Thankyou, it feels like I made an important start.

-Comfortable environment.

-small group - intimate and easy to talk

-I found it really insightul, hearing others speak about what I fear

-Again, an interesting and engaging discussion

Would you say that attending this event affected your feelings about death and/or life? If yes, please attempt to say ...

Practitioners question: Death Cafe in inner Melbourne?

Posted by Ocelot1771 on March 25, 2017, 11:38 p.m. 1 comment

Hi,would anyone be interested in a Death Cafe in the inner Melbourne (Australia) area?  I'm thinking of hosting one and just seeing whether anyone would be interested in attending one here.

Thanks