Latest Death Cafe News
If I think more about death than some other people, it is probably because I love life more than they do. ~ Angelina Jolie
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Madison
Posted by Willy Street: Madison Death Cafe on May 7, 2014, 2:21 p.m.
Please send suggestions from your own experiece when starting a death cafe. Any tips?
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe - San Carlos 92119
Posted by TRVevia on May 6, 2014, 9:32 p.m.
Summary: Death Café 92119 – San Marcos
April 26, 2014
Death Café 92119- San Marcos, was fully attended on Saturday, April 26, 2014, from 11:00 a.m. until about 1:15 p.m. The group attending filled the “house.”
Lively discussion ensued with rarely a quiet interlude. Two people expressed interest in facilitating a Death Café in their area.
Comments expressed:
o Gratitude to have a safe environment to bring up topics related to death and dying and not be “shut down.”
o Discussion ensued about family member who chose to die in a relative’s home.
o Discussion about how to handle one’s own death.
o ...
Link: "Can't we talk about something more pleasant?"
Posted by Kathy Miller, LCPC on May 6, 2014, 7:31 a.m. 1 comment
An only child's illustrated memoir about managing (or not) the decline and death of her parents.
See more at: NPR
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Northumberland
Posted by Northumberland on May 2, 2014, 11:47 a.m.
We had a great showing for our 2nd Death Cafe in Brighton, Northumberland County, Ontario Canada. We had 25 participants who shared lively converstions about how they were prepared for their end of life, new choices for disposition to consider and how important it was to have others to share their beliefs, concerns and knowledge with. A resounding success and many wanted more opportunities for these discussions.
Give sorrow words. The grief that does not speak whispers the o'er fraught heart, and bids it break. ~ William Shakespeare
Death Cafe write up: Flagstaff April Death Cafe
Posted by aleia@furthershore.org on April 29, 2014, 6:32 p.m.
This Death Cafe had 20 participants, 7 men and 13 women, spanning the ages of 30 to 85. Reasons for coming included: curious, excited, interested to hear what others say, community, freedom to talk and listen to topics I don't have permission for in the work place. GF Cinnamon Coffee Cake was a big hit. Some comments:
"Coming to the Death Cafe has strengthened me. I feel happier now about livng than I ever have."
"Every person speaking gives me a gift to reflect on."
"Subjectivity Rules!"
"I feel like I'm at a LOVE Cafe! Thank you"
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe in Flagstaff, Arizona
Posted by aleia@furthershore.org on April 29, 2014, 4:30 p.m.
28 people attended from ages 29 to 83. A spirited discussion, round table style, took place by 3 small groups. . . threads of conversation included reflection on many aspects of death (of others and selves). Fabulous cake in the middle and a request for more Death Cafes in Flagstaff to conclude. Evaluations indicated words like: safe, peaceful, exciting, amazing, heartfelt, supportive, eye-opening and joyful.
See more at: Mid Sussex Times
New Blog post: The fear of Death
Posted by Pauldb on April 28, 2014, 7:31 p.m. 18 comments
Firstly i want to say thank you for this opportunity, It feels strange yet exciting, being able to discuss death with others.
I have always been scared of dying from an early age. In my primary school years I would wake up crying or was unable to sleep due to all the unanswered questions surrounding death. I would seek comfort from my mum and dad and ask them 'what happens when we die?'
The answers ...
Death Cafe write up: Montpelier Death Cafe
Posted by ellenfein on April 28, 2014, 4:58 p.m.
This was our third Montpelier Death Cafe.
We had a wonderful turnout with some of the people who have been at our earlier events as well as some new faces. We are settling into a monthly schedule and have begun to rotate facilitation.
As things evolve, the conversation seems to deepen with each succesive group.
You can find a wonderful post on FB (see address below) called "Planting Seeds". And indeed that seems to be what is happening. The world seems ready and fertile to nourish these beginnings as we stimulate the discussion here and interest spreads.
You can now find us on
Twitter @MPV DeathCafe
FB https ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Wellington NZ
Posted by Sophia Tara on April 28, 2014, 12:08 p.m.
This was our 2nd Death Cafe in Wellington NZ “the coolest little capital in the world” according to Lonely Planet.
We opened by creating a sacred space with an indigenous Maori Song-Blessing and a one minute “silence of presence.” Once again the beautiful church venue afforded the perfect peaceful space fit for reverent dialogue on death, dying and the beauty of Life.
Attended by 12 kindred spirits, quietly intent with curious anticipation. Introductions revealed why participants attended the Death Cafe. From sharing grief on the sudden death of a beloved mother, missing out on being invited to a friend’s funeral, mourning the loss of a dearly ...
New Blog post: Online Death Cafes a success!
Posted by Jon Underwood on April 28, 2014, 12:05 a.m.
This work was originally published on the Death Cafe site on the 13th June 2013.
Since then we've further clarified the core Death Cafe model as being without questions.
This work indicates that questions may be more necessary with online Death Cafes.
However for it to be a Death Cafe the conversation must be led by participants as much as possible.
You can post online Death Cafes to this site. Please do organise one ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe for Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge
Posted by candles13 on April 27, 2014, 3:57 p.m. 2 comments
Evaluation of Death Café in Waterloo Region on Sunday March 30 2014
This was our second Death Café in Kitchener ON Canada. We had 15 in attendance.
We continued having a live musician who only played as folks were arriving and in the 15 minute break in our two hour café. Nine of the 15 were new and the rest had attended the first one (in November).
In the evaluations, every single person reported that they felt “very comfortable”!
A couple of folks wanted longer conversations! And a couple wanted shorter introduction at the beginning by the facilitators! All good signs of engaging conversations!
Here are specific comments ...
Death Cafe write up: Windy City Death Cafe
Posted by Kathy Miller, LCPC on April 27, 2014, 1:26 p.m.
Ten guests gathered for our 3rd Death Cafe just as the sun set on a glorious Spring day in Chicago. Among our guests were a 90-year-old WWII veteran, a retired hospice nurse, a PhD who left his decades-long position in academia to follow his passion, an HR executive, and an artist and near-death experiencer in her 7th decade. We covered a wide range of conversational topics over tea and zucchini brownies, including end-of-life care, health care directives, having "the conversation" with loves ones, burial options, personal experiences with dying, and whether we'd live differently if we knew what happened after we die. One guest spoke about his ...