Latest Death Cafe News
Death Cafe write up: A Long Island Death Cafe
Posted by nancynancy on Dec. 17, 2013, 12:56 p.m.
We hosted our first Death Cafe on Dec 4 at the lovely Tend Coffee shop in Shirley, NY. We had 10 people attend with an age range from 20 to 70. We played the video from the Death Cafe Website as an introduction to the concept. Everyone in attendance engaged in thoughtful discussion on a wide variety of topics that were inspired by Death. Each attendee expressed an interest in attending future cafe's. All in all I would assess a successful first effort.
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Columbia, Maryland-FULL
Posted by toddnraquel on Dec. 17, 2013, 12:44 p.m. 2 comments
Eleven people of diverse backgrounds gathered at the holistic health center Nourishing Journey in Columbia, MD, on Nov. 1st to discuss death in the first Death Cafe to be held in the area. It was most fitting the conversation occurred on the night of All Saints’ Day/Day of the Dead. Several issues were prominent in this lively discussion—our society’s denial of death, the need for a “re-languaging” of terms relating to death and dying in the medical community, the importance of peaceful death for loved ones, the rituals around observance and discussion of death (including the role social media now plays when people inform ...
Death Cafe write up: Northern Alberta Death Cafe
Posted by Northern Alberta Death Cafe on Dec. 16, 2013, 11:59 p.m.
Seven brave souls ventured out this night in nasty COLD weather to share stories and thoughts about DEATH.... Tonight's conversations went from concerns about your wishes being followed after your/our death... what if you specifically ask for a burial and your loved ones think a cremation is the best!! Who do you want to have responsible to make sure these wishes are followed? How to open up a conversation with loved ones about dying, when it is not something they are wanting to talk about!!! Another concern is dying without a will..... family not being so fair with those left behind can be a tragedy on ...
Death Cafe write up: Waterloo Region Death Cafe
Posted by candles13 on Dec. 16, 2013, 10:24 p.m.
For our first café, we had 20 participants. Aspen and I were very excited as that was the original number we thought we would like! We did only informal word-of-mouth/ emailing promotion and purposefully did not invite any media as it was our first Café.
It was held on a Sunday afternoon in a café open after-hours for us. To set an intentional tone of light, warmth, and nurturing, we began by lighting a hand-rolled beeswax candle, which Linda had made. (We hope to light the same one at subsequent Death Cafes.) We also had live music – 2 local musicians – guitar and ukulele. The musicians played some introductory ...
Death Cafe write up: Indian River County Death Cafe
Posted by marie on Dec. 16, 2013, 7:27 p.m.
hello everyone,
we have had two gatherings in indian river co., fl this month. our monday evening on dec 9th brought a new mix of people and we again navigated unchartered territory. we explored sudden death vs. expected eath,. the effects of possible and actual death as it pertained to our ww2 veterans. as we all know, these events are not for bereavment, however, we are finding it challenging to separate the two. we again discussed near death experience.
on monday, dec 16th at our group in vero, another diverse gathering occured. a mix of men and women with an open forum. we touched on communication from deceased ...
New Blog post: What IS it about dying?
Posted by Leo Simmons on Dec. 16, 2013, 6:15 p.m. 4 comments
I'd forgive you for wrinkling your nose, furrowing your brow or looking at me askance for asking this question. But I would then also expect you, as someone who has chosen to continue reading, to pause and have a think about the question.
Of course while I write purely from my own perspective and based upon my own (ongoing) reflections upon my life, my ideas and by the law of averages or statistical probability ...
Practitioners question: Gilbert, AZ ?? Anyone?
Posted by terrileewolf on Dec. 16, 2013, 3:47 p.m. 4 comments
Is there REALLY not any Death Cafe's in Phoenix, Mesa or Gilbert, AZ? Im looking to go to one before I host my own? Thank you for the info
terrileewolf
Death Cafe write up: Albuquerque Death Cafe
Posted by Gail Rubin, CT on Dec. 16, 2013, 3:45 p.m.
At yesterday’s Albuquerque Death Cafe, held at Sheila’s Sweets, seven people joined host Gail Rubin for a wide-ranging conversation. Mascot Lola (pictured), presided at the end of the table.
Topics discussed included this past week’s courtroom consideration of New Mexico’s laws regarding physician aid-in-dying. The judge in the case heard arguments whether it will hold doctors liable under the state’s current rules on physician-assisted suicide. Is providing medication to a patient with a terminal illness relieving suffering or helping someone commit suicide?
As with all discussion of Death Cafe topics, it’s up to the individual to decide.
We talked about green burial ...
Death Cafe write up: Montpelier Death Cafe
Posted by ellenfein on Dec. 16, 2013, 2 p.m. 2 comments
19 people showed up for our event on a very frigid Vermont evening. There were a remarkable range of opinions and interests raised that included: death with dignity; incorporating children into the dying and death ritual process: suicide; the isolation of grieving; preparing for death and rituals for dying; what comes next/life beyond death.
It seems as if the simple fact of permission to have this conversation in the company of others (many of whom were strangers when we met) was affirming and seemed like just the beginning or introduction of something that might deepen and grow.
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Philadelphia and Greater Philadelphia - Mainline Cafe
Posted by Rachel Zeldin on Dec. 16, 2013, 9:39 a.m.
December 11, 2013
On a cold Winter night, 12 people entered the gates of the West Laurel Hill Cemetery, followed the snow covered path toward the Bringhurst Funeral Home, and gathered in the atrium.
As with most gatherings at the funeral home, the topic at hand was death; however, this was not your normal death conversation. There was calm in the air, and there were no tears, eulogies, or final goodbyes. Instead, there was coffee, tea, cookies, and lively conversation, including laughter. This was the first Main Line Death Café, hosted by Rachel Zeldin of Funerals360 and Simcha Raphael of the DA’AT Institute as part of the ...
Death Cafe write up: The 4th PDX Death Cafe
Posted by Kate Brassington on Dec. 15, 2013, 9:09 a.m. 2 comments
PDX Death Cafe
December 5th, 2013
at the Peace House
Context: This event was held on a Thursday evening on one of the coldest days of the year. Our first location in a residential setting, we were hosted by The 18th Ave Peace House in Portland. This was our first "walk in" event that did not require prior registration. This was also our first event that featured music (live bluegrass, with songs selected for their relevance to the topic of death), though this feature was not announced beforehand. The large house was warm and thoroughly decorated for the holidays, and was divided into 10 different tables or sitting ...
Video: Exit Strategy: Denying Death of Its Strangeness
Posted by Death Cafe St. Joe/ Megan Mooney on Dec. 14, 2013, 9:29 p.m.
Death Cafe write up: Friendly & Fearless Tucson Death Cafe
Posted by tucsondeathcafe on Dec. 13, 2013, 9:26 p.m.
Tucson Death Cafe celebrated the completion of its 1st year on December 3rd at Monterey Court Café and Galleries. Congratulations to our fearless leaders, Kristine and Cindy, and all the participants that have contributed to the cafe. It was a chilly night (for we desert dwellers) and we started with a circle drawn close around the outdoor fireplace. There were 15 of us including 4 men, yes! Some familiar faces and some new.
After introductions we split into self-selected smaller groups to consider how we would complete the sentence "Before I die I want to …." There was cake and other sweet treats, plus hot coffee and tea to ...
