Latest Death Cafe News
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 ...
Practitioners question: Protecting our legacy - Death Cafe trademark
Posted by Jools Barsky on Dec. 9, 2023, 7:12 a.m.
Hi Death Cafe community,
Today, I want to share an important milestone in our journey: the renewal of the Death Cafe trademark. This isn't just a routine task; it's a crucial step to safeguard the open, honest discussions about death and dying that define Death Cafe.
Why renew ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Dunedin NZ
Posted by AnkesDeathCafe on Dec. 6, 2023, 4:25 a.m.
Death Cafe write up: Shepherdstown WV Death Cafe: Tea, Cake and Conversation
Posted by Tracy Seffers on Dec. 5, 2023, 12:58 p.m. 2 comments
For our inaugural offering, we had 11 community members come for tea and cake (gratefully received), amazing conversation, and not a little laughter.
Tracy opened the session with a reading of Mary Oliver's "When Death Comes".
The usual round of introductions included an invitation to "tell us why you are here" - prompting lovely stories, with much head nodding and affirmation around the circle.
Questions ranged from, "Why do we not want to tell people that we are sick until it's too late?" to "What do you want to come back as in your next life?"
Several wonderful books were mentioned as resources:
- "The Book of Two ...
New Blog post: Death Café flourishes in Latin America: a brief history
Posted by Wilka Roig on Nov. 28, 2023, 4:12 p.m.
In September 2014 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, El Faro Asociación, under the direction of Viviana Bilezker, held the first Death Cafe in Latin America. Expectant and somewhat nervous about how it would turn out, members of the El Faro team received 30 people. After giving the guidelines, a tense silence was generated until a participant commented: “Today is a good day to talk about death because Gustavo Cerati—an Argentine musician who had been ...
Death Cafe write up: Washington DC Congressional Cemetery Death Cafe
Posted by Laura Lyster-Mensh - HCC on Nov. 20, 2023, 4:59 p.m.
It was a lively conversation visited by several dogs who ran into the chapel curious about what we were doing. With lovely sweet snacks provided by the Congressional Cemetery staff, we settled in to conversation that circled and grew. Even the silences were thoughtful.
What an impactful evening. Thank you to all who come out.
Death Cafe write up: City of Roses Death Cafe
Posted by nomenoyou1 on Nov. 19, 2023, 6:46 p.m.
Saturday afternoon 24 of us gathered for tea, cake and gluten free cookies. Our large group touched on the difficulty some people have responding to us when we mention a seriously ill family member or a death that we are grieving; how to develop meaningful rituals celebrating a life; and the pain that a life ended by suicide can leave in its wake. Several of us described the impact of living through the AIDS pandemic has had on us.
Thanks to the generosity of QM we had not one, but two chocolate cakes to enjoy. Thanks to the thoughtfulness of others, the dishes were washed and dried and ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Whangarei
Posted by Jo Moselen on Nov. 19, 2023, 6:01 p.m.
We were a group of seven women who gathered at The Fat Camel Café in Whangarei, NZ, the third time we have gathered at this venue. We don’t ask for RSVP’s, so it’s always surprise as to how many people will attend. I was the facilitator (Jo Moselen) along with support from my colleague Jo Samuel. Being a small group with most people knowing each other or at least acquainted in some way it was a relaxed an intimate gathering where we discussed, End of life choice - how it is and isn't working, the work underway to support an advanced directive for Dementia in ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe in Oval, London
Posted by Poetra on Nov. 17, 2023, 11:43 a.m.
After my brother died I sought out music, films and theatre plays on grief, death, loss etc. I came across Bella Beesom's one-woman play "My World Has Exploded A Little Bit" about the deaths of her parents, and in particular father. I went and saw her at the Oval Theatre.
After the play she announced a Death Cafe the following weekend. Never heard of a "death cafe" and registered. Several people signed up, but it ended up only Be;;a and myself chatting. Been to several Death cafe's since and everyone is very uniques and recommendable. Thanks again.
Petra
New Blog post: Coming Home
Posted by Tracy Seffers on Nov. 10, 2023, 6:48 a.m.
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe: Hatfield MA Council on Aging
Posted by LCHummel on Nov. 7, 2023, 10:52 a.m.
The Hatfield, MA, Senior Center Death Cafe was held on Nov 2, 2023. Fifteen older adults met to discuss death and our common mortal experience over the traditional coffee and cake. Individuals voiced curiosity and a desire to talk about a subject that is often feared and avoided. Topics included the meaning of a "good death", self determined life closure, and planning for one's eventual demise. Ways to discuss one's end of life care wishes with loved ones was explored, as well as using humor to offset the pangs of dying and grief.
Discussion was engaging, spirited and supportive, and those in attendance welcomed this opportunity ...
Death Cafe write up: Brattleboro VT October Death Cafe
Posted by Denise Glover on Oct. 31, 2023, 8:02 a.m.
The Death Cafe was attended by eleven open-hearted people. We sat around the table and took turns sharing thoughts, feelings, experiences, and questions about death, dying, and grief.
Death Cafe write up: City of Roses Death Cafe
Posted by nomenoyou1 on Oct. 30, 2023, 1:08 p.m.
Another bright sunny Saturday in Portland, another afternoon of sharing, supporting and connecting around death and dying. Amber facilitated our discussion--kept it moving and kept it open.
Fear was a big part of the conversaion--family members who fear a parent's death, our own fear of death (or is it of suffering while we are dying?). We celebrated this opportunity to talk openly about death and dying. The silence around this topic in our culture is not helpful. We recognized that there is no time to waste, no time to "mess" around.
Chocolate cake was well received.
We meet again on November 18, 2pm at the Leaven Community ...
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: Death Cafe Marrickville
Posted by mknight on Oct. 21, 2023, 11:06 p.m.
Our October Death Cafe was described by attendees as ‘eye-opening’, ‘comforting’, ‘beautiful’ ‘relaxed’ and ‘peaceful’. Held in an airy creative space in our new local library location, not even the odd library goer wandering into the room could overly disrupt or disturb the conversation.
It always amazes me, how complete strangers can not only be drawn together by a common goal and interest, but how they can share so courageously and sincerely stories which are incredibly intimate and personal. And again, I’m struck by how death-positive conversations are not only profoundly powerful and transformative for all concerned, but how much they are needed in the community.
My ...