Latest Death Cafe News
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Capitol Hill
Posted by Laura Lyster-Mensh - HCC on Aug. 9, 2023, 9:06 a.m.
The second Death Cafe of 2023 at Congressional Cemetery drew two dozen people on a gorgeous spring evening. We split the group as the numbers rose and half met in the chapel and half outdoors. Participants enjoyed sweet treats offered by Congressional Cemetery staff and baked goods from participants.
Both groups had lively conversation touching on: letting go of expectations of reconciliation and ways to find conciliation before and after death of a loved one with whom the relationship was challenging, having conversation about dying and death with family and friends who are reluctant to speak on the topic, suicide as an option for the terminally ill, the ...
Death Cafe write up: Washington DC Congressional Cemetery Death Cafe
Posted by Laura Lyster-Mensh - HCC on Aug. 9, 2023, 9:02 a.m.
Our 4th death cafe of the year was held on August 8 in the cemetery’s historic chapel. The weather was warm but a welcome cooler respite from recent steamy and stormy evenings here in Washington DC. The cemetery staff put out a lovely spread of sweet treats, and iced tea to welcome participants. As always a few curious dogs ran into the building to see what was going on.
Twenty or so people gathered in a circle in the one-room chapel led by guest facilitator, Liz Gregg, a longtime Capitol Hill resident and end-of-life doula who works at Capitol Hill Village as Director of Volunteer and Care ...
Death Cafe write up: Glasgow Death Cafe
Posted by Bob Stoner on Aug. 8, 2023, 9:50 a.m.
The Swedish term "döstädning" means 'death cleaning'. Before you prepare the swabs and disinfectant, it is more about the graceful art of decluttering the house...before someone else needs to do it. Death Cleaning is proposed for all those 65 years and above. but why not start earlier? This isn't a long weekend but a guided time of going through each room and discerning what should stay and what might need to go to be recycled, given away or even (sadly) discarded. But what criteria might we use to guide us?
How do you do this?We thought today, at Death Cafe, of whether "Will ...
Death Cafe write up: City of Roses Death Cafe
Posted by nomenoyou1 on July 30, 2023, 8:14 p.m.
Our July City of Roses Death Cafe was filled with beautiful insights, exchanging of resources, and personal storytelling. There were a total of 14 of us in attendance -- our largest group yet! A few topics that came up in discussion were the evolution and impacts of the funeral industry on our society, alternative and eco-concious burials, the language we use to discuss death and dying, and what it means to die a "good death".
Looking forward to our next Death Cafe on August 26th at the Leaven Community Center. Hope to see you there!
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe North Canterbury
Posted by Death Cafe North Canterbury, Aotearoa New Zealand on July 30, 2023, 7:07 p.m.
Death Café in North Canterbury recently, in Amberley (16.07.2023)
We held our second Amberley Death Café North Canterbury – it was a quiet, intimate and tender meeting, four of us talking about connecting, why we don’t talk much in society about death and dying; and the purpose of a funeral. loud, busy affair!
It was a reflective and inner feeling that stayed with me throughout the rest of the day.
Stay well and warm; and keep talking, Liz :)
Kaiapoi Library 1.30 pm: August 20th, November 19th
Rangiora Library 1.30 pm: September 17th
Amberley Library 2 pm: October 29th (date change)
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe to Go Laramie
Posted by Leeschwa on July 18, 2023, 4:49 p.m.
Death Cafe write up: Camano Island Death Cafe
Posted by Vicki226 on July 18, 2023, 1:10 p.m.
We had a great group, as usual. Topics were diverse. We pondered the question. What do you call "heaven" in your culture?
Books and Poems were also shared and discussed.
5 Days in Heaven: A Conversation with God. (book) by Jay Bowen-local from LaConnor, WA.
A poem: For the Dying by John O'Donohue
I look forward to our August meeting.
Death Cafe write up: Glasgow Death Cafe
Posted by Bob Stoner on July 11, 2023, 11:07 a.m.
No the bread hadn't gone mouldy. It is wonderful when our conversations can include multiple cultures and how they can change our perspective. So, today from UK and Chinese cultures, we saw the way that humour rarely gets a look in when talking about death - until you get to a Death Cafe. We noticed that it can be a great release to possibly write a letter to the deceased, explaining the differences from the past, and possibly burning it and put that into the grave. We, again, wondered whether it was a good idea to cover the coffin with the lid as although we could see our ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe North Canterbury NZ
Posted by Death Cafe North Canterbury, Aotearoa New Zealand on July 4, 2023, 4:53 a.m.
We held our second Rangiora Death Café North Canterbury – it was a loud, busy affair! We were a group of 9 and noises were made when we discussed the eye-watering prices of funerals. We talked about many different options, shopping around and talking through what is wanted, what matters and just exactly who is the funeral for.
It was a great discussion about the practicalities of life and death – and certainly sent me home with plenty of homework and research to do.
Stay well and warm; and keep talking, Liz :)
Kaiapoi Library 1.30 pm: August 20th, November 19th
Rangiora Library 1.30 pm: September 17 ...
Death Cafe write up: Bristol Death Cafe
Posted by simonedavis@southmead.org on July 3, 2023, 8:38 a.m.
This was our second Death Cafe. We enjoyed the scents of some freshly picked lavender and lemon balm as a bouquet on the table. The banana bread offered was quite a nostalgic hit with someone commenting it tasted exactly like his late wife's recipe. We talked about the rituals we create in order to feel closer to the people we've lost. And we've discussed Will writing. We've booked our next session and look forward to it.
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe - Ellershouse
Posted by Kathryn Murphy on June 27, 2023, 7:35 a.m.
Another wonderful gathering with thoughtful and engaging discussion.
Death Cafe write up: Virtual Death Cafe EDT
Posted by suemannell on June 26, 2023, 11:24 a.m.
Sometimes when the number of participants is small, we are able to share more deeply and offer more vulnerability. Discussions today included those around POA's (power of attorney), wills, tough conversations and when do we start them.
We look forward to more gatherings in the fall when we start them on zoom again. Be well!
Death Cafe write up: City of Roses Death Cafe
Posted by nomenoyou1 on June 25, 2023, 5:02 p.m.
Our June City of Roses Death Cafe was small, but we had a far-ranging discussion of death and dying. In particular we discussed how these topics come up in family--as well as resistance to discussing them at all.
Looking forward to our next Death Cafe on July 29 at the Leaven Community.
Death Cafe write up: Virtual Death Cafe Iowa
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on June 21, 2023, 3:07 p.m.
For our June Death Café Iowa, we met via Zoom with facilitator, Buffy Peters, from Hamilton’s Academy of Grief and Loss. Four individuals attended the Death Café this month which made for a small and intimate group.
One member had recently been to a child’s funeral and brought many questions to the group conversation in regards to younger age deaths. We talked about the uncertainty of death and how a child’s death can make us rethink our own expectations of death especially the time frame in which death is “supposed” to happen.
In the case of our member who recently experienced a child’s funeral ...
Death Cafe write up: Bristol Death Cafe
Posted by simonedavis@southmead.org on June 21, 2023, 3:56 a.m.
There were 3 of us who attended the first Death Cafe here in North Bristol, UK. We had lemon cake (although it was not my best bake the others were complimentary about it). Our chats took on a philosophical nature as we talked about fears and thoughts about death and dying. One participant was also a theatre writer and was writing a piece about death and dying and wanted to come as research which was fascinating. Discussing these things makes us feel more alive. We're looking forward to the next one which will be on the 28th June 2023 4:30pm-6pm at the Greenway Centre.