Death Cafe

Death Cafe profile for Suzanne

Location: Australia

http://compassionatecompanion.com.au/

About Suzanne:

Suzanne Beveridge is an end-of-life doula, a compassionate companion to those ageing, sick and dying. Suzanne wants each of us to die with more love and less fear. She believes a critical first step to do that is to get people talk about their expereinces of dying and death.

What brings you to Death Cafe?

Just like birth, growing older and dying are essential parts of living. Yet, unlike birth which is mostly heralded with joyful anticipation, we tend to resist talking about the inevitable fact that we will die.

We even avoid thinking about death when alone, putting it to one side ‘for another time’, or simply leaving it to fate. We may even consider that dying and death only apply to others. We live in denial or mindless of this truth and so limit the boundless joy of this stage of our life experience.

Yet, there is no escape.

In generations past, dying and death were much more out in the open. Grandparents lived with us or nearby, and kids grew up seeing them age and get sick and die, their bodies laid in waiting in the front parlour.

Death and the life lived were celebrated.

It's time to bring death out in the open. The best way to do that is to start talking about it.

What would you like your legacy to be?

That people die with more love and less fear.

Thoughts for sharing:

“Our life is a journey that begins with birth and ends with death, and once we begin that journey, we are on our way, non-stop. There are no breathers, no time outs. It is a one-shot deal. So we should relate to our life now, while we still can, but to do so, we must also learn to relate to our death.”

— Judy Lief

Contact Suzanne

Suzanne's posts on the Death Cafe website

Death Cafe: Brisbane Death Cafe at Kangaroo Point

Posted by Suzanne on Feb. 10, 2023, 9:21 p.m.

With Suzanne Beveridge

March 4, 2023, 10.30 a.m. - 12.00 p.m. (Australian Eastern Standard Time)

Free

Just like birth, growing older and dying are essential parts of living. Yet, unlike birth which is mostly heralded with joyful anticipation, we tend to resist talking about the inevitable ...

Death Cafe write up: Brisbane Death Cafe at Kangaroo Point

Posted by Suzanne on Feb. 10, 2023, 9:16 p.m.

Our most recent Brisbane Death Cafe at Kangaroo Point attracted a radio interview on the 4BC Weekends segment.

Listen here:

https://www.4bc.com.au/podcast/why-is-death-so-hard-death-cafe-brisbane-coordinator-suzanne-beveridge/

Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe - Kangaroo Point, Brisbane

Posted by Suzanne on Nov. 4, 2022, 11:08 p.m.

Five people participated in the Brisbane Death Cafe at Kangaroo Point on 29 October 2022. Conversation spanned recent deaths of family members and friends as well as more distant losses. Many expressed how their experiences of death had affected them and described the path to where they are now in how they relate to dying and death and to how they serve those who are dying. The physical decline of ordinary ageing that transitions towards death was discussed as was sudden death of younger family members and friends. Loss of role models and changes in family structure leading ultimately to the generational shift we come to know as ...

Death Cafe: Brisbane Death Cafe at Kangaroo Point

Posted by Suzanne on Nov. 4, 2022, 1:10 a.m.

With Suzanne Beveridge

Feb. 4, 2023, 10.30 a.m. - 12.00 p.m. (Australian Eastern Standard Time)

Free

Just like birth, growing older and dying are essential parts of living. Yet, unlike birth which is mostly heralded with joyful anticipation, we tend to resist talking about the inevitable ...

Death Cafe: Death Cafe - Kangaroo Point, Brisbane

Posted by Suzanne on Oct. 4, 2022, 12:11 a.m.

With Suzanne Beveridge

Oct. 29, 2022, 10.30 a.m. - 12.00 p.m. (Australian Eastern Standard Time)

Free

With the Day of the Dead coming up, come join us to talk about our ideas, feelings and experiences of death and dying in Kangaroo Point, Brisbane.

Just like birth ...

Death Cafe write up: Brisbane Death Cafe - Kangaroo Point 4169

Posted by Suzanne on Oct. 3, 2022, 11:28 p.m.

Lively discussions amngst the six attending. Some had been before and some never before. Some came with specific interests - how to cope with dying when working in residential aged care - and some came with several recent deaths of close family and friends. While others had never heard of a Death Cafe before and came along to find out what it was all about. Feedback included: "I love conversations about death and impermanence. It is always interesting to meet people that have never thought of death"; "learning about how to to cope with death in the aged care sector"; "Enjoyed hearing different experiences, especially caring for people at the ...

Death Cafe: Brisbane Death Cafe - Kangaroo Point 4169

Posted by Suzanne on Sept. 10, 2022, 12:40 a.m.

With Suzanne Beveridge

Sept. 24, 2022, 10.30 a.m. - 12.00 p.m. (Australian Eastern Standard Time)

Free

Come join us to talk about our ideas, feelings and experiences of death and dying.

Just like birth, growing older and dying are essential parts of living. Yet, unlike birth ...

Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe - Kangaroo Point, Brisbane

Posted by Suzanne on June 23, 2022, 4:40 a.m.

Seven people attended our Death Cafe on 22 June 2022 in Kangaroo Point Brisbane, Australia. Conversation flowed freely for the full 90 minutes. Participants look forward to attending again on a regular basis. They appreciated the respect that filled the space, the sense of connection and the freedom to share with like-minded people about dying and death. It was felt that from talking about each others vulnerabilities around the topic of death, they could more easily identify what their needs were to approach their own inevitable death and the deaths of loved ones. They were pleased to receive relevant information and direction to resources to help fill their ...

Death Cafe: Death Cafe - Kangaroo Point, Brisbane

Posted by Suzanne on June 4, 2022, 8:34 p.m.

With Suzanne Beveridge

June 22, 2022, 10.30 a.m. - 12.00 p.m. (Australian Eastern Standard Time)

Free

Come join us to talk about our ideas, feelings and experiences of death and dying with delicious cake and drinks from Satti and the team at Three Little Birds Cafe ...