Death Cafe write-ups
Death Cafe Danville Write up
Posted by Jennifer A. on Feb. 9, 2014, 6:50 p.m.
The first Death Cafe Danville met for two hours for lively and sometimes laughter-filled conversations about death-related topics. Eleven of the expected 14 people participated and one individual came to the venue for something unrelated and asked to join the group, for a total of 12 attendees.
Some of the topics were: the importance of voicing what you want done with your corpse, the afterlife, Victorian mourning traditions, society's attitudes about death, death in other cultures (ex. Tibetan sky burials), and how death impacts daily life.
The majority of participants made sure to let me know that they'd like to attend future Death Cafes. Words/phrases ...
Northern Alberta Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Northern Alberta Death Cafe on Feb. 8, 2014, 9:13 p.m.
and the night was cold but warm inside. There were new attendees and some of us old ones..... The conversations were both diverse and interesting. One attendee shared her plans on a new direction in her life as she gets close to retirement and does not want to spend too many more winters in the north of Alberta. Her plans are to do her utmost best to enjoy her finite life doing what she wants to and seeing the world on her terms. Another shared her journey with her diagnosis of terminal cancer and how she too has chosen how to be in control of her last days ...
Wow. First meeting went really well. 36 attendees, came from our Unity community, Meetup, waccobb.net and Facebook. I'm so touched by the willingness of these generous and articulate souls to show up, in heavy rain, and spend the afternoon together, talking and listening. A real heart opener. Felt like living fully; an antithesis to death. Good feedback about being encouraged to change seats and provide questions as prompts if needed.
Thank you to all who showed up. We are all so different on the outside and all so the same at our cores.
The first Death Cafe organized in Poland took place in a pleasant Warsaw café called (in a free translation) “Price of Inconsistency”. Eleven persons, man and women attended the event. The discussion went for two hours and floated around the themes of what gives us strength while facing death of our close ones, can we prepare for death – our own and that of the others, how is death seen in other cultures and traditions and last but not least, is the feeling of guilt inscribed in the experience of those who stay alive, when their family or friends died. Towards the end of the meeting, participants expressed the ...
Death Cafe in Joliet, IL Write up
Posted by Sherry Gilles on Feb. 6, 2014, 1:22 p.m.
We expected about twenty people to come to this Death Cafe but had a number of cancellations due to the incredibly rainy weather and threats of storms.
About twelve people showed up to discuss death topics such as loss of a loved one and what types of funeral or cremation ceremony might suit each person the best. End of Life conversations, having taken place or not, were discussed and how it affected each participant.
One guest came in at the last minute and she shared some good stories from the past about death.
Our hosts served snack food and cake. I only received a couple of evaluations as ...
Death Cafe Niagara Write up
Posted by Oakwood Cemetery on Feb. 4, 2014, 7:05 a.m.
The 2014 Season for Death Cafe Niagara
Thursday, April 10th
Thursday, July 10th
Thursday, October 9th
Every meeting begins at 7:00pm.
An intimate evening sharing some experiences and thoughts which lead to some honest and open conversations........Look forward to the next one, Sali. Thank you so very much.
Death Cafe Glenview Write up
Posted by Kathy Miller, LCPC on Feb. 1, 2014, 9:31 a.m.
Our 2nd Death Cafe Glenview was intimate, warm, and cozy. Nine members of our community met over tea and brownies to share stories, poems, and resources. We laughed. We cried. We connected. Beautiful!
Ann Arbor Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Merilynne Rush on Feb. 1, 2014, 9:24 a.m. 1 comment
Death Cafe has gotten so good that I really look forward to it each month. I'd like to personally invite more people in the healthcare professions. So many of you talk about the frustration of not being able to talk about death at work or with clients. I hope that together we can increase the number of dining room table conversations - at work, at worship, with children, with parents, with staff, with friends. When we wait to talk about death until we need to, we don't. Or it becomes so weighty that we are overcome. You're invited to the conversation!
Death Cafe - Fremantle, WA Write up
Posted by Death Cafe - Fremantle on Feb. 1, 2014, 1:49 a.m.
When life gives you a lemon...you squeeze every last drop and make the best darn lemonade you can! The same can be said of life and living before we die...
After an unexpected, last minute, change of venue due to miscommunication, the group discussion did what it always does, it took on a life of its own...pun intended!
Unfinished business, afterlife/afterdeath, sudden death, childhood death, and inspiration to live now were all subjects shared with the 14 particpants who came along today.
We ended up in a very noisy cafe so speaking was a challenge but it didn't stop people from feeling connected or ...
1. Wiener Death Cafe Write up
Posted by JELLA JOST on Jan. 30, 2014, 2:25 p.m.
Our little community grows slowly.
Second meeting were less people but deeper and more space and the contents have time to work..
As lot of people do not cancel in time - we decided to take € 5,- as membership fee, so that our expenses are covered and we do not have a minus in shopping and serving food and drinks.
There was a young women in our group, she makes her diploma thesis about death, death cafés....very very interesting! I am so greatful to hear so many touching stories.
Next Meeting on 9th of April at 16:45 same place!
Welcome all!!
Kommendes Treffen am 9.4 ...
Death Cafe in Carson City, NV Write up
Posted by Paula Schneider on Jan. 29, 2014, 1:30 p.m.
This was our fourth death cafe in Carson City, NV since May of 2013. We had 9 attendees, which made for a safe and intimate gathering. Many of the evaluations indicated people felt validated. It was interesting that we had to leave the building promptly at noon because another group was coming in to decorate for a baby shower. Birth and death are both part of the Great Mystery, aren't they?
Death Cafe Stockport Write up
Posted by Hugh O'Brien on Jan. 28, 2014, 7:46 a.m. 1 comment
Hugh O’Brien and Liz Thompson hosted Manchester’s first Death Café at the Moor Club in Heaton Moor Stockport last night. We already had a lot of interest from local people, professionals and the press, in all 33 people came. People turned up not knowing what to expect but with an open mind and a willingness to engage.
We came together in the spirit of sharing and as a group created a space in which people felt able to talk openly. We were a very diverse group which made it all the more interesting and there was enough knowledge in the room to easily answer people’s ...
Death Cafe Ashwood Victoria Australia Write up
Posted by Annie Whitlocke, Leanne Skipsey, Cherie Scott on Jan. 27, 2014, 10:26 p.m.
We were fortunate to have such a positive feedback from last Death Cafe that we suggested our local paper might like to put it out to the community, for the next Death Cafe. It will be interesting to see what reaction this gets.
Death Cafe DC, Making Room for the Dead at the Holiday Table Write up
Posted by DeathCafeDC on Jan. 26, 2014, 9:56 p.m.
Yep. Talking about death and dying can be a tough conversation. I recently visited a "Death Cafe" where a discussion about death and dying was frank and open.
But “fascinating” best describes the candor and compassion of the two-hour conversation.
The idea of a death café has intrigued me since learning about it a year ago. As an elder mediator helping families resolve disputes concerning an older parent or relative, I wanted to see how willing people are to talk about this often closeted topic. I was pleasantly surprised. The nine of us talked about dying and death, both personally and objectively.
Begun in England several years ago ...