Death Cafe write-ups
Last night's gathering was well attended and a very focused discussion about the immanance of death and the concept of "leaving behind." Also considered was the issue of whether we would want to know how we will die, if that were possible. I feel so blessed to share thought with my co-participants.
SW London Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Suzanne Michal on Nov. 1, 2016, 6:50 a.m.
So for some reason that was one of the best death cafe I have ever attended. We had nearly equal men and women and we were read three wonderful tales of death by 3 men! An absolute treat.
We all shared our own stories, some pretty moving and humbling... of forgiveness long after one's mother's passing, of losing 18 loved ones in just over one year, of keeping in touch with the children of one's best friend who passed away and left a big hole in a man's life...
We were 9 around that long table, all taken in by each other's sharing ...
Come and have a cup of coffee while we talk about things connected with Death.
The first one that I had we didn't notice the time going. The two hours passed so quickly!!
Come and see what the Death Cafe is all about, we have a lot of laughs there and memories of our loved ones
We also talk about our own death and what we want to happen to us, and the service that we want at the funeral.
Hope to see you there.
Diane
Monmouth County Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Beth Almerini on Oct. 25, 2016, 12:45 p.m.
This was my first Death Cafe, and it was so much more than I had expected. We had 15 attendees and conversation that was interesting, insightful, unexpected, funny and poignant. People participated enthusiastically, and expressed real gratitude for being able to talk about death without a need either for euphemisms or being careful not to upset someone by being too direct. There were nurses attending who expressed their frustrations around dealing with death in the medical setting. I also found that, by introducing myself a hospice nurse, people had many, many questions and appreciated the opportunity to have them answered. There was such a large response, that I ...
Comox Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Dale Presly and Diane Palmason on Oct. 24, 2016, 2:20 p.m.
Death Cafes have been held in the Comox Valley for four years now, at several different locations in Courtenay, a small city on Vancouver Island, BC
Our gathering on October 23 was the second one located in our new meeting place in Comox, a town that is also part of the Comox Valley. D''Esterre House, an attractive multi-level building overlooking the Comox Marina and the Beaufort Mountain, is the home of the Comox Serniors Centre.
At the first session, held in September, we welcomed 9 participants. After introductions, including some hisory of Death Cafes, a group conversation took place that raised lots of issues, and more than ...
We held our first Death Cafe at Westminster United Church in Thamesford. There were 15 attendees in total. We conducted it as one group, but any larger a group would have required breaking down into smaller groups, we have decided. It was an unqualified success. All of the participants indicated in their evaluations, that they felt comfortable and they would strongly recommend others attend. People were obviously engaged and respectful of each other's opinions and stories. There were differences of opinion expressed, particularly when the discussion of the value of cemetery visits arose. Most of the attendees indicated that they will probably come to the next Death ...
After having experimented with different locations since our start up in November 2013. We decided to try the other side of town. Our monthly meetings have usually been attended by the same group of people, averaging 3-5, with 2 or 3 new people once in a while.
We had meetings in several restaurants, which often turned out to be too noisy and disruptive. Then for over a year we met in my living room. Since March 2016 we're meeting in the Choir Room of a church on the side of town, where many senior communities are located. This led to several of our regular attendees opting out ...
Swindon Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Sue Holden on Oct. 20, 2016, 3:42 a.m.
The second Death Cafe in Swindon was held on October 11th at the Dojo Cafe.
Amongst subjects that were discussed was 'why is it that no-one tells you that you need to order twice as much food for a wake? Why do people eat so much? What is it about roadside displays of flowers? Who decides when they should be removed and who clears them up? Is there a call for a place that people can go to in order to find out the small practicalities of funerals, death and dying,like how much food to order?
The next Cafe is on November 8th at the Dojo Cafe ...
Thank you to all that came out --it was lovely to have both new and seasoned participants at the first Death Cafe of the fall. Someone summed it up as a "simple but rich experience" and I would agree. Other things that were shared in the closing included how people learned new information and had their own ideas affirmed, how we are so different but also alike, and the belief that we "only get to do death once, so want to do it well." We also started a dialogue on the value of story in the discussions, bringing up the ways story can both mask deeper emotions if ...
The Lewisham Death Cafe Write up
Posted by LewishamDeathCafe on Oct. 19, 2016, 9:44 a.m.
W meet on the first Saturday of each month between 2:00 and 4:00p.m at Coffee Costa in Rushey Green SE6.
There are several 'Costas' in the neighbourhood: Ours is opposite PEACOCKS, the Dress Shop in the High Street and a few doors down on the same side as the Eastern Queen
You will be most welcome to attend; but please contact me on:
francisgardom@aol.com.
NEWCOMERS ARE SPECIALLY WELCOME
Death Cafe Calgary Write up
Posted by Death Cafe Calgary on Oct. 16, 2016, 4:32 p.m.
An intimate opportunity for conversations about death and dying—along with coffee and pastries of course—were the order of the day for Calgary’s Death Café held October 16, 2016. Participants persevered through construction detours to make these important conversations happen. Thanks to all the participants and to Caffé Artigiano Westmount for contributing to a great event!
Tucson Death Cafe Write up
Posted by tucsondeathcafe on Oct. 13, 2016, 5:04 p.m.
Big Thanks to Jeff for hosting September’s café! And thanks to everyone who helped him out. Despite the big impact of hurricane Newton in the Tucson area it was a great café turnout. Some of the topics that came up were historical death rituals and funerary customs, green burials, and death with dignity. Letting you all know that the UA journalism student who visited the ...
Tucson Death Cafe Write up
Posted by tucsondeathcafe on Oct. 13, 2016, 5:01 p.m.
Our October 7th Café was energized, intriguing, and creative. We conversed about the rites, rituals, and reasons for popular events to honor our dead such as Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and Tucson’s own All Souls Procession. We asked the question: “How does “celebration” enter into end-of-life remembrances?” We talked about memento mori – objects that can serve as reminders of our ...
Death Cafe in Seoul Write up
Posted by http://cafe.naver.com/healingdying on Oct. 9, 2016, 2:28 a.m.
on October 7th , hold second death cafe. 13 individuals gathered in the hyowon-healing center. a brief introduction on the history of death cafe was given and then each person give their name and to say what brought them their tonight.
We were fully booked, and even had a waiting list. There were 22 people present, including two other facilitators and myself.
‘It’s great to have time to ponder my thoughts and feelings about death and to listen to others’ experiences’
‘Thought provoking, reassuring, exciting, I’ll definitely come to another’
‘So wonderful to have the chance to start talking and listening about death - more of it!’
‘Reassuring in the universal diversity of experience’
‘Delightful group of people with a real willingness to share and openness to hear each other’
‘It has been excellent. I have really enjoyed the company, conversation and subject. It added to my knowledge ...