Death Cafe write-ups
Death Cafe Limerick Write up
Posted by JenniferMoranStritch on Dec. 4, 2015, 1:12 p.m.
On 11th November 2015, in the traditional month of the dead, over 130 people attended Limerick’s first Death Café - an evening of tea, coffee, cake and discussion of mortality and end of life experiences. Organised by art collective Gothicise and funded by Limerick Grants Under The Arts, our event took place at Hook & Ladder (also known ironically as The Living Cafe in the Corbally section of Limerick City).
This night featured – among other events – a range of commemoration cards designed by artist Philip Desmond to celebrate life, conversation topics designed by thanatologist and researcher Jennifer Moran Stritch, and a special art workshop by visual artist Sinead ...
SW London Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Suzanne Michal on Dec. 2, 2015, 10:48 a.m.
I cannot quite explain what made this death cafe, even more moving and warming than the others but it was. Maybe sitting close to one another as we were quite a good grouop around two tables, each with our own discussion going on.
It is always moving to hear people's stories but this time we also had the chance of being inspired by a retired GP who urged us to keep the body of someone who has just died within the home, with the family for at least 24 hours if at all possible like traditional cultures in order to help with the bereavement process, the family ...
So unterschiedlich kann das Leben verlaufen: Menschen über 60, die bisher kaum mit Tod und Sterben in Berührung gekommen sind, bis zu Menschen, die mit Anfang 20 bereits von fünf lieben Menschen in sieben Jahren Abschied nehmen mussten – und dazwischen jede Menge Fragen sowie leidenschaftliche Lebenseinstellungen, die offen, ehrlich und respektvoll ausgetauscht wurden.
Zum 1. Linzer Death Cafe – Mit dem Tod bei Kaffee und Kuchen im Kepler Salon kamen neun Menschen zusammen, um zwei Stunden lang über Tod und Sterben zu reden – und natürlich auch über das Leben. Vor allem die Offenheit aller TeilnehmerInnen war beeindruckend. Und nachdem alle sich für eine Fortsetzung ausgesprochen ...
Death Cafe Calgary Nov 29, 2015 Write up
Posted by Death Cafe Calgary on Nov. 29, 2015, 4:27 p.m.
Caffé Artigiano (Westmount) was a new and wonderful venue for the last Death Café of 2015 in Calgary. They practically had to throw us out at closing time as no one wanted the conversations to end! Attendees were engaged in sharing stories, ideas, and even the large lattes. Again we had a vast age range with even more guests under the age of 35 than we’ve seen in the past. Of course, the wisdom of the elders in the group is always valued, and the sharing between generations is profound. We look forward to many more conversations in 2016 as the landscape of the death revolution continues ...
Our 2nd cafe was held in a more private location, where conversation could be maximized and distractions limited. We had 14 participants and the feedback was quite positive and overwhelmingly requesting to hold DC monthly...which will be happening going forward in 2016.
Thank you to all that have provided positive feedback and constructive suggestions.
Death Cafe Cambridge Write up
Posted by Cambridge Doulas on Nov. 27, 2015, 11:49 a.m. 1 comment
I'm really delighted to be bringing Death Cafe to Cambridge. I was blown away by the level of interest and had to close the event on Facebook a couple of weeks before it happened. There were around thirty people there - a really lovely group of people with a good mix of ages. We had the founder of Death Cafes in Norway and some people who'd driven all the way from Lincoln. There some really interesting discussions and people are very keen for more so have planned another one in early January. I'm looking forward to it.
Belleville, IL Death Cafe Write up
Posted by maggieboone on Nov. 27, 2015, 10:47 a.m. 1 comment
The Belleville, IL Death Cafe met on Nov 21st from 6pm and ran quite late until 10pm (normally we are done at 8pm but the meeting lasted longer than normal - expected at this time of the year as the holidays bring painful memories back to those of us who have lost loved ones). We had the privilege of having Gateway of Shadows paranormal investigators join our meeting and we once again discussed the age old question of "is there life after death" and if there is, is our loved ones safe, healthy, and at peace.
Evidence of some of their investigations were shown and for some of us ...
Montpelier Death Cafe Write up
Posted by MontpelierDeathCafe on Nov. 24, 2015, 1:28 p.m. 1 comment
November 2015 Montpelier Death Cafe
After Meeting Thoughts
"It's a big deal to die"
There was something different about this month's meeting of the Montpelier Death Cafe on Thursday the 19th. The specter of the terrorist attacks in Paris, Beirut, and Nigeria was certainly heavy and some spoke openly about their reactions to death on that scale in such tragic circumstances. But, whatever the reason, this month the group spoke more openly about their personal fears -especially with regards to their personal deaths- confronting not just mortality in general, but the absolute finality of their own lives and how that made them feel. In beautiful counterpoint ...
Death Cafe in Didsbury, Manchester Write up
Posted by homecafe_M20 on Nov. 24, 2015, 4:47 a.m.
Death Cafe at Home was a really positive evening.
Thought-provoking, gentle and even uplifting, it was very special to be part of a group of people who were all there to talk about difficult and hard stuff - it opened up the way for conversations and questions that are too often left unspoken, and felt like a really authentic and genuine experience of relationship and connection.
Death Cafe Grants Pass Write up
Posted by grantspass on Nov. 21, 2015, 7:23 p.m.
16 people gathered this week to talk about death in a supportive and festive atmosphere. There were linen tablecloths and napkins on the tables and the refreshments were served on fine china. The refreshment table featured munchies from fresh veggies to sweets, including a home baked gluten-free pumpkin pie that one participant described as "to die for."
And then we talked about death. Again the room was filled with chatter and laughter. Comments on our evaluation form included, "Thoughtful, genuine people" and "It was wonderful to have others talk about these deep topics - Beautiful."
Please come join us next time!
Death Cafe Des Moines Write up
Posted by Carmen Elliott on Nov. 18, 2015, 4:06 p.m.
Last night, one of our members told me that she had declined going out with friends that evening, because she was tired and it was icky out. When she got home, her husband told her that it was Death Cafe night, and she was immediately energized! What a great testament to the conversation our group members provide at Death Cafe!
This was the third Death Cafe hosted by the Young Bereavement Professionals Group, and in that short time we have developed a small group of regulars who join us each month. Last night, one of these "regulars" brought a cake that she had made for Death Cafe, and ...
Highcliffe Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Lis Horwich on Nov. 18, 2015, 1:07 p.m.
Two resent cafes have been hosted with four members in the evening and 11 this afternoon. Always interesting talks take place. In the smaller group we heard some personal experiences of death from relatives and how that might be handled adding information of the 4 stages of death, which suddenly made the thought of death very real.
We were a mix of people this afternoon with different interests from GP’s, Cruise volunteer, a Buddhist to some, who felt death of a loved one was hard to live with in our society, where we find it so difficult subject to approach. The misunderstand and often lack of information ...
Death Cafe Warkworth Write up
Posted by Death Cafe Warkworth on Nov. 17, 2015, 2:33 p.m.
This Death Cafe was held it at a local retirement centre, Summerset Village, the first time we have done this and so we were not sure what the response would be. The manager of the facility was dead keen (pun intended) and supported the event by placing posters around the walls and advertising in their newsletter. We adhered to the Death Cafe rule of no agenda, but did have one of the facillitators with social work background in case the discussion involved issues around getting affairs in order which proved to be a great move.
Invitations went out to the wider community but attracted mostly people living in ...
Bucks County Death Cafe Write up
Posted by buryingyourown on Nov. 13, 2015, 8:50 a.m.
Twenty folks showed up the other nite at the public library to hang and out talk like you do at book club, but this time there was no book.They said they wanted to talk about death with their adult children but their adult children shut them down. They said their loved one's suffered from fear and lack of information as they lay dying and these folks want something different for themselves; they said they want only to have reality acknowledged and the freedom to freely discuss what's in their hearts. They wanted to talk about NOT suffering; about the likelyhood of an afterlife; about ...
Death Cafe Orlando Write up
Posted by Sarah Elizabeth Walter on Nov. 11, 2015, 9:18 a.m.
Orlando Florida’s third Death Cafe was held on the on Saturday November 7th, a balmy mid-autumn afternoon. At 15 people in attendance, this was our largest gathering to date - and yet all were very comfortably and cozily arranged in the welcoming living area of our gracious host’s home. Topics ranged from taking care and preparing your deceased loved ones at home (ala Undertaking LA), to preservation of beloved pets who have passed on, to preparing and preserving our own identities after we’ve died and we no longer have control over such things. In addition to the pieces of themselves that everyone shared, all attendees brought ...