Stratford's First Death Cafe
A write up of Stratford Death Cafe
By glynis
Gill and I were very excited to welcome 20 people to our very first meeting, the ages ranging from 27 to 85. One had even bought her own home-made brownies to add to the wonderful selection.
We were struck by the diversity and richness of experiences shared in the group discussion - from what constitutes a 'good' death, anticipatory grieving, loss of a baby, different attitudes to funerals, whether children should attend, as well as caring for an aging disabled parent whose quality of life is so sadly diminished. There were also life-affirming experiences shared, where perspectives change after sudden trauma and the reminder of one's own fragile mortality.
There was much gratitude for the level of sharing, the acknowledgment of similar feelings being validated within the group. It felt a privilege to be part of an opportunity for such heartfelt and honest openness, feeling safe and contained within a warm and relaxed setting.
We look forward to our next gathering on Sunday 9th February.
Gillian James and Glynis Fletcher