West Norwood Death cafe
A write up of West Norwood Death Cafe
By annkenrick
Death Café – West Norwood
6th May 2026
Report
Around 15 people attended this DC facilitated by 3 people. Themes that emerged from the discussion included:
· The importance of place - somewhere to go and remember the person who's died. It might be a in cemetery or it can be where ashes were scattered.
· Seeing death as a continuation, not an end, following a faith tradition. There is grief but a sense of happiness knowing the person is somewhere else.
· Death anxiety as a child - needing to come to terms with mortality as a fact of life. Described fear as ‘the severest form of loneliness’. But at the end of DC now wishing to make friends with death
· Comparing a sudden death with one where the person has had a chance to plan for it. Links in with places where assisted dying is allowed - sense of agency.
· Overwhelming sense of loss (the negative) can be tempered by focusing on the person's legacy (the positive), which does not have to be something spectacular. Maybe a saying they had or something physical they left behind.
· Connecting with death as a reality can help us to lead a better life
· Islam view that our dead relatives and friends are just ‘in another room’ which can help with grief. The person was excited about death as the next adventure and it made them deliberately perform charitable deeds to put them in a better place for beyond death.
Positive feedback: It has expanded what I believed encompasses death
Yes, made me feel much more positive
It opened up the conversation! I will come to another session. It has helped me to see that I am both able to talk about death with other people and not be overwhelmed with sadness or fear
Having recently been feeling quite emotional and negative about my personal situation this has reminded me about the positive things. Very welcome and supportive
Ann Kenrick