Death Cafe write-ups
Herne Hill Death Cafe Write up
Posted by annkenrick on Feb. 18, 2025, 3:54 a.m.
A diverse group of 21 people, across the generations, attended the Death Café. Some key themes emerged:
· The shock of sudden death of a family member highlights the need for open discussion about planning for death at a time when there is no pressure. Conversations can also eliminate regrets, after the person dies, about what you wish you had said.
· You can feel very exposed when a family member dies, as the logistics that follow death are not well understood.
· When a person is terminally ill but does not want to die, it feels a betrayal to talk about death. One participant explained that in Thailand they were ...
Chestermere Death Cafe Write up
Posted by chestermerepubliclibrary on Feb. 14, 2025, 1:22 p.m.
We recently hosted our first Death Cafe in our city and had 11 people attend, despite the freezing temperatures outside.
Some of the people even came from a different city to join in. Many of which were grateful to have a space where an open and honest conversation about death and life could happen without judgement or fear of speaking of such a taboo topic.
We touched on a variety of topics, including ways to go, how to approach family in having a conversation of what to do when their loved one passes, what we think happens when we pass and much more.
What was an hour and ...
Second Sunday Death Cafe Portland, OR Write up
Posted by nomenoyou1 on Feb. 9, 2025, 10:18 p.m.
Our second Sunday cafes continue to grow and mature. We had 20 attendees and great conversation. There was an excellent mix of new and returning registrants. The subjects were many and diverse but they were all deeply felt. A very nourishing event. Everyone is welcome.
Our Death Cafe was held on Saturday, Feb 8. Six people attended, including the host and two who found us on the Death Cafe website. We had a range of ages from 23 to 60+, which made for a very deep and interesting sharing of perspectives. Topics covered included caring for aging parents, perspectives on grief, how to handle death as a professional from the perspective of a retired nurse, nursing student and social worker. We discussed medical aid in dying, the role of hospice vs. medical intervention. We also discussed the importance of thinking about our death as early as possible to enable better decision-making during critical ...
Second Sunday Death Cafe Portland, OR Write up
Posted by nomenoyou1 on Feb. 2, 2025, 8:27 p.m.
We had our first regular meeting at the Multnomah Friends Meeting House. This is our second monthly meeting and it was booked to capacity. Two tables met and had a lively conversation with a break for cake and tea. Members shared experiences and offered support. Death Doulas and funeral/legacy projects were discussed. Conversations lingered after closing.
20 folks showed up to share deeply with emotion and laughter. Lots of interest in MAiD. Three participants happened to be death doulas. There is much hunger for more cafes.
Virtual Death Cafe Albany, CA USA PST Write up
Posted by JimKirkpatrick on Feb. 2, 2025, 8:44 a.m.
Genevieve and Jim have been co hosting since 2022. The January 2025 Virtual Death Cafe welcomed 9 women and men for this Virtual Death Cafe. We live in USA West, South, South East, North East, Midwest, Canada and London. After intros, conversations flow including laughter, tears, deep sharing and listening. Thoughts, feelings and experiences of responses toward others who are unwell or dying, loving the dying and dead, grief, and our own dying. Discussion about our legacy, grieving, finding a grave, death of a child, Book and movie titles shared. Death Cafe offers the opportunity to meet in a confidential, safe and caring environment to discuss living, death ...
Join us for a lively conversation about death and dying! No therapy, no agenda, just a safe and respectful space (including tea and cake!) to discuss thoughts, fears, and ponderings about the taboo topic of death with fellow mortals in hopes that we can enrich our day to day lives.
Knaresborough Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Richard Cyster on Jan. 28, 2025, 1:40 p.m.
Another successful Death Cafe. In fact, with the increading numbers attensding we will need to find an alternate venue. Still looking at present.
Death Cafe Virtual Iowa CST Write up
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Jan. 22, 2025, 3:55 p.m.
Our most recent Death Café was held January 21st and we had 7 people in attendance ranging from all different locations: Iowa, Connecticut, California, Tennessee, and London! We touched on a variety of very meaningful topics, starting with the unknown of what the next day will bring and opening the door by having those uncomfortable conversations about death that bring awareness. We also touched on how people that are dying tend to see people that have already died on the other side and how the idea of that isn’t so much confusing as it is poetic and powerful. We also had a phenomenal conversation about legacy ...
The Long Beach Death Cafe CA- Wicked Wolf Write up
Posted by Lisa Stuhley on Jan. 21, 2025, 5:59 p.m.
This was the very 1st Death Cafe held at The Wicked Wolf in Long Beach, CA. To my surprise, many people were interested in coming to talk about death and dying! We had 14 people show! We enjoyed the decor of the teahouse, sipped on delicous teas and coffee, and discussed topics ranging from green burials, to human composting, to questioning the tradition of wearing black to funerals to traditions we do to honor our loved ones and even the fear of dying in space was briefly mentioned! You just never know what will come up when given permission! Our group was so successful that we took up ...
Virtual Death Cafe Albany, CA USA PST Write up
Posted by JimKirkpatrick on Jan. 10, 2025, 5:04 p.m.
We came from London, NE and SE USA and CA. Flow of sharing of our lives and legacy, grieving, loving, random acts of kindness and the rippling effect of our kindness. All the while deep listening and space for silent contemplation.
City of Roses Death Cafe Portland OR Write up
Posted by nomenoyou1 on Jan. 7, 2025, 3:42 p.m.
Our final City of Roses Death Cafe of 2024 had 19 participants divided between three tables.
One table discussed the challenges of living with a terminal cancer diagnosis including deciding whether the benefits of life extending maintenance chemotherapy outweighed the physical consequences (quantity or quality of life?), the difficulty of discussing one's diagnosis and its implications with family and friends, and responding to hurtful, but well-intentioned responses ("I had a friend who had that cancer and they . . . ") We also discussed living with grief when a sibling dies. Stephen Jenkinson's Die Wise was came up more than once.
Another table’s discussion centered a lot about feelings ...
Death Cafe North Canterbury Write up
Posted by Death Cafe North Canterbury, Aotearoa New Zealand on Jan. 2, 2025, 8:02 p.m.
Today was a small group of 4, and no co-facilitator – I was flying solo! I was pleased to see a few people who returned for more Death Café as we delved deeper into some familiar topics such as how to handle grief and the compounding grief of dealing with the health system. It was a tender chat and a memorable meeting, and the last of 2024.
Death Café dates for 2025:
Kaiapoi:
February 16th
May 18th
September 21st
Rangiora:
March 23rd
June 29th
October 26th
Amberley
April 27th
July 20th
November 23rd
Stay well, Liz