Death Cafe write-ups
Thanks to the 45 engaged people who turned up to participate actively in the Death Cafe! The room was buzzing with conversations. We talked in small groups about end-of-life choices, hospice care, our own fears about dying, our experiences being with family/friends who have died and much more. A worthwhile evening -- and the promised cakes were amazing! We plan to offer more Death Cafes on the South Shore -- keep your eyes open for notices. Join the Mahone Bay Centre (free) to receive the monthly events newsletter for announcements of related events to be held at the Centre.
Highcliffe Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Lis Horwich on Oct. 15, 2014, 11:21 a.m.
Today's Death Cafe had to move indoors, first one hosted indoors.
With 4 new members we had some fasinating discussions as we differed in opnions on afterlife, suicide, Karma and much else. A warm and loving respect was easily kept between us all. Mail Online article from 28th Sep 2014: Australia's Dr Death starts UK "Suicide club" was looked at too.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2772209/Australias-Dr-Death-starts-UK-suicide-club-Workshops-online-guide-cause-endless-tragedies.html
Death Cafe Bristol Write up
Posted by Emma Edwards on Oct. 13, 2014, 7 a.m.
Caleb Parkin writes about his first experience of a Death Cafe after attending the Bristol Death Cafe on the 7th September 2014:
Out from the bright Sunday sun and down the steps, onto a bright carpet of flowers, a bright carpet of flowery crockery, atop immaculately laid tables. We’re here, among these far-from-funeral blooms, to meet new people, drink tea, eat cake and talk about death. Err, why?
The talk flows from the teapots and between us: of what we think this ‘death’ thing is; of what we’d like to happen for our own funerals, when we shuffle-off, tune-out, move on, or whatever other euphemism you ...
16th Death Cafe Hampstead, London, UK Write up
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Oct. 10, 2014, 12:10 p.m.
This was our 16h Death Café Hampstead at Café Rouge in 18 months. (We started in April 2013.) Tonight as usual, we had a buzzing crowd. It was an exciting, moving and inspiring evening! Philomena, Corrigan, Bernie Folan and Caroline Dent helped facilitate individual tables.
As usual we split the evening into two halves: an intimate conversation around a small table for 1 ½ hours facilitated by a facilitator who also takes part in the conversation. We ask people to introduce themselves and say why they have come. This helps people to bring up the topics that interest them, tell personal stories, ideas, concerns and experiences. At 8pm ...
Denver Death Cafe-September Write up
Posted by Anita Larson on Oct. 9, 2014, 5:52 p.m.
Denver Death Café Summary
September 28, 2014
Many thanks to Denver Hospice for hosting the September Denver Death Cafe and providing refreshments. Thank you to Jill Headbloom for donating the cake with the beautiful rainbow on it. When we were leaving the Death Café it was raining and what did we see? A beautiful, big rainbow!
Anita Larson opened the meeting by sharing her thoughts and experiences over the past year of facilitating the Death Café sessions. “This month we are celebrating our one year Anniversary. I learn something new every single time. Everyone is so respectful with their opinions and conversations. We have had so much media ...
Keyport Death Cafe Write up
Posted by mrsbbradley on Oct. 9, 2014, 5:47 a.m.
The first ever Death Cafe in Keyport, NJ was held on October 5, 2014. We had two facilatators and seven participants come to the event. There was a lively conversation which moved from serious subjects to uproarious laughter and back again.
Participants offered that they enjoyed the event and would definitely be interested in joining in again, which we plan to do in early December!
Death Cafe, Brisbane, Queensland Write up
Posted by Beth OBrien on Oct. 4, 2014, 10:40 p.m.
Had an indepth discussion about the topic of people wishing to die at home, and how that could happen. This was a conversation stemming from the new report by "Grattan Institute" called Dying Well. The report is at http://grattan.edu.au/publications/reports/.
We also discussed the social media site called Dead Social, on saying goodbye to your friends on Facebook and Twitter. http://www.deadsoci.al/
As usual an interesting chat all round.
Tuonen Tupa- Death Cafe Write up
Posted by kmarttinen on Oct. 4, 2014, 9:58 a.m.
The supposedly first Death Cafe in Finland - Tuonen Tupa was arranged today in Lappeenranta. Being such a new idea and as media got interested early on, the attendance was about 50 people. Also this first meeting was probably more informative, discussed what this type of activity is about. Much of the conversation started today will continue next month. This many people cannot get conversation flowing and everyone's voice heard. It's expected that the group will be smaller next time and we can continue to talk and drink coffee. After the Death Cafe, young musicians, Minna Mänttäri and Seppo Äikäs, who had composed and ...
The second Death Cafe in Iowa was held on September 20, 2014 at a comfortable coffee shop in a historic part of the city. Six participants and two facilitators gathered on a sunny Saturday afternoon to talk about a subject one woman called taboo amongst her aging friends. She voiced appreciation to actually have permission to talk freely about death. Participants and facilitators shared why they came to the Death Cafe. Sweet treats and coffee kept the conversation flowing and everyone engaged in the discussion. The Death Cafe ended with an evaluation form that included the question, "What three words would you use to describe this Death Cafe ...
The last three Death Cafe of Ocala meetings flew by! We are still the same, consistent group of 6-10 people, who meet monthly.
And we were interviewed by Carrie Seid, a journalist with the Sarasota Herald Tribune. Her article was published in Sarasota,http://finaljourney.heraldtribune.com/extra.aspx?page=2 as well as in the Ocala Star Banner http://www.ocala.com/article/20140915/ARTICLES/140919801/1455?p=5&tc=pg&tc=ar
Alan Young was the photographer. I would like to thank everyone who participated in these interviews!
Potluck Brunch @ the PDX Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Holly Pruett on Sept. 28, 2014, 11 p.m.
- Provided opportunities for all to speak.
- Shared personal experience without going to great length – just enough to be informative.
- Having a facilitator helped the conversation feel comfortable from the start, but not over-directed.
- Empowered the table to be engaged.
- Well done.
- Sensitive, informative facilitator.
- Wonderful!
- Excellent job! She did a great job of directing the ...
Death Cafe Calgary Write up
Posted by Death Cafe Calgary on Sept. 28, 2014, 7:15 p.m. 2 comments
Death Cafe Calgary on Sep 21, 2014 was filled to capacity with 33 attendees and their lively conversations! The Kensington Riverside Inn was a wonderful venue for what turned into a beautiful fall Sunday afternoon. The private patio accommodated many of our guests for the second round of conversations making it easier for everyone to hear one another.
Most liked the opportunity to sit with two groups for 45 minutes each, and a few wished there would have been time for a third group. Several had been to previous Death Cafe events in Calgary, but most were first-time guests. The most commonly used words on the evaluations were ...
Flagstaff August Death Cafe Write up
Posted by aleia@furthershore.org on Sept. 27, 2014, 2:15 p.m.
This Cafe was attended by 31 participants ages 21 to 83, men and women. We enjoyed lemon drizzle cake and chocolate chip cookies. Round table groups of 10 each discussed various topics including:
- miscommunications that can happen between the dying and their loved ones
- the ways that grief can become celebrations of life
- embracing the "presence" of loved ones who have passed
- exploring the ways that avoid mortality (fears, belief in afterliffe, needing 'something more')
- how to start a conversation with VERY reluctant family members about our burial wishes
Westport Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Val Lovelace on Sept. 25, 2014, 8:18 p.m. 1 comment
We had a wonderful gathering of folks from Westport and surrounding communities, most of whom were new to Death Cafe discussions. One woman celebrated her 73rd birthday by attending with us, saying her family found it a bit surprising that she would want to join a discussion about death.
The conversations moved freely between experiences people had with their dying loved ones to talking about cemation, funerals, and whether it was up to the dead to have a ceremony or not (some felt like they did not want a memorial service or gathering while others felt that memorials are for the living and not the dead). One learned ...
DødsCafe København/Death Cafe Copenhagen Write up
Posted by Karin Westh on Sept. 24, 2014, 3:06 p.m.
We sat around two tables, having coffee, tea and cake. After a short intro and everybody said a little about their intention in participating this evening.
After that the conversations went on at the two different tables: Thoughts, whishes, worries and other dimensions on the topic: death and dying. And of cause, what this means for the quality of life.
If was a warm and giving evening with participants from around 35 to around 80 of age. During the meeting, 2 persons ...