Death Cafe write-ups
Death Cafe, Gold Coast Write up
Posted by Beth OBrien on May 31, 2014, 3:03 p.m.
What a wonderful afternoon we had with our Death Cafe held at Hopewell Hospice on the Gold Coast to commemorate Palliative Care Week. It was our largest group with 35 people. To give you an idea of some of the topics, here is a shortened list of what we spoke about - researching purchasing a funeral, what if someone doesn't want a funeral, what happens when someone dies at home, self care for carers, why we say the words "passed away" instead of died, what to say to a person who doesn't want to talk about their pending death, pre-paid funerals, after death experiences, grief, ashes ...
Death Cafe Northumberland Write up
Posted by Northumberland on May 29, 2014, 7:30 p.m.
We " Last Breath " hosted our 3rd Dath Cafe event in Cobourg with a crowd of 35 people plus our group of 5. A packed house. Interesting the 3 words that seem to be repeated as words to describe the participants esperience in all three locations where we've hled these events is Enlightening, Interesting and Informative. As a facilitator I took more time in explaining that this event was for the participants sharing not the giving of information. There is desire for this as well. We are on to our 4th event in June to a location we have been before. Our next 3 events are repeats of ...
Denver Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Anita Larson on May 29, 2014, 4:14 p.m.
Denver Death Café Summary
May 18, 2014
Many thanks to Shannon Martin, Heather Yurka & staff with Olinger Hampden Mortuary for hosting the May Denver Death Cafe and providing the delicious cake from The Makery and refreshments. Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/denverdeathcafe and follow us on Pinterest at http://www.pinterest.com/anitalarsonco/denver-death-cafe/
We welcomed several new conversationalists who listened to the Colorado Public Radio interview with Ryan Warner on the show Colorado Matters. It aired again this past Sunday and we received several more emails inquiring about our next gathering. In case you missed it, here’s the link to the broadcast: http ...
Portland Death Cafe at Friendly House Write up
Posted by Holly Pruett on May 27, 2014, 11:40 p.m.
Another well-attended PDX Death Cafe, this time hosted by a well-respected neighborhood service center. Acoustics are challenging in these large events, but participant reports remain overwhelmingly positive.
Death Cafe Saskatoon Write up
Posted by DeathCafeSaskatoon on May 23, 2014, 12:12 p.m.
We successfully hosted Saskatoon's first Death Cafe! There were 18 participants who joined us at Prairie Sun Brewery for an evening of bringing the conversation of death, dying grief and loss to the forefront.
"Conversation Starters" were provided at each table and all participants shared they were extremely helpful initiating and keeping the conversation going. Most tables chose to turn cards over and then each participant would take turns pulling a card, reading a allowed and then answering as a group. The discussions generated were great.
Penny and I had the opportunity to float around the room and also join in on many of the conversations. The ...
Death Cafe Madison Write up
Posted by Willy Street: Madison Death Cafe on May 23, 2014, 6:20 a.m.
Ten of us met at A Place to Be on May 22 to share our thoughts, expierences, fears and acceptance of death as a transition in ones's life cycle. It was a positive expierences for all and the Madison Death Cafe is successfully launched.
Death Cafe - Sydney Write up
Posted by April Lewis on May 21, 2014, 3:34 a.m.
I attended the April Death Café at Black Toast Annandale. I found it to be a very open and encouraging environment to talk about all things death. I found it interesting to hear what people had to say, and what they wanted to get out of the death cafe experience. A lot of people were interested in the afterlife aspect of death. Many people had deeply personal experiences of death which they shared with us, and were fascinating to hear. A number of us had a fascination with death that goes back a decent amount of time, had near death experiences, or dealt with it in our professional ...
What a brave group of students! We had no idea if this would work but we knew if nothing else we would have each other to talk to and eat cake and drink tea (and coffee)! we had a great turn out with 28 people (13 students from my class). The conversations were lively and it was clear that we need to do more of this. Everyone walked out of the event with a little more than what they walked in with...an openness and an acceptance about death and a desire to help others get there too.
Death Cafe Sarasota Write up
Posted by Continuity of Life on May 19, 2014, 5:02 p.m.
Our perspectives on the 2nd Death Café
Death Café Sarasota May 17th, 2014 - Radiance of Sarasota
Lori’s Take:
Buzzwords of the day -
ego, home funeral, no fear of death, mediumship, afterlife, in-breath & out-breath, death with dignity, euthanasia, assisted suicide, hemlock society, beautiful death…
Of our glorious 17 individuals, the majority of our group expressed a large understanding of death and the dying process, the idea of the continuity of life, and the belief in the strong possibility of our loved ones still being with us or reachable after their physical departure.
The level of awareness was high and the group was well read and brought vast amounts ...
Another glorious Sunday afternoon, and the opportunity to talk about what really matters. Fascinating topics: dealing with the death of a pet, celebrating their life, the importance of ceremonies, reiki healing, life after death, different belief systems, buddhist ceremonies, soul midwifery, letting your family know what you want, different perspectives on life after a serious accident.
The pros and cons of individual banana and raisin muffins as opposed to chocolate brownies. All very important areas, and a great feeling of community.
Thank you all for coming. Looking forward to June 8th's gathering.
DødsCafe København / Death Cafe Copenhagen Write up
Posted by Ellen Hansen on May 19, 2014, 2:08 a.m.
We held the first DeathCafe in Copenhagen, Denmark – and it was an inspiring event for all participants – and us the two hosts. We were 11 people. There was 14 that have signed up, but 3 of them had to cancel. We had send invitations a month before the cafe per email to people that we knew and thought would be interested.
We had a very short introduction about DeathCafes and our interests in holding them. We were sitting around two tables in the same room. There was a lot to talk about. We shared thoughts and feelings and our focus was a lot of different issues connected to ...
Death Cafe in South Lake Tahoe, California Write up
Posted by Paula Schneider on May 18, 2014, 6:09 p.m.
Our event drew 10 interested participants who expressed their gratitude for being able to discuss so many interesting end of life topics. Some commented they thought it would be depressing but instead it was uplifting!
Death Cafe Orlando Write up
Posted by Sarah Elizabeth Walter on May 18, 2014, 7:23 a.m.
Orlando Florida’s first Death Cafe was held on Saturday May 17th. On a rare, beautiful spring-like day when temperatures are usually soaring, eleven people sought each other out to explore various thoughts surrounding their own mortality and discuss that aeons old Lurker, Death. For some Death was a familiar notion, and were well acquainted with it. They shared their stories, their wisdom, their insights. For others, Death was a stranger, a more abstract idea, and around this they expressed their expectations and their fears. Conversation was lively, punctuated by bursts of laughter and quieter chuckles of mirth - as well as, small silences and pauses for reflection. Topics ...
Each person attending a Death Cafe brings both questions and wisdom from a unique and valuable perspective. This means that each Death Cafe has an energy and personality all its own!
It continues to amaze us both (Asha & Tracy) how many topics can surface in such a short space of time – we are seriously considering lengthening the time of our Cafés to a full two hours.
Some of the comments expressed in our two circles of attendees in summing up:
- o Some discussion about organ donation;
- o Recognizing & identifying various life events as “losses;”
- o Discussion ensued about loss of siblings;
- o How to construct and distribute ...
Death Cafe Philadelphia and Greater Philadelphia Write up
Posted by Rachel Zeldin on May 12, 2014, 9:42 p.m.
On Monday April 28, 2014 the group known as "Life Explorers" reconvened at Le Pain Quoditien for the monthly Death Cafe Philadelphia, a venue to reflect and share one's thoughts on life and death aka "The 'D' Word".
Organized and hosted once again by Rachel Zeldin, founder of Funerals360 ...