Death Cafe write-ups
Our September Death Cafe was the first after a long hiatus, and although it fell on a holiday weekend here in Sydney with few attending, the conversation was lively, warm and inclusive.
As usual, topics included the afterlife and spirituality as well as people talking about what brought them to Death Cafe. Some were questioning the existence of God and the loss of their faith, others wanted to be in the company of like-minded souls, free to discuss death and dying in a supportive and understanding environment.
Although it has been a long time since I held a Death Cafe one thing has definitely not changed, how fast ...
Death Cafe Rangiora Write up
Posted by Death Cafe North Canterbury, Aotearoa New Zealand on Oct. 8, 2023, 6:57 p.m.
Death Café in North Canterbury recently, in Rangiora (17.09.2023)
We held our monthly Death Café North Canterbury – it was a quieter meeting, just three souls but this gave room for an in-depth discussions and insights. We explored whether there was a pattern here: when one spouse dies, the other spouse is not invited out as much? We thought this happens a lot and shared many stories of friends and family where this has occurred – and that they experienced effectively a ‘double grief’?
Stay well and keep talking, Liz :)
I AM THANKFUL THAT THE DEATH CAFE' WEBSITE HAS A LISTING WHERE FOLKS CAN SEARCH FOR DEATH CAFE' DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE SCHEDULED. THIS HAD HELPED PEOPLE FROM OUT OF MY AREA TO COME JOIN IN ON THE EVENTS BEING HELD HERE. THERE WAS ONLY ONE PERSON WHO ATTENDED THE CAFE' TODAY. WE HAD A DELIGHTFUL SESSION AND I PLAN TO HOST THIS AGAIN NEXT YEAR. I CHOOSE TO MEET IN OCTOBER, AS THE SEASON SEEMS TO BE A GOOD TIME TO DISCUSS DEATH, AS THE WEATHER COOLS AND LEAVES ARE FALLING AND SOME LIVING THINGS ARE IN THE PROCESS OF PREPARING TO HIBERNATE OR GO DORMANT. WITH HALLOWEEN ...
City of Roses Death Cafe Write up
Posted by nomenoyou1 on Oct. 1, 2023, 5:08 p.m.
We enjoyed tea, cake and cookies (or biscuits, if you prefer!) yesterday on a bright, beautiful Portland afternoon.
A poem by John O'Donohue launched a lively, heartfelt, and compassionate discussion of the different ways that we grieve. We discussed the use and limits of Oregon's Assisted Suicide law. We shared our different experiences with end of life care in hospitals and the lack of readily available information about what the final days and hours of life might look like. We discussed what a gift it would be to our families if we cleaned out our stuff before we die: https://www.thespruce.com/swedish-death-cleaning-4801461
Before we ...
Brigg Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Johnthedentist on Oct. 1, 2023, 8:01 a.m.
We continue to meet regularly since launching the meeting on June 2022. Our conversations are always spontaneous and invariably interesting.
if you would like details of our next meeting please contact John on 07850366315 or kjcmjc44@gmail.com
Virtual Death Cafe Iowa Write up
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Sept. 28, 2023, 1:46 p.m.
We had a virtual death café on September 19, 2023 via Zoom. Buffy Peters from Hamilton’s Academy of Grief and Loss was our facilitator. There were a total of nine people who joined Buffy online.
One thing that we focused on discussing, is when to have conversations with loved ones about death. For some, it is so important to have conversations pertaining to our wishes, what we do and don’t want, transportation and disposition of our bodies, what is & isn’t allowed in our state, and all things death. For others, they would rather not have those discussions and let their loved ones make those decisions ...
I noticed that there have been not activity on this DC.
I would like to take over the name of this Death Cafe as I live in Reno
Death Cafe Jacksonville Write up
Posted by JENNIFER BROWN on Sept. 13, 2023, 10:14 a.m.
The cafe went well. The turn out was small but the conversations went deep for 1 1/2 hours. The space in the library was very nice and it was private so we were able to talk in depth where we might not have been able to as much in a more open venue like a juice bar or restaraunt. I am glad I chose it. The participants want to do this monthly and hopefully a regular schedule will bring more peopel in to the group.
We even discussed joining the movement to bring a "Composting " option to Southern Oregon.
An engaging and varied discussion was had between the 11 people who attended this Death Cafe in the Learning Studio of St Albans Museum + Gallery.
Death Cafe North Canterbury Write up
Posted by Death Cafe North Canterbury, Aotearoa New Zealand on Sept. 10, 2023, 8:50 p.m.
We held our monthly Death Café North Canterbury – it was a thoughtful meeting again with seven of us; we discussed funerals and who are these really for – and does it help with grieving? We discussed NODA - have you heard of this? It’s an innovative project from up north (although an age-old concept) – No One Dies Alone. It gave us all food for thought!
Stay well and keep talking, Liz :)
Kaiapoi Library 1.30 pm: November 19th
Rangiora Library 1.30 pm: September 17th
Amberley Library 2 pm: October 29th (date change)
Death Cafe at St. John Fisher University Write up
Posted by lmaccammon on Sept. 10, 2023, 11:25 a.m.
Death Cafés are non-profit community events that provide people with a safe, respectful, and comfortable place to talk about death and dying over coffee, tea, and delicious cake. There are no scripts, no themes, and no agendas. The objective is “to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives.”
Based on the work of Swiss Sociologist, Bernard Crettaz, the first Death Café was started in the UK in 2010 by Jon Underwood and Sue Barsky Reid. In 2012, hospice social worker, Lizzy Miles, was the first person to offer a Death Café in the US. Since then, the ...
City of Roses Death Cafe Write up
Posted by nomenoyou1 on Aug. 29, 2023, 3:56 p.m.
Today we discussed a wide range of topics including dealing with funeral homes when overwhelmed with grief and the importance of planning for our own death and leaving clear, readily accessible information and instructions for our families (passwords, insurance, bank accounts, what to do with our body . . . Once again we acknowledged the difficulty of discussing death given that it’s seems to be a taboo topic—several people voiced heartfelt gratitude for this opportunity to discuss death openly and calmly. Several people said that discussions with adult children can be difficult. One participant described the valuable services provided by a death doula for their dying spouse and the ...
Virtual Death Cafe Iowa Write up
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Aug. 22, 2023, 10:31 a.m.
We had a virtual Death Café meeting on August 15, 2023 via Zoom. Buffy Peters from Hamilton’s Academy of Grief & Loss was our facilitator. There were a total of five people who joined Buffy online.
While many topics were discussed during this meeting, we also spent time sharing links for various death related topics. We spent time discussing how different cultures have different customs regarding home deaths, including a conversation regarding if you would be comfortable purchasing a home that someone has died in. We bounced to talking about laws pertaining to families handling funeral services in their homes and what is required for that.
We also ...
Death Cafe Whangarei Write up
Posted by Jo Moselen on Aug. 12, 2023, 11:03 p.m.
Once again we held our death cafe at The Fat Camel cafe which unfortunately was very cold which was commented on in the feedback. Not such a good venue in the winter. The conversation flowed and included medical assisted death, natural burial, supporting people who are ill, dying and grieving, suicide and personal stories of death experiences. The feedback overall continues to be positive a with comments such as "good conversation, respectful listening, conversation flowed and lead us in different directions"
There were thirteen people in total with one person attending for the first time.
Death Cafe Capitol Hill Write up
Posted by Laura Lyster-Mensh - HCC on Aug. 9, 2023, 9:06 a.m.
The second Death Cafe of 2023 at Congressional Cemetery drew two dozen people on a gorgeous spring evening. We split the group as the numbers rose and half met in the chapel and half outdoors. Participants enjoyed sweet treats offered by Congressional Cemetery staff and baked goods from participants.
Both groups had lively conversation touching on: letting go of expectations of reconciliation and ways to find conciliation before and after death of a loved one with whom the relationship was challenging, having conversation about dying and death with family and friends who are reluctant to speak on the topic, suicide as an option for the terminally ill, the ...