Death Cafe write-ups
Death Cafe Guernsey Write up
Posted by Karen Leach on June 22, 2017, 5:03 a.m.
Our first Death Cafe was organised in the Concourse at Beau Sejour Leisure Centre, Guernsey. The café took place during Dying Matters week and ran from 3pm - 6pm.
Throughout the afternoon about 15 people came in and many of them stayed quite a while to chat. Most of them were from the older age group and had suffered the loss of a partner, but there were a few younger people who were wanting to find out how they could best support bereaved people in their friendship group. We had a number of leaflets, from CAB, local undertakers and Dying Matters week and people seemed quite interested in taking ...
Death Cafe Zarautz Write up
Posted by Iñaki Peña Bandrés on June 15, 2017, 2:55 p.m.
Date: June 7th, 2017.
Place: Hotel Alameda. Zarautz (Basque Coutry).
Hosts: Amaia Artze and Iñaki Peña.
In this second edition at our town, 18 people attended the event. Most of them were women (14:4).
Almost half of the attendants were over 65 years-old. But there was a couple from Zumaia, a mother with her son, 20 years-old. It was really interesting listening to him, his thoughts, his experience.
Most of the people who came over would like to repeat some time. Next one, probably in september.
Death Cafe Whangarei Write up
Posted by Jo Moselen on June 13, 2017, 4:39 a.m.
This death cafe was facilited and hosted by Jo Samuel and Jo Moselen.
There were 8 participants including Jo and Jo.
Everyone enjoyed a well facilited discussion which included personal experience with death and the common desire to reclaim this end of life transition. There was some good information sharing and everyone would strongly encourage others to attend a death cafe.
Some of the participants words - caring, sharing freely, warmth, enlightening, gentle, informative, affirming, connecting, inspiring.
A very successful first death cafe.
Whangarei's 2nd Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Jo Moselen on June 13, 2017, 4:15 a.m. 1 comment
The death cafe was facilitated by Jane Cunningham. (Jo Samuel and Jo Moselen an unexpected conflicting event) We enlisted the help of Jane Cunningham who graciuosly embraced the task. There were 4 participants.
All the participants rated the event highly and enjoyed a lively friendly discussion with like minded people with one person commenting on being inspired to forge ahead with ideas around being a doula.
All participants would encourage others to attend a death cafe.
Some suggestions for improvement around refreshments which are limited by the cafe in the venue.
Some words from the participants - Nurturing, Gentle, very friendly, community, helpful, want more, kind, inspiring, relaxed.
Another ...
Death Cafe Taunton Write up
Posted by Nicole Durman on June 10, 2017, 3:49 a.m.
The first ever Death Cafe Taunton was held on Saturday, 20th May, at the Creative Innovation Centre on Paul Street. Nicole Stanfield Caile was the organiser. Over twenty people attended to discuss topics ranging from funeral plans to hospice care to ghosts to life goals. Delicious cake, gravestone biscuits, and hot drinks were enjoyed by all. In addition to the fantastic conversation, attendees also were able to view a bamboo shroud which was brought by Mrs. Stanfield Caile, as well as a beautiful rainbow wicker coffin which was brought by Wallace Stuart Funeral Directors. The event was so successful that there will be another planned at the same ...
This was the first Duluth/Superior Death Cafe. Hosted by Paul Schneider and Laura Star. For our fisrt gathering we had 10 attendees. During our introductions many topics for discussion came up. Business/corporate/financial aspect; "questions keep coming up about death"; Honoring this part of our journey; reincarnation, dreamtime; truth, consciousness not local; fear was a good part of the conversation. Fear of discomfort, fear of aging, fear of social ideals of death. All just wanting an opportunity for open discussion. As a group, we remained as one group for our time together. Communication flowed flawlessly and open. It was an amazing group of people and amazing ...
Sacramento Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Death Cafe Sacramento - Sandra Young on June 6, 2017, 9:26 p.m.
As the facilitator of the Sacramento Death Cafe, I was concerned last winter when some personal health issues and a death in my family presented challenges in keeping our meetings on schedule.
As often occurs, a beautiful thing came out of these difficult circumstances...the Sacramento DC group stepped up to keep the meetings going, and right on schedule. They exhibited a strong commitment to the goals of our group, and generously gave of their time, energy and love to offer a safe place for those that needed to talk about death and dying issues.
I was reminded how critical and life-changing our gatherings may be for those ...
North London Death Cafe Write up
Posted by northlondonhospice on June 5, 2017, 9:18 a.m.
Our first death cafe during Dying Awareness week was well attended by 14 people. For a number it was their first visit to the hospice. Following an initial introduction, the group split into two - conversation, laughter and tea flowed and the event was a huge success
Vancouver Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Janet Rivers on June 2, 2017, 2:01 p.m.
We had 14 attending on June 01 at our Friends for Life location. We served ginger tea and an elegant chocolate anglefood cake. It was decided to stay as one group rather than split. The sharing got very personal at one point and we had to redirect the conversation, but in the end all the comments were very good.
Hornby Island, BC Death Cafe X Write up
Posted by Sylvia Sienikehä Elysiana on June 1, 2017, 5:52 p.m.
Lovely group. Talk on everything from advance directives to thoughts on life post life.
We loved the location at the waterside cafe which has a very warm and welcoming feel to it. It was very well attended with about 30 people. This led to it being run in small groups of about 6 people round each table. In some ways it might have been nice to mix more, but that would have curtailed the bonding of the small groups we were in, so mixed feelings about that. The conversation at our table was varied and interesting due to the variety of folks. We had a solicitor, multi faith minister, nurse, soul midwife and interested others! We would love there to be another ...
Death Cafe Grenoble Write up
Posted by Céleste Chantelouve on May 29, 2017, 1:21 p.m.
It went well but I since we were only 6 I didn't explain or enforce clear rules about sharing speech, staying on topic and such...
And there was someone difficult to deal with on those fronts. I'll be a more active facilitator next time, I've seen why it's so important !
Apart from that it was great. People were enthousiastic, asked me about a next one, said they'd try to bring relatives and friends...
We jumped from topic to topic (grieving, fear of loved one's death, dealing with bodies, end of life....) as if we needed to speak of them all urgently. I ...
Death Cafe Austin Write up
Posted by Heather Black on May 24, 2017, 7:18 p.m.
We had a diverse crowd, of approximately 12 people, attend the first Austin Death Cafe - North meeting at Monkey Nest Cafe. There were a number of "industry" people; hospice chaplains, hospice nurses, green funeral directors and green funeral alliance members. We had people that wanted to talk about how people feel about death and those that shared their experiences with death. Our first meeting seemed to lean towards the technical, but there is only so much "You should request a LOT of death certificates" logistic information that can be shared. Our next meeting will be June 4th at 3pm, Monkey Nest on Burnet.
Great Conversations at the death cafe last evening, it was a real privilage to be apart of this group, we all came away much richer for this time of sharing. Thank you to all how came.
Segundo Death Cafe, Costa Rica Write up
Posted by Javier Morales on May 19, 2017, 8:25 p.m.
Last Saturday 13, we started our session around 15:10h, in a lovely cafeteria named Cabra Negra (Black Goat). We expected a little bit more people, but in the end we were seven. Also our cake had some serious typos. Anyway, it was an amazing time.
We tried the same structure we did last time: first, each participant introduced themselves and explained why they had an interest in the topic of death; then we have an open and free discussion.
We order some coffee and started. The introduction part was quicker than we expected, and the reasons were diverse. There was, for example, a person who felt bad ...