Death Cafe profile for Anita Larson
Location: United States
http://www.facebook.com/denverdeathcafe
About Anita Larson:
Family Celebrant. Facilitated the Denver Death Cafe from July 2013 through June 2015. Has moved in June 2015 to the San Diego, CA region.
Anita Larson's posts on the Death Cafe website
Death Cafe write up: Denver Death Cafe March 2015
Posted by Anita Larson on April 13, 2015, 3:20 p.m.
Denver Death Café Summary
March 15, 2015
Thank you to Charlene Mason with Porter Place for hosting the March 2015 Denver Death Café and placing a beautiful color ad in the Wash Park Profile newspaper. One long-time, regular attendee brought delicious homemade chocolate chip cookies! She also brought “to-go” bags for everyone to take some home. You’ll meet the nicest people at a Death Café!
Sir Terry Pratchett, master of humorous fantasy and British Author died on March 12th and there was discussion around his life and Obituary.
“I came to the Denver Death Café eight months ago and now I am eight months closer to ...
Death Cafe write up: Denver Death Cafe February 2015
Posted by Anita Larson on March 3, 2015, 4:19 p.m. 1 comment
Denver Death Café Summary
February 15, 2015
Thank you to Charlene Mason with Porter Place for hosting the February 2015 Denver Death Café. Although there were a few snow flurries, everyone felt warm and cozy in this inviting space. Anita Larson baked a homemade chocolate cake and Porter Place served hot tea and coffee.
The open conversations started with a question on how to best provide long distance support to a dying relative. One attendee mentioned that he faxed a cartoon to the hospital everyday. It was intended to give his loved one a laugh or chuckle for the day and it did just that. Additionally, the hospital ...
Death Cafe write up: Denver Death Cafe January 2015
Posted by Anita Larson on Feb. 7, 2015, 4:28 p.m.
Denver Death Café Summary
January 18, 2015
Thank you to Porter Place for hosting the January 2015 Denver Death Café and providing refreshments. Anita Larson welcomed Greg Whitehair, Mediator and Medical Ethicist as Co-Facilitator this year.
The conversations started with sharing special memories of the holidays. There was quite a bit of respectful dialogue over the Death with Dignity proposed legislation (which Colorado lawmakers recently vetoed). Statistics were cited on a variety of studies in states where this is legal. “Fewer than half the people that get the prescription actually use it.” This tells me that people want to have some control at the end of their life ...
Death Cafe write up: Denver Death Cafe-October
Posted by Anita Larson on Nov. 4, 2014, 11:53 a.m.
Denver Death Café Summary
October 26, 2014
Thank you to First Universalist Church for hosting the October Denver Death Cafe and providing refreshments. Thank you to Ardis, Rod & Ilene for setting everything up and that funny cake!
Anita Larson, Celebrant & Facilitator opened the meeting by talking about the “Before I Die” project and the positive responses it is getting globally. Candy Chang painted the side of an abandoned house in her neighborhood with chalkboard paint and stenciled it with a grid of the sentence “Before I die I want to ____”. Anyone walking by could pick up a piece of chalk, reflect on their lives and share their ...
Death Cafe write up: Denver Death Cafe-September
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 ...
Death Cafe write up: Denver Death Cafe-August
Posted by Anita Larson on Sept. 17, 2014, noon
Denver Death Café Summary
August 24, 2014
Many thanks to Karrie Filipios with Agape Hospice Services (independently owned) for hosting the August Denver Death Cafe and providing refreshments. The cake was delicious and beautifully decorated.
The room was overflowing with 55 participants ranging in age from 20-89. No one seemed to mind because the chairs were comfy and everyone could hear each other without a microphone.
Below is a summary of our discussions and thoughts in no particular order.
Burial, Cremation, Whole Body & Organ Donation
The majority of attendees indicated they prefer cremation over burial. There was discussion around burials, cremated and buried on top of another grave ...
Death Cafe write up: Denver Death Cafe-July
Posted by Anita Larson on Aug. 21, 2014, 2:25 p.m. 2 comments
Denver Death Café Summary
July 20, 2014
Many thanks to Mike and Lee Heflebower with Heflebower Funeral Services (family owned) for hosting the July Denver Death Cafe and providing refreshments.
A film crew from Ivanhoe Productions taped & filmed the entire discussion. They also interviewed selected people before and after the meeting. They were very professional and their presence did not inhibit the open, respectful dialogue. They are independent TV producers who sell their stories to different TV stations and news media, so I will post a link when it airs.
We tried a different format this time. Each attendee wrote a question on a piece of paper and ...
Death Cafe write up: Denver Death Cafe June 2014
Posted by Anita Larson on July 15, 2014, 10:35 p.m. 1 comment
Denver Death Café Summary
June 22, 2014
Many thanks to Michael Long with Fairmount Mortuary & Cemetery (independently owned and operated) for hosting the June Denver Death Cafe for the 3rd time this year and providing refreshments.
The conversation started with a teacher whose life had been threatened by a student. The student was suspended, but what could she do now? There have been so many school shootings and what is being done? Lots of good dialogue erupted about death, fears, awareness and being proactive.
A first-time attendee from a whole body donation program participated in the discussion and answered inquiries about the differences between whole body donation ...
New Blog post: Denver Death Cafe Colorado Public Radio
Posted by Anita Larson on May 29, 2014, 4:34 p.m.
Anita Larson discusses the Denver Death Cafe with Ryan Warner on Colorado Matters - Colorado Public Radio. Anita was contacted to be interviewed regarding their series about a Peaceful Ending.
http://www.cpr.org/news/story/death-cafes-rise-colorado
Death Cafe write up: Denver Death Cafe
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 ...
Death Cafe write up: Denver Death Cafe April
Posted by Anita Larson on May 9, 2014, 6:08 p.m.
Denver Death Café Summary April 27, 2014
Many thanks to Michael Long with Fairmount Mortuary & Cemetery for hosting the April Denver Death Cafe and providing refreshments. The deliciously large chocolate chip cookie was from Eileen’s Colossal Cookies and there wasn’t a single crumb left! Updates and announcements are posted regularly on our Facebook page so like us at www.facebook.com/denverdeathcafe
WHAT’S NEW?
Colorado Public Radio contacted me regarding their Colorado Matters program and the series on Peaceful Endings. This was a new experience for me and naturally, I thought of a million things I should have said after I left their studio. Here ...
Broadcast aired this morning with Anita Larson on Colorado Public Radio regarding the Denver Death Cafe. Our next event is scheduled for May 18th at Olinger Hampden Mortuary from 3-4:30 p.m.
Colorado Public Radio: http://www.cpr.org/news/story/death-cafes-rise-colorado
Death Cafe write up: Denver Death Cafe March
Posted by Anita Larson on April 16, 2014, 4:09 p.m.
Denver Death Café Summary March 16, 2014
Many thanks to Mike Heflebower with Heflebower Funeral Services in Highlands Ranch, CO for hosting the March Denver Death Cafe and providing refreshments. Updates and announcements are posted regularly on our Facebook page so like us at www.facebook.com/denverdeathcafe
IN THE NEWS
Here’s a link to Kevin Torres Storyteller’s Feature on the Denver Death Café: http://www.9news.com/story/news/local/storytellers/2014/03/10/storytellers-death-cafe-denver/6236523/
Denver Death Café is listed in Westword Best of Denver 2014. This is an nnual publication: http://www.westword.com/bestof/2014/award/best-place-to-contemplate-death-with-others-2787731/
At first the idea of ...
Death Cafe write up: Denver Death Cafe February
Posted by Anita Larson on March 3, 2014, 4:15 p.m. 2 comments
Denver Death Café Summary
February 23, 2014
A beautiful sunny day in Denver as people gathered together at the historic Fairmount Mortuary for the monthly Denver Death Café. Kevin Torres and Neha Sheth from Channel 9News were there to film and interview those who agreed to be on air for an upcoming Storyteller’s segment. Many thanks to Michael Long with Fairmount for hosting the event and providing refreshments. Michael announced that the next time Fairmount hosts in April they will be offering Historic Cemetery Tours after the Death Café. I post updates and announcements regularly on our Facebook page so like us at www.facebook.com/denverdeathcafe ...
Press: Death Café Even the most somber subject does not preclude laughter. Death and humor coexist.
Posted by Anita Larson on Feb. 21, 2014, 2:41 p.m. 1 comment
Written by Andrea Jacobs, Senior Writer with the Intermountain Jewish News. Appeared on the front page today!
Intermountain Jewish News: http://www.ijn.com/features/4518-death-cafe
Death Cafe write up: Denver Death Cafe January
Posted by Anita Larson on Jan. 23, 2014, 2:35 p.m.
It was a gorgeous, sunny sixty-degree day in Denver and the Bronco’s were playing that afternoon. The Broncos won and are headed to their first Super Bowl in 15 years. Exciting! We still had a wonderful gathering of people interested in discussing death at our 5th Denver Death Café. Thank you to Jamie Sarche with Feldman Mortuary for hosting and to Julie for making the most creative, delicious cake!
Topics of discussion included the latest New Mexico ruling that will allow doctors to help patients die. Four other states including Oregon, allow patients to seek aid in dying if their conditions become unbearable. Colorado is not ...
Death Cafe write up: Denver Death Cafe December
Posted by Anita Larson on Dec. 18, 2013, 3:12 p.m.
Denver Death Café December Summary
The Denver Death Café continues to attract an intelligent, diverse group of people who are hungry to understand and discuss death. The room was at capacity with those who took time out of their hectic holiday schedules to engage in life-affirming conversation. A few comments and highlights from participants:
“I want to discuss death at a young age so I can live a better life now. I will definitely be here again and will tell my friends.”
“Death is the new sex education. People want to talk about this.”
“Just as birth is a labor, death is a labor. It is hard work ...
Death Cafe write up: Denver's 2nd Death Cafe
Posted by Anita Larson on Oct. 22, 2013, 3:09 p.m.
The red and gold leaves of autumn glistened as 36 participants entered the Heflebower Funeral Home in Highlands Ranch, CO for Denver’s 2nd Death Café. This cozy, comfortable setting looks more like a Colorado mountain lodge than a funeral home. Attendees ranging in age from 27-85 talked about death while sipping tea and enjoying delicious cake.
Anita Larson, Facilitator & Celebrant provided background on the history of Death Café, the rules about no selling or promotion, respectful sharing and honoring all lifestyles and faiths.
A moderator was designated for each of the smaller groups of 5 or 6 and this format allowed for everyone to speak to ...
Death Cafe write up: Denver Death Cafe
Posted by Anita Larson on Sept. 10, 2013, 11:12 a.m.
Highlights of Denver’s 1st Death Café
September 8, 2013
Welcome! Many thanks to Wy Livingstone and Wystone’s Tea for hosting Denver’s first Death Cafe and to Alex our wonderful server. Thank you to Larry Larson & Sherry McDowell for helping with signups, greeting guests and taking notes during the event. Intro about Death Café – what it is and what it is not. Visit www.DeathCafe.com to learn more of the history and find Death Cafes in other cities or countries.
Denver Death Café has a Face Book page here: www.facebook.com/denverdeathcafe Please like the page and post any thoughts, comments or resources ...
Press: Denver Death Cafe Launches this Weekend at Wystone's
Posted by Anita Larson on Sept. 6, 2013, 11:26 a.m.
Wonderful article by Amber Taufen, journalist with Westword. Before the interview I gave her a link to deathcafe.com so she could get more facts and info. She thanked me for that. I thank Amber for connecting with me and writing this terrific article! - Anita Larson
Westword: http://blogs.westword.com/showandtell/2013/09/the_inaugural_denver_death_caf.php