Death Cafe profile for Jools Barsky
Location: United Kingdom
About Jools Barsky:
Co-founder of Death Cafe, sister of Death Cafe founder Jon Underwood.
Contact Jools Barsky
Jools Barsky's posts on the Death Cafe website
New Blog post: Happy 13th Birthday, Death Cafe!
Posted by Jools Barsky on Sept. 25, 2024, midnight
Every year on this day, I find myself reflecting on the very first Death Cafe, back in 2011. I remember being in Jon’s house in Hackney, Jon serving tea and cake as our Mum facilitated that first gathering in his basement. Back then, Death Cafe looked quite different. We’ve refined things over the years—there are no longer any prompts, talks, or exercises. Instead, Death Cafes remain one of the few spaces where ...
With Claire and Gazala
Feb. 23, 2023, 6.30 p.m. - 8.15 p.m. (GMT)
Accepts donations
Death is inevitable, and yet it is often a taboo subject. It is not an everyday topic of conversation and it is sometimes hard to know with whom, and where ...
New Blog post: Death of Bernard Crettaz
Posted by Jools Barsky on Jan. 28, 2024, 4:27 p.m.
Hello Death Cafe community,
Today, I feel a deep need to share something profoundly personal and significant with you all. I have been reflecting on the legacy of Bernard Crettaz, born 29 May 1938, who died on 28 November 2022 aged 84. Bernard, a visionary Swiss sociologist, founded the Café Mortels—a concept that revolutionised how we speak about death and dying.
It was an article in the Independent about Bernard's Café Mortel in ...
New Blog post: Ernest Becker Foundation - a shared legacy
Posted by Jools Barsky on Jan. 7, 2024, 2:20 p.m.
Hello, Death Cafe Community,
I'm writing to share some heartfelt news that has recently touched the Death Cafe movement deeply. We have received a generous donation from the Ernest Becker Foundation, a gesture that resonates profoundly with our work and mission.
The Ernest Becker Foundation, known for its dedication to exploring the intersection of death and human behavior, has chosen to support Death Cafe as they close their doors. Their work, inspired by Ernest ...
Practitioners question: Update on Trademark fundraising
Posted by Jools Barsky on Dec. 17, 2023, 6:52 p.m. 3 comments
Hi Death Cafe community,
I’m reaching out with some incredible news about our trademark renewal. Your astonishing support has helped us surpass our £4,500 target, reaching £5,410. This is a powerful testament to the strength and unity of the Death Cafe movement.
This campaign has been about ...
Practitioners question: Protecting our legacy - Death Cafe trademark
Posted by Jools Barsky on Dec. 9, 2023, 7:12 a.m.
Hi Death Cafe community,
Today, I want to share an important milestone in our journey: the renewal of the Death Cafe trademark. This isn't just a routine task; it's a crucial step to safeguard the open, honest discussions about death and dying that define Death Cafe.
Why renew ...
With Claire and Gazala
April 8, 2024, 6.30 p.m. - 8.15 p.m. (GMT)
Accepts donations
Death is inevitable, and yet it is often a taboo subject. It is not an everyday topic of conversation and it is sometimes hard to know with whom, and where ...
With Claire and Gazala
Feb. 12, 2024, 6.30 p.m. - 8.15 p.m. (GMT)
Accepts donations
Death is inevitable, and yet it is often a taboo subject. It is not an everyday topic of conversation and it is sometimes hard to know with whom, and where ...
Video: A Soul Film tribute to Jon Underwood on our 12th anniversary
Posted by Jools Barsky on Oct. 8, 2023, 3:22 p.m.
New Blog post: Death Cafe is 12!!
Posted by Jools Barsky on Sept. 25, 2023, 4:34 p.m.
What an incredible milestone we've reached! It's hard to believe how swiftly the time has flown since our 6th birthday, which marked the first Death Cafe birthday video I made following Jon's death in 2017. Before that, I vividly recall being in Jon's living room in Hackney while he and our Mum, Susan Barsky Reid, hosted the inaugural Death Cafe in his basement on 25th September 2011.
Staying aligned with Jon ...
With Claire and Gazala
Dec. 4, 2023, 6.30 p.m. - 8.15 p.m. (GMT)
Accepts donations
Death is inevitable, and yet it is often a taboo subject. It is not an everyday topic of conversation and it is sometimes hard to know with whom, and where ...
With Claire and Gazala
Oct. 2, 2023, 6.30 p.m. - 8.15 p.m. (GMT)
Accepts donations
Death is inevitable, and yet it is often a taboo subject. It is not an everyday topic of conversation and it is sometimes hard to know with whom, and where ...
With Claire and Gazala
Aug. 7, 2023, 6.30 p.m. - 8.15 p.m. (GMT)
Accepts donations
Death is inevitable, and yet it is often a taboo subject. It is not an everyday topic of conversation and it is sometimes hard to know with whom, and where ...
With Claire and Gazala
June 5, 2023, 6.30 p.m. - 8.15 p.m. (GMT)
Accepts donations
Death is inevitable, and yet it is often a taboo subject. It is not an everyday topic of conversation and it is sometimes hard to know with whom, and where ...
With Claire and Gazala
April 3, 2023, 6.30 p.m. - 8.15 p.m. (GMT)
Accepts donations
Death is inevitable, and yet it is often a taboo subject. It is not an everyday topic of conversation and it is sometimes hard to know with whom, and where ...
With Claire and Gazala
Feb. 6, 2023, 6.30 p.m. - 8.15 p.m. (GMT)
Accepts donations
Death is inevitable, and yet it is often a taboo subject. It is not an everyday topic of conversation and it is sometimes hard to know with whom, and where ...
With Claire and Gazala
Dec. 5, 2022, 6.30 p.m. - 8.15 p.m. (GMT)
Accepts donations
Death is inevitable, and yet it is often a taboo subject. It is not an everyday topic of conversation and it is sometimes hard to know with whom, and where ...
With Claire and Gazala
Oct. 3, 2022, 6.30 p.m. - 8.15 p.m. (GMT)
Accepts donations
Death is inevitable, and yet it is often a taboo subject. It is not an everyday topic of conversation and it is sometimes hard to know with whom, and where ...
With Claire and Gazala
Aug. 1, 2022, 6.30 p.m. - 8.15 p.m. (GMT)
Accepts donations
Death is inevitable, and yet it is often a taboo subject. It is not an everyday topic of conversation and it is sometimes hard to know with whom, and where ...
With Claire and Gazala
June 6, 2022, 6.30 p.m. - 8.15 p.m. (GMT)
Accepts donations
Death is inevitable, and yet it is often a taboo subject. It is not an everyday topic of conversation and it is sometimes hard to know with whom, and where ...
With Claire and Gazala
April 4, 2022, 6.30 p.m. - 8.15 p.m. (GMT)
Accepts donations
Death is inevitable, and yet it is often a taboo subject. It is not an everyday topic of conversation and it is sometimes hard to know with whom, and where ...
New Blog post: 5 Beautiful Ways to Remember Your Dog
Posted by Jools Barsky on Dec. 20, 2021, 11:18 a.m.
Although your pet might seem full of life right now, one day they will die. Their eyes will lose their sparkle, their tail will grow still, and their life will slip away. Losing your pet can seem unbearably painful, but it’s something you need to prepare yourself for if you want the love, friendship, and devotion a dog brings to your life.
The death of your dog doesn’t have to be the end ...
With Rhaine Della Bosca
Nov. 16, 2021, 7.00 p.m. - 8.30 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time)
Free
Hosted by Rhaine Della Bosca, join us for an interesting night of conversation - or just listen - what ever you are called to! At a Death Cafe people drink tea/coffee ...
With Rhaine Della Bosca
Oct. 12, 2021, 7.00 p.m. - 8.30 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time)
Free
In 2015, I experienced the up close and personal experience of a family member receiving a terminal diagnosis and was a part of her journey for the next two years ...
Press: Residents invited to Aylesbury Vale Death Cafe this summer
Posted by Jools Barsky on July 17, 2021, 6:52 a.m.
For one day only, residents are invited to talk about this complex, painful topic...
The Bucks Herald: https://www.bucksherald.co.uk/whats-on/things-to-do/residents-invited-to-aylesbury-vale-death-cafe-this-summer-3307518
Press: Why Talking About Your Funeral Now Is Tough, But Valuable
Posted by Jools Barsky on July 17, 2021, 6:47 a.m.
Death – and what you want after you die – is the conversation nobody wants to have. Unless, of course, you're librarian Andrea Castillo and have led discussions at the local Death Cafe.
"I had started as a person kind of trying to confront my own anxieties about death," Castillo explained...
ince September 2011, small groups of people across the world have gathered over tea and cake to discuss mortality. I went to one in Boulder to learn how COVID-19 and the King Soopers shooting are impacting those conversations....
DENVER'S MILE HIGH MAGAZINE: https://www.5280.com/2021/04/a-dispatch-from-a-boulder-death-cafe/
New Blog post: Remembering Sherry Gilles
Posted by Jools Barsky on March 14, 2021, 10:19 a.m.
We were so sad to hear about the death of our friend and long-standing Death Cafe supporter, Sherry Gilles, on 1st March 2021.
After taking over Death Cafe following the death of Jon Underwood in 2017, Sherry was one of the first Death Cafe hosts that got in touch, and helped me to find my feet in a time of great turmoil.
As someone who worked with Sherry for a number of years prior to ...
New Blog post: Death Cafe - 9 Today!
Posted by Jools Barsky on Sept. 25, 2020, midnight 1 comment
*click the link below to watch the video
It's Death Cafe's 9th birthday today... Twelve months ago I could never have imagined there would be such huge changes in the way we operate. As Death Cafe enters its 9th year we are now regularly holding discussions about death with groups of people who reside in very different geographical locations across the world. People who live 1000s of miles apart are all coming together ...
New Blog post: Death Cafe and Covid-19
Posted by Jools Barsky on March 24, 2020, 7:54 p.m. 12 comments
Hello to all our Death Cafe hosts, both new and those who have been with us for a long time.
We have never in our lifetimes had to contend with such unprecedented changes to our lifestyle, and threats to our health and wellbeing. Never has there been such a need to talk about death and dying, and we are not able to meet each other face-to-face to do this, with as yet, no specified end ...
Death Cafe write up: Eastbourne Death Cafe
Posted by Jools Barsky on March 4, 2020, 11:18 a.m.
Gazala: A very successful evening with a wide range of discussion to include:
- fears about dying
- living life knowing where we are going
- Funeral Plans
- Organ Donation
- Wills
- Lasting Power of Attorney
- Do not resuscitate
- Advance Planning etc.
Feedback received include - a very worthwhile discussion, a surprisingly enjoyable evening given the topics discussed!
Link: Advance care planning and the urgency of now | Prof Brian Dolan and Corrina Grimes
Posted by Jools Barsky on Feb. 21, 2020, 7:13 a.m.
An opinion piece co-authored with Corrina Grimes, by Professor Brian Dolan, whom I had the pleasure of hearing speak at the Countess of Chester hospital in January 2020.
Prof Brian Dolan and Corrina Grimes outline the case for advance care planning in the context of patient time and their last ...
https://www.nhsconfed.org/blog/2017/06/advance-care-planning-and-the-urgency-of-now
With Claire and Gazala
June 1, 2020, 6.30 p.m. - 8.15 p.m. (Greenwich meantime)
Accepts donations
Death is inevitable, and yet it is often a taboo subject. It is not an everyday topic of conversation and it is sometimes hard to know with whom, and where ...
With Claire and Gazala
May 4, 2020, 6.30 p.m. - 8.15 p.m. (Greenwich meantime)
Accepts donations
Death is inevitable, and yet it is often a taboo subject. It is not an everyday topic of conversation and it is sometimes hard to know with whom, and where ...
With Claire and Gazala
April 6, 2020, 6.30 p.m. - 8.15 p.m. (Greenwich meantime)
Accepts donations
Death is inevitable, and yet it is often a taboo subject. It is not an everyday topic of conversation and it is sometimes hard to know with whom, and where ...
Press: Death Cafes create an environment for openness in Albany, Saratoga, elsewhere
Posted by Jools Barsky on Jan. 25, 2020, 5:18 a.m.
Attending one of the Capital Region’s only roaming cafes comes with a few conditions: keep an open mind and feel free to discuss death. At least that’s the case with Death Cafe Albany. “My friends say ‘You need to change the name’ I say ‘That’s the point ...
The Daily Gazette: https://dailygazette.com/article/2019/10/20/death-cafes-create-an-environment-for-openness
New Blog post: A note from Jools - Death Cafe reaches 10,000 events
Posted by Jools Barsky on Jan. 18, 2020, 10:31 a.m. 7 comments
Hi all,
I am delighted to share with you that January 2020 has seen us reach 10,000 events in 69 countries (and that's just those that have been listed on our website!)!!
When my brother Jon Underwood, the founder of Death Cafe, held the first Death Cafe in his home on 25th September 2011, we would have never imagined that so many people across the globe would be so enthusiastic about holding events ...
With Claire and Gazala
March 2, 2020, 6.30 p.m. - 8.15 p.m. (Greenwich meantime)
Accepts donations
Death is inevitable, and yet it is often a taboo subject. It is not an everyday topic of conversation and it is sometimes hard to know with whom, and where ...
With Rhaine Della Bosca
Jan. 21, 2020, 5.30 p.m. - 7.00 p.m. (Pacific)
Accepts donations
This will be a group-led discussion about all topics related to death.
Press: The world would change if everyone one of us attended a Death Cafe
Posted by Jools Barsky on Jan. 12, 2020, 12:11 p.m.
Sue in conversation with Jools Barsky, co-founder of the Death Cafe movement about how Death Cafes help us to live consciously for a better world...
https://suebrayne.co.uk/2020/01/01/death-cafes-jons-legacy-to-us-all/
With No longer available
June 10, 2020, 7.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. (GMT)
Accepts donations
No longer available
A POINT OF VIEW, BBC RADIO 4
WRITER: SARAH DUNANT
PRODUCER: AEDELE ARMSTRONG
An evening at the Death Café
A couple of months ago, I spent an evening at a “ death café’. If that phrase
means nothing to you, then I should say immediately that it has nothing to do ...
A POINT OF VIEW, BBC RADIO 4: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0009lr1
Practitioners question: Feedback from attendees
Posted by Jools Barsky on Sept. 23, 2019, 7:48 a.m. 2 comments
I have run a few Death Cafes now and almost every time I have had feedback from some people saying they'd find it helpful to have some prompts or questions. I have never done this, as I'm aware of the guidelines, but I can see how it might ...
Press: Stamford's first Death Cafe opens with a message
Posted by Jools Barsky on Sept. 20, 2019, 10:35 a.m.
Stamford’s first Death Cafe has opened up serving a message that we should make the most of our “finite” lives...
Rutland & Stamford Mercury: https://www.stamfordmercury.co.uk/news/stamford-sessions-where-you-can-talk-about-death-over-a-coffee-9083491/
Press: Glasgow director Kally Lloyd-Jones on life and death
Posted by Jools Barsky on Sept. 20, 2019, 10:33 a.m.
A PIECE of dance theatre about dying – accompanied by an after-show Death Café – comes to Glasgow tomorrow...
Evening Times: https://byretheatre.com/events/death-cafe/
Press: These 5 ‘wellness cafes’ will help you become more community conscious
Posted by Jools Barsky on Aug. 30, 2019, 1:59 p.m.
Talking about death is a tricky topic for many of us reserved Brits. But Death Cafe is on a mission to break this stigma. Far from being creepy and morbid...
Soul And Spirit Magazine: http://www.soulandspiritmagazine.com/these-5-wellness-cafes-will-help-you-become-more-community-conscious/
Press: Death cafe sparks conversations about dying to help people overcome fears
Posted by Jools Barsky on July 13, 2019, 12:48 p.m.
A pop-up death cafe has been held in Adelaide to spark conversations and help people overcome their fear of dying.
Conversations about life and death might not be common over coffee and cake, but almost 30 people gathered at church in Walkerville, in Adelaide's north-east, to chat about wakes ...
abc.net.au: https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-04/death-cafe-aims-to-help-conversations-about-end-of-life/11271640
With Marie Curie Hospice, Edinburgh
Aug. 24, 2019, 5.30 p.m. - 6.30 p.m. (GMT)
Free
This Death Cafe is being held as part of the Just Festival 2019.
This is a (free) ticketed event. Please click on the link below to book your ticket via ...
With Marie Curie Hospice, Edinburgh
Aug. 2, 2019, 4.00 p.m. - 5.00 p.m. (GMT)
Free
This Death Cafe is being held as part of the Just Festival 2019.
This is a (free) ticketed event. Please click on the link below to book your ticket via ...
Resource: The Dying Matters Podcast “Let’s talk about it.” Death and dying is one of those topics that’s just
Posted by Jools Barsky on July 5, 2019, 8:35 a.m.
We know that we will all have to face it one day, but we put that “difficult” conversation off until tomorrow. Or the day after… Well it doesn’t have to be that way.
The people we talk to on this podcast are people who do talk about it. They ...
With Rhaine Della Bosca
June 25, 2019, 5.00 p.m. - 7.00 p.m. (Pacific Daylight Time)
Accepts donations
Please join us for our June Death Café Reno at Huffaker Hills Trailhead (also known as Rattlesnake Mountain), Alexander Lake Rd, Reno, NV 89521. We’ll start at 5:00 ...
With Rhaine Della Bosca
April 23, 2019, 5.30 p.m. - 7.00 p.m. (Pacific Daylight Time)
Accepts donations
I am running the Death Cafe in Reno as a community service. I am passionate about the Death Cafe values and philosophy of openly talking about death which then enriches ...
With Brigid Lydon
May 18, 2019, 10.00 a.m. - 12.00 p.m. (GMT)
Free
I am running this Death Cafe as part of Dying Matters Week 2019.
Please save your place at the table by visiting the Eventbrite link and booking your free ticket.
Each year, the Global Wellness Summit (GWS) identifies new trends that will have a meaningful impact on the $4.2 trillion wellness industry. Significantly, this is the only wellness forecast that draws from the insights of the 600+ executives who were delegates and presenters at the 2018 Global Wellness Summit ...
Global Wellness Summit: https://www.globalwellnesssummit.com/2019-global-wellness-trends/
Press: Mancos library hopes to normalize conversations about death
Posted by Jools Barsky on Dec. 27, 2018, 5:33 p.m. 2 comments
Mancos has joined thousands of other cities around the world as it begins hosting a regular event known as a Death Cafe.
The event is hosted by the Mancos Public Library and facilitated by the library’s manager of development and adult programming, Shari Dunn.
The Journal: https://the-journal.com/articles/114556
They come because the philosophical notion of mortality intrigues them. Or because they are death doulas, end of life therapists, palliative care nurses, or someone else who works with the dying.
Maybe they’ve got a loved one who is sick. Perhaps they, themselves, suffer from a terminal disease. Maybe ...
Lion's Roar: https://www.lionsroar.com/putting-death-on-the-table/
Press: Chatting with strangers about suicide: My night at a Twin Cities Death Cafe
Posted by Jools Barsky on Dec. 27, 2018, 5:25 p.m.
One Sunday evening this September, I stepped into a northeast Minneapolis art gallery, signed my name next to a human skull, and poured myself a glass of red wine. Then I joined a group seated in a circle, and we started talking about taking our own lives...
Link: The temporary paradox of death in life: writing a tanka for our family pet on his passing
Posted by Jools Barsky on Dec. 27, 2018, 5:19 p.m.
The first Wednesday evening of this month, (October 3, 2018) our family’s Great Dane passed away peacefully resting under a cedar tree. His body had been breaking down...
Press: MORTALS ANONYMOUS: INSIDE THE CAFÉS WHERE PEOPLE GO TO TALK ABOUT DYING
Posted by Jools Barsky on Dec. 27, 2018, 5:10 p.m.
WE SAT IN a circle, clutching paper cups full of steaming coffee and tea. First, I said my name. "Hi, I'm Lexi." What came next wasn't an admission of addiction, but a statement about what I feared most about death. "I fear the unknown," I began, but paused ...
Death isn’t a topic oft-discussed, but it is an end we all face and for many, it is a conversation worth having....
Worcester Magazine: https://www.worcestermag.com/news/20181101/relaxing-afternoon-with-death
For many people, death and dying feel like taboo subjects.
But Wendy Elliott, who will be hosting the Dunnville Death Café on Nov. 15, hopes to help change that.
"It's something that's been taken away from us. Years ago, death happened in the home," she said...
The Hamilton Spectator: https://www.thespec.com/news-story/9024608-death-caf-comes-to-dunnville/
“I love the brownies.” “I’m interested in learning about death.” These are the icebreakers at the November session of McGill’s Death Cafe. Though the event drew a varied crowd, commonalities developed between the full room of people intrigued by both creature comforts and talk of mortality...
McGill Tribune: http://www.mcgilltribune.com/student-living/tribune-tries-death-and-cake-111318/
Press: Death Cafe Makes Morbid Discussions Socially Acceptable
Posted by Jools Barsky on Dec. 27, 2018, 9:54 a.m.
Chaplain and Death Cafe member Michele Tae and members Joyce Harvey-Morgan and Susan Randall talk about discussions of death with Idaho Matters on Tuesday, November 13, 2018.
Boise State Public Radio: http://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/post/death-cafe-makes-morbid-discussions-socially-acceptable#stream/0
When Christine Cross and Cathy Coulter first conceived of hosting a Death Café in Virden, they didn’t know if anyone would be interested in casual conversations about death and dying. But the 20 spaces filled up so fast and the evening was such a hit that three more Death ...
Empire Advance: https://www.empireadvance.ca/news/local-news/death-caf%C3%A9-takes-on-a-life-of-its-own-1.23497857
Press: Talking death in Sudbury over tea and cake
Posted by Jools Barsky on Dec. 27, 2018, 9:46 a.m.
Most people are uncomfortable talking about death and dying but there’s a worldwide movement trying to change that. And surprisingly, it all starts over tea and cake...
The Sudbury Star: https://www.thesudburystar.com/news/local-news/talking-death-in-sudbury-over-tea-and-cake
Press: VIDEO: Death Cafe puts mortality front and centre
Posted by Jools Barsky on Dec. 27, 2018, 9:44 a.m.
It’s an average Monday night in Revelstoke. Seated in a circle at Dose Café, 12 complete strangers are sharing conversation. The topic is death...
Revelstoke Review: https://www.revelstokereview.com/community/video-death-caf-puts-mortality-front-and-centre/
Press: Sudbury psychotherapist encourages open conversations about death
Posted by Jools Barsky on Dec. 27, 2018, 9:41 a.m.
Betty Ann McPherson's life got pretty dark several years ago when her daughter got sick and died of cancer.
"I was sure that once her life was over, my life would be over," she said.
"For a time, it really did feel like that."
CBC: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/death-cafe-sudbury-1.4913459
Press: Strangers to gather in Nailsworth to 'demystify death'
Posted by Jools Barsky on Dec. 27, 2018, 9:20 a.m.
Strangers will be gathering in Nailsworth this week in an effort to demystify an important but uncomfortable subject...
Stroud News & Journal: https://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/17255929.strangers-to-gather-in-nailsworth-to-demystify-death/
Press: At a Death Cafe, Tea and Couscous Make Mortality Easier to Swallow
Posted by Jools Barsky on Dec. 27, 2018, 9:15 a.m.
ON A BRISK NOVEMBER NIGHT, Tagine, a Moroccan restaurant tucked away on a quiet side street near Times Square, is alive with conversation. Nearly 20 people pack in around two tables cluttered with heaping, communal plates of steaming couscous, chickpeas, and yellow lentils. People exchange stories, laughs, and soft wedges ...
Atlas Obscura: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-is-a-death-cafe
Days prior to returning to Montreal this August, I visited my father’s grave for the first time in nearly a decade, 17 years after he died. As a child in visits past....
The McGill Tribune: http://mcgilltribune.com/beyond-sobs-and-scares/
Press: LGBT seniors grapple with end-of-life issues
Posted by Jools Barsky on Dec. 27, 2018, 8:17 a.m.
While enjoying her seventh decade on the planet, Donna Personna knows her remaining days are numbered. Yet the prospect of her demise doesn't scare her...
The Bay Area Reporter: https://www.ebar.com/news/news/269128
PEOPLE in Taunton are being challenged to make an unusual New Year's Resolution - to talk more about death...
Somerset County Gazette: https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/17318628.taunton-death-cafe-meeting-in-january/
Press: Today in Lansing: Death Cafe at Willow Stick Healing Arts
Posted by Jools Barsky on Dec. 24, 2018, 5:50 a.m.
TUESDAY, DEC. 18 — Demystify the fear and taboo surrounding the topic of death while enjoying a hot, comforting beverage...
Lansing City Pulse: https://lansingcitypulse.com/article-16785-Today-in-Lansing-Death-Café-at-Willow-Stick-Healing-Arts.html
“I love the brownies.” “I’m interested in learning about death.” These are the icebreakers at the November session of McGill’s Death Cafe. Though the event drew a varied crowd, commonalities developed between the full room of people intrigued by both creature comforts and talk of mortality...
The McGill Tribune: http://www.mcgilltribune.com/student-living/tribune-tries-death-and-cake-111318/
New Blog post: Death Cafe is 7 today!
Posted by Jools Barsky on Sept. 24, 2018, 8:24 p.m. 6 comments
This is just a very brief message to commemorate today as being Death Cafe’s 7th birthday!!
It has been a whirlwind and we’ve learnt so, so much in the last 12 months it‘s hard to know where to begin!!
Unfortunately I’ve had a pretty debilitating eye issue which put the brakes on getting the traditional birthday video filmed and edited for today.
I would still very much love to talk to ...
Press: At Green-Wood, 9/11 victims lie beside New York City legends
Posted by Jools Barsky on Sept. 14, 2018, 6:18 a.m.
Created in 2011 by British entrepreneur Jon Underwood, "The Death Cafe is inspired by the centuries-old European salon (or cafe), an informal gathering to discuss philosophical, political or scientific ideas," ...
Brooklyn Daily Eagle: http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/2018/9/11/green-wood-911-victims-lie-beside-new-york-city-legends
The Death Cafe is almost upon us – but fear not, it’s much more jovial than it sounds.
Coming to Newport’s God’s Providence House Tea Rooms in St Thomas Square on Wednesday (September 12) – the Death Cafe meets to discuss making the most of your life....
Isle of Wight Observer: https://iwobserver.co.uk/2018/09/11/death-cafe-comes-to-newport/
New fiction book written about a Death Cafe:
As in life, death is not without its agenda. This is something seventy-nine year old Edna Reid finds out when her partner, Ted, suddenly dies.
To cope with her loss, she sets up a Death Cafe to break down the taboo around ...
https://jane-davis.co.uk/2018/09/04/virtual-book-club-angelena-boden-introduces-ednas-death-cafe/
New Blog post: Twelve months since the death of Jon Underwood
Posted by Jools Barsky on June 27, 2018, midnight 4 comments
It is hard to believe that an entire year has passed since we lost Jon Underwood. This post is to mark an anniversary that seems very hard to comprehend.
So what have we learned during these last 12 months?
We have learned that grief is a constant companion, but that it ebbs and flows and can change from a dull ache to something much more powerful in an instant, sometimes for no obvious reason.
We ...
Press: Death Cafe in Casper gives life to conversations that are normally taboo
Posted by Jools Barsky on April 20, 2018, 1:19 p.m.
The arriving guests who examined the floral china found skulls in the patterns. Books about death stood on tables at the corners of the room. Coffee, tea and cake were on the house.
Casper Star Tribune: http://trib.com/news/local/casper/death-cafe-gives-life-to-conversations-that-are-normally-taboo/article_02ddaec6-5a46-5cc4-9ead-0099edb14cf7.html
Link: The Grave Truth Behind Death Cafe Documentary
Posted by Jools Barsky on March 23, 2018, 6:22 a.m.
Death is an inevitable part of life but for most of us it’s a taboo subject. The documentary Dying to Talk hears from the people who are talking about it in 'Death Cafes' around the world. Presenter, Julian Keane and producer, Chelsea Dickinson answer listeners’ questions on the documentary ...
Press: Talking about dying over cake at Death Café
Posted by Jools Barsky on March 9, 2018, 7:06 a.m.
Death Cafe: We all die...let's talk about it! (Death Cafe- Edinburgh)
Posted by Jools Barsky on Feb. 22, 2018, 3:13 a.m.
With Brigid and Hazel
May 19, 2018, 10.00 a.m. - 12.00 p.m. (Greenwich Mean Time)
Free
We have an interest in death and dying, especially due to our work at Marie Curie. We are running this Death Cafe as part of Dying Matters Awareness Week 2018.
A great big congratulations to HUCI who have co-ordinated the 2nd Death Cafe Massive taking place on 13th December across four countries and 23 cities:
Tucumán (Argentina), Toledo , Lima (Peru), Madrid and Madrid 2 , Collado Villalba , Seville , Pamplona , Hospitalet , Granada , Talavera , Alicante , Vigo , Malaga , Zarautz , Algorta , Burgos , Donostia , Murcia ...
http://humanizandoloscuidadosintensivos.com/es/131217-hablemosdelamuerte/
Practitioners question: Alcohol at Death Cafes?
Posted by Jools Barsky on Nov. 17, 2017, 3:34 a.m. 9 comments
Hi all,
I was contacted recently by an individual concerned that someone was offering a Death Cafe where alcohol was served.
My personal opinion (and from discussions that Donna and I had with Jon, his perspective also) is that it is okay for alcohol to be served so long as ...
Press: Reflections on hosting a series of Death Cafes in an NHS context
Posted by Jools Barsky on Nov. 10, 2017, 3:28 a.m.
This document is held under copyright by Hayward Group Ltd, publisher of the European Journal of Palliative Care. It may be downloaded for single academic use only. Reproduction for any other purpose is not allowed. For further information, please contact the journal by emailing ejpc@hayward.co.uk
European Journal of Palliative Care: http://davidlittle.info/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Death-Cafes-_Kitty-Clark-McGhee-et-al.pdf
Video: Jon Underwood's Birthday Memorial
Posted by Jools Barsky on Oct. 28, 2017, 12:32 a.m. 5 comments
Hello Death Cafe community!
We still need experienced Death Cafe hosts to be media representatives - ideally we'll have several people in each country where Death Cafes are held.
If you're interested you will need to provide the following information:
1: Your name
2: Your email
3: Your location ...
Practitioners question: Authentic Death Cafes revisited
Posted by Jools Barsky on Aug. 27, 2017, 5:55 a.m. 4 comments
Hi all,
Since I have been managing the admin on Death Cafe and keeping a closer eye on things, it has come to my attention that the below is still an issue.
Due to the growing awareness of Death Cafe and the inevitable changes we're now facing, it's ...
Press: Death Cafe serves up insights into life's end in Japan
Posted by Jools Barsky on Aug. 10, 2017, 6:45 p.m.
New Blog post: Before Jon's funeral - words from Jon's mother-in-law Carol
Posted by Jools Barsky on July 5, 2017, 4:16 p.m.
A tribute to my lovely son-in-law Jon Underwood
You were a special person but it's only now you're gone I realise how special a person you really were.
I was quite intolerant of Death Cafe because I didn't understand it. I'm afraid to say you can still learn lessons no matter how old you are, but just because I didn't understand or agree doesn't make it wrong, it was ...
New Blog post: Funeral for Death Cafe pioneer Jon Underwood breaks new ground
Posted by Jools Barsky on July 3, 2017, 12:39 p.m. 6 comments
Jon’s family have been overwhelmed by the love and support they have received from the Death Cafe community following Jon’s sudden death this week.
As we have read in so many of the beautiful tributes that have poured in over the last few days, Jon’s work was ground-breaking and pioneering. His funeral will be no exception.
The Jamyang Buddhist Centre in London meant a lot to Jon. He gave up a well ...
New Blog post: A message from Donna Molloy, Jon Underwood’s wife
Posted by Jools Barsky on June 28, 2017, 5:21 p.m. 80 comments
As you all know the objective of Death Cafe is helping us all 'make the most of our finite lives'. With shocking poignancy on Sunday 25th June we experienced the finiteness of life at its most brutal. And more specifically the finiteness of the life of Jon Underwood, founder of Death Cafe, dad to two truly amazing children and my husband. He was 44.
Comfort is very hard to find right now, but there is ...
Hi
Our first death cafe is being held on 13th May and we're wondering whether we should have name labels available? Anyone else done this? Good idea or not?
We have three facilitators who we thought should wear name labels, but not sure if attendees would want to.
With Brigid, Andrew and Maureen
May 13, 2017, 10.00 a.m. - 12.00 p.m. (Greenwich Mean Time)
Free
We have an interest in death and dying, especially due to our work at the Hospice. We are running this Death Cafe as part of Dying Matters Awareness Week 2017.
Practitioners question: Finding a venue?!
Posted by Jools Barsky on March 20, 2017, 9:22 a.m. 1 comment
Trying to find a cafe to hold a Death Cafe in Edinburgh (Scotland). I've been emailing a few describing what it's all about but no one has got back to me. I have been clear that I don't need anything from the cafe other than functioning as ...
With Helen Elliott
May 23, 2015, 2.30 p.m. - 4.00 p.m. (GMT)
It is expected that participants purchase something from the cafe.
I have agreed to take over the running of the group recently. The group has met 5 times before and the conversations have always been interesting, stimulating and helpful.
With Chris and Nick
March 21, 2015, 2.30 p.m. - 4.30 p.m. (GMT)
Free
Death has become quite the taboo. We welcome you to spend some time with us getting more comfortable with the topic to help make the most of our (finite) lives ...
With Chris and Nick
March 21, 2015, 2.30 p.m. - 4.30 p.m. (GMT)
Free
Death has become quite the taboo. We welcome you to spend some time with us getting more comfortable with the topic to help make the most of our (finite) lives ...
With Nick at Beanzz and Chris
Jan. 24, 2015, 2.30 p.m. - 4.30 p.m. (GMT)
Free
Death has become quite the taboo. We welcome you to spend some time with us getting more comfortable with the topic to help make the most of our (finite) lives ...
With Nick at Beanzz and Chris
Oct. 25, 2014, 2.30 p.m. - 4.30 p.m. (BST)
Free
Death has become quite the taboo. We welcome you to spend some time with us getting more comfortable with ...
With Jools Barsky
Feb. 27, 2013, 6.30 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. (PST)
Free
With Nick at Beanzz and Chris
July 12, 2014, 2.30 p.m. - 4.30 p.m. (BST)
Free
Death has become quite the taboo. We welcome you to spend some time with us getting more comfortable with ...
With Chris & Nick
May 17, 2014, 2.30 p.m. - 4.30 p.m. (British Standard Time)
Places are free (food and drink of choice to be paid for at the counter)
Death has become quite the taboo. We welcome you to spend some time with us getting more comfortable with ...
With Death Cafe Tacoma facilitator
Jan. 11, 2014, 2.00 p.m. - 4.00 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time)
Free
We want to support ourselves and our community in bringing death out of the closet!
So named because of the large number of shipwrecks that have occured on its rocky shores.
But despite the ominous name, it is still frequented by budding surfers looking for a thrill-ride!
http://www.carvemag.com/2013/11/the-coast-of-death/#.Unz3Zfk7KNA
We're all about embracing new media, and we now have our very own Pinterest page with all sorts of intriguing deathy things!
You can follow us by visiting:
www.pinterest.com/deathcafe
Art: Sometimes we need a wake-up call like death...
Posted by Jools Barsky on Sept. 30, 2013, 3:34 a.m.
Grim:-( #nuffsaid LL pic.twitter.com/DPtGld6pv5
Cool skeleton art!
New Blog post: The new website
Posted by Jools Barsky on Sept. 5, 2013, 6:20 a.m. 2 comments
It's been two years since this project began, and to see where it started and where it is today makes me beam with pride.
It is all thanks to the wonderful death-chat devoutee Jon Underwood, and all the fantastic contributors across the globe who have put so much time into making Death Cafe such a huge success.
Congratulations Jon, your new site is exceptionally elegant and exciting, informative and professional.
Can't wait to ...
In the search for a cool new background to adorn our site, I came across this beauty from designer TopNinja. And how true it is!
If one must, this sounds like a good way to go
New Blog post: Sky burial goes mainstream
Posted by Jools Barsky on Feb. 11, 2011, 2:22 p.m. 2 comments
After watching this weeks' episode of Human Planet on the BBC, I was intrigued to see the discussion of a practice known as "sky burial", as mentioned in our earlier post. In the mountains of Nepal, the high altitudes prevent Buddhists from practicing their usual method of body disposal (cremation) and so alternative methods are sought.
The deceased is taken to a remote part of the mountains and a ritual is performed by a specialist ...