Death Cafe write-ups
Death Cafe Iowa Write up
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Oct. 8, 2024, 10:43 a.m.
Our most recent Death Café was held September 17th and had 3 people in attendance. Due to there being only 3 of us this time around, we did have quite a short meeting this month ☹ We touched on a handful of topics, beginning with the planning of your funeral and how this pre-planning may benefit or take away from your family’s experience. However, the bulk of our conversation actually surrounded body donation! With one of our attendees having chosen this, the recent horror stories in Texas of unclaimed deceased being illegally sold had naturally been on their mind. We then ended our conversation with how all ...
Our August Death Café took place on the eve of Spring, with locals and tourists alike thronging the surrounds of the library. Above them, a small group of people were gathering together to talk about a shared interest and curiosity; death.
Our conversation was spirited, especially when the work of Carl Jung and theoretical quantum physicist Wolfgang Pauli was discussed. From the lofty realms of the archetypal unconscious to Ray Martin’s TV series, The Last Goodbye, Death Café did not disappoint. Other topics discussed included the role that black humour and death jokes play as a coping mechanism when grieving, and, thinking about our end of life ...
Los Angeles Death Cafe Write up
Posted by janemiller18 on Sept. 3, 2024, 12:06 a.m.
Had about 20 people show up! lovely weather. I wonder if I want to cap these somehow -- it's amazing to see so much interest, but tricky to have a real group conversation with that many people. super friendly, earnest group.
City of Roses Death Cafe Portland OR Write up
Posted by nomenoyou1 on Sept. 1, 2024, 10:32 p.m.
18 of us gathered in the Sun Room of the Leaven Community on Northeast Killingsworth for our 17th consecutive monthly Death Cafe. We broke out into two tables for a free-flowing discussion as well as tea, carrot cake, and vegan cookies.
At my table we talked at length about the difficulties of coping with the death of a family member who was not loving or was abusive. One person offered a moving description of her near death experience. We discussed the difficulties of assuring that our advance directives for end of life care are actually repsected by care providers. Several expressed concern about the challenges of ending life ...
Death Cafe Northside Write up
Posted by Carmel OBeirne on Aug. 24, 2024, 5:25 a.m.
Thanks to the nine people who attended our Death Over Brunch in Northcote recently. The cafe atmosphere was a little noisy however we still managed to connect our hearts as we shared stories and pondered on everything end of life and death.
We now have a small group of inspiring humans who are wanting to run with these conversations and see how many different groups we can impact ....opening the conversation around death.
I am looking forward to watching where this leads .
Each time Death Café convenes, and because attendees bring different life experiences with them and different questions, the overall ‘tone’ has a distinctive ‘note’. Not only that, but it never ceases to astound me at Death Café, at how generously people share in such a frank way, intimate and very personal aspects of their life, their knowledge and understanding of end-of-life matters, and their spiritual belief systems. And our July Death Café was no exception.
In addition to chatting about ‘all things death’, a focus of discussion was death education and associated extracurricular activities, which was embraced with great enthusiasm. A recent online post (https://www.abc.net ...
Death Cafe Whangarei Write up
Posted by Jo Moselen on Aug. 20, 2024, 9:35 p.m.
A group of 8 gathered at a new venue for this Death Cafe, the venue worked well and the conversation flowed. A lot of questions asked seeking clarification and understanging of what happens to the body when someone dies, what it takes to look after someone at home, busting the myths. Other topics included the End of Life choice act NZ, natural burial and water cremation in NZ
We look forward to the next one which is yet to be scheduled.
Central Houston’s Monthly Death Cafe - August 2024 Write up
Posted by Houston Death Cafe on Aug. 5, 2024, 12:47 a.m.
Central Houston's August 2024 Death Cafe
What a diverse and wonderful group! 25 folks attended this month's vibrant discussion at the McGovern Stella-Link Library.
Below you can find links to various things mentioned during the dialogue:
Local events and groups:
- Sept 14: Michael J Fox Run/Walk for Parkinson's
https://give.michaeljfox.org/event/2024-houston-run-walk/e544377
- The Jung Center
https://junghouston.org/
- Community for Conscious Aging https://www.communityforconsciousaging.org/
- Texas Death with Dignity https://texasdeathwithdignity.org/
- Omega House Hospice https://avenue360.org/houston-clinic-locations/montrose/
Books
- Walking Each Other Home: Conversations on Loving and Dying by Ram Dass
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39346786-walking-each-other-home ...
Death Cafe North Canterbury NZ Write up
Posted by Death Cafe North Canterbury, Aotearoa New Zealand on Aug. 4, 2024, 9:39 p.m.
Kaiapoi (21.07.2024)
Today was a big group – 11 plus Anna and I, once we got over our initial shock and delight, it was a busy kōrero which darted all over the place! I had co-delivered a workshop the weekend before about reducing death costs and some of those attendees came along - so this was the initial talking point. We chatted about expectations of funeral costs – such as who pays for visitors and travellers to the funeral, what is the custom in NZ – in fact, is there a custom at all? We chatted about ashes and how to scatter these – do we have the freedom to scatter ...
Let's Talk Death Cafe Shell Lake, WI Write up
Posted by Maureen Skuban on Aug. 3, 2024, 1:48 p.m.
On July 25, a lively group of six participants jumped right in talking about options at end of life and specifically Death with Dignity. We also spent time on the difference between reconciling and acceptance. Frustrated with limited support after losing a loved one, the value of other traditions was discussed, like the seven day Jewish custom of Shiva. Always learning. Always something new at these gatherings!
North Denver Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Marti Steger on July 31, 2024, 6:30 p.m.
We had a lovely group of 8 community members attend. Hospice nurses and volunteers as well as those looking to talk about their interest in death positive work joined the conversation. We had a great exchange of ideas and shared experiences.
Houston’s Monthly Death Cafe - July 2024 Write up
Posted by Houston Death Cafe on July 16, 2024, 1:15 p.m.
Central Houston's July 2024 Death Cafe
We had a wonderful discussion with a group of 12. The meeting also featured an unexpected spider rescue, and the first rain from Hurricane Beryl hit just as we were leaving the library.
Below you can find links to various things mentioned during the dialogue:
Local events:
- West University Aging Solo workshop (this is offered several time throughout the year)
https://www.amazingplacehouston.org/community-education/aging-solo/
- Jung Center book study group - Walking Each Other Home
https://junghouston.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/junghouston/event.jsp?event=10935
Books:
- The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker https://www.goodreads.com/book/show ...
Death Cafe Whangarei Write up
Posted by Jo Moselen on July 8, 2024, 9:38 p.m.
There were twelve attendees and two facilitators at this Death Cafe held at The Fat Camel Cafe. This is the third DC we have held at this venue which mostly works fine although at times can be noisey as reflected in some of the feedback. We do like to hold Death Cafes in a cafe as it adds to the informality and the normalising of the conversation. We'ver yet to find the ideal venue. The conversation was free flowing and wide ranging and focussed on two particular topics, assisted dying and the legalities around cremains and what to do with them. The feedback was positive and encouraging ...
Our June Death Café welcomed both regular and new attendees to our familiar locale, the Creative Space in Manly Library, and as usual, death was a hot topic. The conversation flowed from the moment people settled themselves into their chairs until it came time to leave, with all of us wondering where the time had gone, and wishing we could keep chatting.
It never ceases to amaze me why people come to the Death Café, meaning the journey they have taken in life and the experiences that have shaped their world view and their personal belief systems. “It bothers me, that we can’t use the word ‘death ...
Let's Talk Death Cafe Shell Lake, WI Write up
Posted by Maureen Skuban on June 30, 2024, 10:35 p.m.
On June 27th, 2024, the group settled into great conversation before the meeting had even begun. Seven participants attended. We shared thoughts about medical advances extending life to a fault as there can be worse things than death. Willingness to donate full body to science versus being an organ donor was contemplated. We were amused to discover two of us were enjoying the same novel, “The Collected Regrets of Clover,” which is centered around a Death Doula who frequents Death Cafes. Other recommended reads shared were “Being Mortal” and “Final Gifts.”