Last 2024 City of Roses Death Cafe
A write up of City of Roses Death Cafe Portland OR
By nomenoyou1
Our final City of Roses Death Cafe of 2024 had 19 participants divided between three tables.
One table discussed the challenges of living with a terminal cancer diagnosis including deciding whether the benefits of life extending maintenance chemotherapy outweighed the physical consequences (quantity or quality of life?), the difficulty of discussing one's diagnosis and its implications with family and friends, and responding to hurtful, but well-intentioned responses ("I had a friend who had that cancer and they . . . ") We also discussed living with grief when a sibling dies. Stephen Jenkinson's Die Wise was came up more than once.
Another table’s discussion centered a lot about feelings and the lack of being able to feel and express ourselves. Some also stated growing older and wanting to continue living and coping with their mind being agile but their body responding to aging. others talked about being scared that they isolated so much throughout their life that they missed connections and building community.
Our third table had two people whose parent has a terminal illness and she came with them to the meeting. We discussed the cultural and societal reactions to death and dying. One member had deep experience with dying as a doula. We discussed options for funerals/celebrations of life and after life care. There were requests for books/websites.
This was our last Death Cafe at the Leaven Community. We are deeply grateful to the Community for their support for nearly two years.