Denver Death Cafe Summary Sept 2014
A write up of Denver Death Cafe-September
By Anita Larson
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 coverage and when Westword put us in their annual publication “Best of Westword” I couldn’t believe it. Never even knew there was such a category as “Best Place to Contemplate Death”. Then there was the 9News Storyteller feature with Kevin Torres. Many of you heard my radio interview with Colorado Public Radio. That was a new experience for me. I had no idea they had a listening audience of over 500,000 people. I’ve become a listener now and the topics of discussion are fascinating. None of this would be happening without ALL of you and the many people who have attended in the past year – I am filled with deep gratitude and THANK YOU!”
Questions about a good or bad death prompted discussions regarding suffering or not suffering, suicide and cancer. Need an advocate to intervene with medical doctors who want to prolong life. Taking care of things in advance so your family knows your wishes – what if they won’t talk about it? Dementia, timing and completion turned to conversation about being at peace with dying. Being surrounded by people I love at the end of life would be comforting and peaceful. The right to die – Compassion & Choices – when will this be legal in Colorado? How many states allow it now and what is the process? How many people actually experience a conscious, pain-free death? Whether they are in a hospice hospital or at home? What about the quality of care in the final days? Then there is sudden death and that is totally different. How are we living? Kindness and spirituality play a role in both life and death. Has anyone had experience working with an autistic child and having the conversation about death? Sometimes the person dying needs “permission” to die, saying that and assuring them that those left behind are going to be OK. Every death is different. The cause of death often determines the family’s emotions and everyone handles it differently.
The next Denver Death Café is Sunday, September 28th from 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
First Universalist Church, 4101 E. Hampden Ave., Denver, CO 80222
(The cross streets are Colorado and Hampden. Plenty of parking and easy to find.)
Please plan to arrive a few minutes early to secure a seat and grab some refreshments.
We will begin promptly at 3:00. No RSVP required.
“Talking about death leads to a good life.”
With Gratitude,
Anita Larson, Facilitator & Celebrant