What is a Death Café Anyway?

By Krista Manuel

Let me tell you a little bit about a Death Café; then I will get to the why of it.

“’A Death Café’ is a group directed discussion of death with no agenda, objectives or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counseling session.” — deathcafe.com

At a death café individuals gather to drink tea or coffee, eat cake and talk death. Death cafés are offered on a not-for-profit basis, in accessible, respectful and confidential spaces. There is never intent to lead people to any conclusion, product or course of action. We simply get together and talk about death.

The death café model was developed by Jon Underwood and Sue Barsky Reid, based upon the ideas of Bernard Crettaz. Bernard Crettaz is a Swiss sociologist and anthropologist who organized the first ‘café mortel’ in 2004. His aim was to break the “tyrannical secrecy” surrounding the topic of death. Jon Underwood then took this idea to London stating that “we have lost control of one of the most significant events we ever have to face.” Jon’s first event was in 2011 in his home.

Death cafés have spread quickly across Europe, North America and Australia. As of today there have been 2.750 death Cafés recorded.

Facilitators of death cafés have stated a strong need to open the topic of death in order to enable individuals to live fully.

There are people who are keen to talk about death and as a practitioner of Death Midwifery I am passionate enough about the reclamation of death in our culture to bring the first death café to Revelstoke! With Revelstoke Hospice Society as a strong sponsor and supporter I hope to continue offering death café events regularly at Sangha Bean.

So, please join us to eat, drink coffee and talk about death!

Make sure you set aside the date. Thursday, Feb 25, 6:30 p.m. at Sangha Bean, 111 Connaught Ave. Direct any question to Krista at 250-814-0080.