Death Cafe
A space for people to gather and talk about death
A Death Cafe is an occasion where people drink tea, eat cake, and discuss death. They started in the UK in 2011 and are growing in popularity. The purpose is to normalize talking about death, but I’ve observed that conversations about death are actually conversations about life!
What it is: A facilitated conversation in a respectful, confidential space that has no agenda or goal. Participants are free to share stories, thoughts, perspectives, poems – anything on the broad topic of death.
What it is not: It is not a bereavement support or grief counseling session. It is not educational or for sharing information or resources.
There are also Death Cafes offered by the Portland Public Library.
