Part of a global movement, the Death Café encourages open conversations about death over coffee and cake, with the aim of fostering awareness and acceptance of mortality.
The first official Death Café in Sarnia will take place on Sunday, May 25, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at BackHome Coffee, 112 Christina St. S., across from the post office.
The event is sponsored by the Unitarian Fellowship of Sarnia and Port Huron and is part of a global initiative aimed at encouraging open conversation about death.
Participants are invited to gather in a relaxed setting to drink coffee or tea, share cake, and talk about death. There is no agenda, no religious messaging, and no promotion of products or services. A facilitator will guide the discussion.
“The purpose is to create greater awareness and acceptance of death as a natural inevitability in order to help people to overcome any fears and to make the most of their finite lives,” organizers said in a release.
“I am fortunate to have been able to come to terms with the reality of my mortality, but many people avoid thinking about death and never discuss it,” added organizer Allan McKeown. “I hope that the Death Café will enable them to become comfortable asking questions and learning from others. Good coffee and respectful conversations are what is offered.”
The Death Café model began in England in 2011, created by the late Jon Underwood. Since then, nearly 21,000 gatherings have been held in more than 90 countries.
There is no cost to attend, but those interested are encouraged to pre-register by emailing [email protected]. Organizers hope the Sarnia event will become a regular offering.
More information is available at deathcafe.com.
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