Sepulveda Unitarian Universalist Society

We welcome you to our Death Cafe. It is a respectful space where you can feel comfortable sharing your questions, curiosity, fears, beliefs, and stories about any / all aspects of death, grief, mourning, bereavement. We have learned that there is often lots of laughter, as well as a few tears. We will start in May and meet bimonthly for 1.5 hours. During the sessions we will try writing, maybe delivering eulogies, writing living wills, consider burial options, cremation, video remembrances, create a song list for your memorial service, and so much more. This isn’t morbid or sad, it is a mature way to look at the dual reality of our living and having to die.

Our options for each session are only limited by our collective imaginations. We can use this gathering as a way of considering all of our lives past the midpoint extending towards our ultimate reality.

Below, Rev Gordon has listed some conversation starters:

• What does it mean to you to leave a legacy?
• What is your favorite joke or funny story about death?
• Where would you like to be when you die?
• What things make for a good death?
• How would you like to be remembered?
• What song would you like at your funeral?
• Describe what a “peaceful” death would be for you.
• Do you plan cremation or burial or donation or some other option? If cremation, what are your plans for the ashes?
• Do you believe in something after death?
• Recognizing dying and death will happen to you, what does it mean to live your life every day?
• If you had a choice, how would you choose to die?
• What would be a perfect phrase on your tombstone?
• What do you want to be remembered for? What will you be remembered for?
• How do you prepare for death and dying?
• How would you be of support to a dying friend?
• What rites, ceremonies, music, food, or program do you want at your memorial service?
• What do you say to a friend who is facing death? What do you do?
• What is a “dignified” death? What is an “undignified” death?
• What would be your final request(s)? Of whom?
• Have you ever seen a person take their last breath? How did that impact you?
• What is “dying”? What is death?
• What is the number one item on your bucket list?
• What do we learn from death?
• What will you miss most in dying?

Please rsvp to Rev Gordon to attend.