Death Café

Jim Van Buskirk of San Francisco will facilitate two presentations of his Death Café to discuss end-of-life issues at the Congregational Church of the Peninsula after worship at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, June 16, and from 1:30-3 p.m. Thursday, June 20. The church is located at 751 Alameda de las Pulgas, Belmont. At a Death Cafe people, often strangers, gather to eat cake, drink coffee or tea and discuss death and end-of-life issues. The objective is “to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their lives.” It's 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. “It can be fun!” Van Buskirk said. “Death Cafes are often filled with laughter. The stories the participants bring are inspiring and energizing, not macabre or depressing. “And the demographics defy expectations as well, with ages ranging from the 20-somethings to octogenarians. Often it is Baby Boomers dealing with end-of-life issues for their parents.” The first Death Cafe was held by Swiss sociologist and anthropologist Bernard Crettaz in Neuchatel, Switz., in 2004. In September 2011, Jon Underwood and Sue Barsky Reid held a Death Cafe in London. The social franchise quickly spread across Europe, North America and Australasia, and thousands of gatherings have occurred. Among the possible wide-ranging topics are religious or cultural customs, existential fears, burial options, cremation dispersal, home funerals, and living wills. More information is available at deathcafe.com. “Jim Van Buskirk is a widely recognized expert,” Rev. Jim Mitulski, pastor of CCP, said, “and he has offered the Death Café experience at public libraries and many organizations since 2017. I know people will enjoy working with him as I have. “I first met Jim almost 25 years ago when he was my boss at the San Francisco Public library, where he directed the James Hormel Center. “Some people don’t like to talk about death; others are eager for an opportunity to talk about it plainly. We welcome you to CCP’s Death Cafe. It will be a respectful space where you can feel comfortable sharing your questions, curiosity, fears, beliefs and stories about any and all aspects of death, grief, mourning and bereavement.” The event is open to the public.

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