23.10.2024
Dalkey Parish Holds Cafe to Help People Talk About Death
“Talking about death won’t kill you.” So says the Rector of St Patrick’s Parish Dalkey, the Revd Ruth Elmes who will facilitate her Dublin parish’s first Death Café on Friday November 8 at 7.30pm.
A Death Café is a group directed discussion on death with no agenda, objectives or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counselling session. There are no ‘’experts’’ at a Death Café. People gather in a café type setting, eat cake and enjoy café–type drinks and discuss death. The objective is to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives.
‘This event is an opportunity to speak of what is often the unspeakable – being in a space to leave your affairs in order to help your loved ones in planning and working on your behalf,” Ruth explains.
“I find that those who know the wishes of a loved one will cope better in the initial stages of loss,” she adds. “Would your nearest and dearest know who your solicitor is? Where will a will be found? What music and readings you would like if you wished for a church funeral or better still, what you definitely wouldn’t like. If you wanted a retiring collection in aid of the Church of the Spaghetti Monster or the parish? – I would recommend the parish obviously. The Death Café will have templates to make this all easier and all your family needs to know is where to find it.”
This event is open to all and starts at 7.30pm on November 8. People are invited to bring friends and family for a different night out. Booking ensures enough tea, coffee and cake availability as well enough chairs to sit on to enjoy it. Questions are welcome and encouraged in advance of the event but of course they may be asked on the night. Ruth has organised a friendly undertaker who will be present to answer questions.
“There are no ‘silly’ questions,” she emphasises. “Believe it or not. This is an event that incurs much laughter and merriment as a different than the norm for a night out.”
Book your spot on November 8 at 7.30pm by contacting the parish office on 01–2845941 or through email Dalkeyparish@gmail.com . The event is free but donations will be taken for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.
General Info: Death Café
At a Death Café people, often strangers, gather to eat cake, enjoy café–type drinks and discuss death.
The objective is ‘to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives.
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 counselling session. There are no ‘’experts’’ at a Death Café, therefore no guest speakers etc.