Death Cafe

18/06/2026

Let's talk about death!

What's on your mind at the moment?

24/05/2026

The BBC recently published this article about being a death doula.

Is this something you would consider?

Death doulas or soul midwives have increased in popularity in recent years. What do they do?

23/04/2026

Great to see Death Cafe being mentioned in this content from BBC Radio 4 - We're about 3 minutes in!

Let us know what you think!

Matthew Bannister looks at the changing nature of the way we memorialise our dead.

17/04/2026

UPDATE 2 - Thank you again! Your kindness is truly inspiring. Although this fundraiser has closed - you can support us with ongoing costs via our patreon

https://www.patreon.com/deathcafe

We know cost of living is high so we are truly grateful for every penny donated!

UPDATE - We’ve been absolutely overwhelmed by your response to this request. As we quickly hit the fundraising target, and we don’t want to accept more donations than are needed at this time, the page has been paused.

Thank you so much for your generosity! We are truly grateful!

Can you help Death Cafe?

Hello, I’m Frank — Jon Underwood’s son.

I’m sharing this alongside a photo of me and my dad, who founded Death Cafe in 2011. He passed away in 2017, but what he started has continued to grow, thanks to my aunty Jools, a dedicated global community, and all of you.

Today, I help look after the Death Cafe website and support the work in his memory.

Some of you may remember that, together, we previously raised funds to protect the Death Cafe trademark. I’m incredibly grateful for that support — it’s helped preserve the spirit and integrity of what Death Cafe stands for.

I’m reaching out again because we’ve hit an unexpected step in that process. We currently need to raise £400 to cover additional legal fees related to the U.S. trademark application.

This involves responding to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, with support from both UK and U.S. trademark attorneys — an essential step to keep things moving forward.

Death Cafe exists to create safe, open, agenda-free spaces where people can come together to talk about death and dying — something often avoided, but so important if we’re to make the most of our finite lives.

Protecting the name helps ensure it continues to be used in that same spirit.

We’ve come a long way already, but this stage has brought costs we couldn’t have predicted when the last fundraiser was set up. £400 will cover what’s needed right now.

If Death Cafe has meant something to you — or if you believe in the importance of open, honest conversations about death — we’d really appreciate your support.

Every donation, no matter how small, truly helps.

https://gofund.me/b4e26c82d

Thank you for reading, for sharing, and for being part of this community ❤️

With gratitude,
Frank
(on behalf of Death Cafe)

11/03/2026

When we create spaces for people to talk openly about death, dying, and grief, we know these conversations can be powerful—but also challenging.

What do you personally find most difficult when having conversations about death?

Is it:
• People’s fear or avoidance of the topic?
• Managing strong emotions in the room?
• Cultural or family differences around death?
• Your own feelings that come up during the conversation?
• Something else entirely?

22/02/2026

Funeral music can be deeply personal — even the *Jaws* theme has been played at a funeral ceremony.

What’s the strangest funeral tune you’ve heard or would consider?

An annual report has highlighted some quirky funeral songs, among them... the ominous ‘Jaws’ theme.

16/02/2026

Tomorrow is Tết!

While many see Lunar New Year as just a party, in Vietnam, it’s a beautiful, sacred reunion between the living and the dead. 🌸

In Vietnamese culture, death isn't an end, but a transition. During Tết, the "veil" thins:

The Invitation: Families light incense to officially invite ancestral spirits back home. For three days, the deceased "join" every meal, with favorite dishes placed on the altar first.

Grave Tending (Tảo Mộ): Before the holiday, families clean and "wake up" the graves of loved ones, ensuring they aren't forgotten in the transition to spring.

Afterlife Care: People burn paper "offerings" (money, clothes) to ensure their ancestors have everything they need in the spirit world.

The takeaway? No one is truly gone as long as there is a place set for them at the table. 🕯️

How do you keep a "seat at the table" for your loved ones during big milestones?

12/02/2026

Volunteers / Support Needed

A journalist from the Daily Express is looking to speak with Death Cafe attendees to learn more about your experiences and your conversations about death.

If you’d be willing to share your thoughts and help raise awareness of Death Cafe, please contact her directly:

Aditii Rane

📧 [email protected]

Thank you in advance!

09/02/2026

Death Cafe is a safe space to talk about death.

So let's chat! What’s been sitting with you lately around loss, dying, or mortality?

06/02/2026

🎉 10 YEARS OF DEATH CAFE MALLORCA! 🎉

Huge congratulations to everyone at Death Cafe Mallorca — what an incredible achievement.

✨ 10 years of holding space
☕ 260 Death Cafes facilitated
💻 120 online
🌍 English & Spanish
👥 Over 4,500 people part of these powerful conversations on death!

Amazing work!

Thank you to Glynis German for sharing!