In a world where we often avoid talking about death, Death Cafés offer something refreshingly human: a safe, welcoming space to gather, drink tea (or wine), eat cake, and talk about the one thing we all share — the fact that we will die.

Most of us don’t like to think about becoming seriously ill or dying. It’s uncomfortable, even frightening. But something powerful happens when we take the time to talk about what matters most to us - before we reach a point where we can't.

That’s where Advance Care Planning comes in.

In generations past, death was a communal event. It happened at home, surrounded by family. The body was cared for by loving hands. Neighbours brought meals. Children asked questions. Elders shared stories. Death, while never easy, was woven into the rhythm of life.

But in recent decades, something changed. As medicine advanced and institutions grew, dying gradually shifted out of the home and into hospitals, aged care facilities, and funeral homes. What was once intimate and shared became clinical and hidden. Death disappeared from our everyday lives—and with it, our comfort in talking about it.