Pine River Library is one of many groups in 79 countries across the world that host Death Cafés. A Death Café is a time and place where people come to share food, drink tea or coffee, and discuss death openly and honestly. The aim is to increase awareness about death in order to help people make the most of their (finite) lives. There is never an intention of leading participants to any conclusion, product or course of action. A Death Café is not a bereavement support or grief counseling setting, nor is it a place to give people information about death and dying. It is not for people who, for whatever reason, are unwilling to discuss the subject of death comfortably and openly. Interesting conversations are guaranteed!

These gatherings are facilitated by Juanita Melendez, a former hospice volunteer and avid death researcher.