KC's Death Cafe helps people talk about dying

Catch up quick: According to the organization's website, Death Cafe began in East London in 2011, and the tea, coffee and snacks have helped keep conversations grounded.

• Today, groups meet around the world, with more than 11,000 Death Cafes listed in the United States.

Zoom in: Kansas City's Death Cafe has been hosted by Kalista Schwartz at Crows Coffee since 2023.

• Schwartz told Axios she began hosting after attending Death Cafes while caring for her grandmother at home near the end of her life.
• "Death Cafe gives a container for this deep and important conversation," she tells Axios. "I found the in-person gathering and insights from real people about death and dying so helpful and encouraging."

How it works: Participants introduce themselves and share what brought them to the table. Topics can range from mortality to burial and cremation options.

• Schwartz says Death Cafe is not a grief group, a counseling session or a place to push religious or spiritual agendas.

💭 Abbey's thought bubble: It's not light conversation, but it is honest. That's rare.

What's next: The next gathering is Jan. 26 from 7pm to 8:15pm at the Waldo Crows Coffee. The event is free and open to anyone interested.

The bottom line: Talking about death does not have to be morbid.