Community Workshops on Mortality, Dying, & Death in Western New York

Befriending Death for a Flourishing Life

Current Topics

  • Think About It. Talk About It. Sounds simple, but it’s certainly not easy - especially when it can feel so awkward or even off limits with loved ones. We will share resources and prepare to talk the talk.

  • Health Care Proxy. Living Will. Do Not Resuscitate. We will review these so that you can think about whether/how they might be right for you.

  • Many of us wonder why our most important relationships are strained. Together, we will explore and practice the art of attentive listening, avoiding our impulses to interrupt or “help.” The gift of our careful attention has the potential to deepen our connections with others.

  • What role does resistance to aging, illness, and death play in our suffering? We will explore this topic with courage and care.

  • How would you live today if you knew it was your last? We will explore this thought experiment and think about what matters most to us.

  • We will explore different traditions’ concepts of the afterlife and reflect on our own.

  • Loving leads to losing, and all of us lucky enough to have loved deeply will carry the unbearable burden of grief at some point, and always ever after. We will explore this difficult and delicate topic with care.

  • While most Americans report that they would prefer to die at home, relatively few do so. What if we felt more confident and capable about caring for our loved ones at home? We will explore this and share resources to support those who are interested in this type of caregiving.

  • It is natural and normal to fear death, yet not all of us do. We will reflect on our personal fears or anxieties and explore perspectives and practices that bring a greater sense of peace.

  • Newer options are coming available for final disposition of our remains like green burial and human composting. We will explore these alongside what we consider “traditional” burial and cremation, and share cost-saving tips for consumers.

  • How do we wish to be remembered? What might we want to shift in our lives now to align more closely with our desired legacy? We will reflect on what is most important to us and share resources for preparing our obituary or legacy project.

  • We’ll explore options for memorials and funerals and reflect on what we might want for ourselves or our loved ones. We’ll also share tips on being a savvy consumer!

  • 5 things that bring peace and soften regret: 1.Forgiveness, 2.Gratitude, 3.Love, 4.Reassurance, 5.Closure. We’ll reflect on how what matters at life’s end might guide us to live fully now.

Interested in upcoming workshops?

Upcoming Events

Interested in us coming to your library, community center, or organization?

Contact Us
Learn More About Our Team

Testimonials

Being with people willing/eager to talk about death and dying is helpful to dealing with the reality of one's own mortality.

~ 68 year old male participant from Snyder, NY

“Each of these sessions have had meaningful areas that have provided me with information, encouragement, more compassion, support and understanding of others who are struggling (or not) with the thoughts of dying or losing a loved one.

Being able to talk together about the presentations and reflect on the different pathways that people have taken in the dying process has shown me that each of us has had life experiences that impact on how we deal with or feel about death.

Every session has left me with thoughts of being a better listener and to give my best to the person I'm caring for.”

~ 70 year old Female Participant from Clarence Center, NY

“An open forum for shared thoughts and experiences on a topic not often openly discussed.”

~ 83 year old female participant from West Seneca, NY

“It’s worth it!”

~ 35 year old female participant from LaSalle in Buffalo, NY

“This presentation was wonderful! I’m looking forward to attending more of the sessions, eventually attending all of them.”

~ 71 year old female participant from Clarence, NY

See Upcoming Workshops

This is not morbid or scary. It is just talking and discussing ideas we have, and thinking about how we would like our life to be wrapped up and honored with dignity and laughter.

~ 71 year old female participant from Clarence, NY

An open forum for shared thoughts and experiences on a topic not often openly discussed.

~ 83 year old female participant from West Seneca

It has been useful hearing others express their personal feelings about death and the facilitator's wonderful ability to set the tone of deeply listening to one another.

~ 82 year old man from East Amherst

“Program is just what's needed, but needs to reach more people. So many who would benefit are those who avoid even thinking about the issues of dependency, disability, death and dying.”

~ 68 year old male from Amherst, NY

“Just try it. You won’t be sorry.”

~ 74 year-old female participant from Depew, NY

Attending the sessions enables me to hear people’s honest feelings. Also, the reminders for the preparation of the end of life (filling legal documents, conversation with family, etc.) are always helpful.

~ 73 year old female participant from Sanborn, NY

Befriending Death for a Flourishing Life

Would you like to feel more at peace with mortality?

Do you feel like you should do more to prepare for end-of-life, but the sea of information is overwhelming?

Do you enjoy getting together in person to share real conversation and connection?

Then join our community session at your local library or senior center!

Free & Open to the Public

Check out our Events page for upcoming sessions and subscribe to our Newsletter to stay informed!

Our Partners

Buffalo & Erie County Public Library logo with green circle and website URL www.BuffaloLib.org.
BNMC logo with colorful geometric design
Questions?

What It Is

  • An opportunity to explore and discuss with others

  • Covers multiple topics

  • Relies on credible, publicly available information

  • Includes self-reflective activities

  • Has a secular approach

  • Respects different religious and spiritual perspectives

  • Welcomes ALL

  • For adults

  • Encourages humor

  • A chance to grow emotional resilience regarding mortality

What It’s Not

  • Does not offer professional advice or counsel

  • Is not therapy or clinical

  • Is not a grief or bereavement support group

  • Offers no religious dogma

  • Is not a place for debate or for evangelism/advocacy

  • Is not people who are seeking to self-harm or harm others

  • Is not morbid or solemn

  • Is not a Death Café (which is relatively unstructured)

  • Is not Death Over Dinner (which gathers one’s own family/circle for conversations)