Death cafes on the rise in Colorado

May 8, 2014
Does sitting around talking about death over coffee and cake with a bunch of strangers sound a little macabre? It turns out that some Coloradans are doing just that at gatherings known as death cafes. 
Death cafes are open to everyone and any topic that has to do with death is fair game. Topics range from funeral planning and documentation to discussions about what happens when you die. The idea started in East London a few years ago and has since spread around the world.  
Photo: Death Cafe Anita Larson(Photo: Courtesy of Anita Larson)
Anita Larson organizes and hosts death cafes in Denver.
The conversations are non-denominational. People come for different and personal reasons, but often it's because they feel like they don't have anyone else to talk to about these issues. Larson says even professionals say they have no one to talk with about death. 
Photo: Death Cafe group(Photo: Courtesy of Anita Larson)
People talk about topics surround death and dying during a death cafe held at Heflebower Funeral Services in Highlands Ranch.
Death cafes are slated later in May in Denver and Evergreen. Death cafes have also been held in Colorado Springs, Cherry Creek and Boulder.