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Orange County Death Cafe AUG 7 2025
August 7, 2025 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Notes from the Orange County Death Café, August 7th 2025
Facilitated by: Anne Weston & Justin Dillree
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
There are now 7 Death Cafés in Durham and Orange Counties:
–Orange County Death Café: 1st Thursday each month, 6:00-8:00pm – Endswell FH, 407 Meadowlands Dr., Hillsborough. Moderator: James McKelvey. Registration at https://endswellfuneralhome.com/news-and-events/.
–Hillsborough Death Café: 2nd Monday each month, 5:45-7:45pm – 903 Eno Street, Hillsborough, facilitated by: Neidra Clark. Register by contacting Neidra at neidra@mindspring.com.
–Death Café Noire: 2nd Saturday each month, 2:00-4:00pm – meeting via Zoom, facilitated by: Traci Hathaway. Contact her at hathaway2b@gmail.com Registration is not needed.
–Daylight Death Café: 3rd Monday each month, 9:30-11:00am – Seymour Center, Chapel Hill, facilitated by John Chase. Register by contacting the Seymour Center front desk at 919-968-2070.
–Orange County Death Café: 3rd Wednesday each month, 6:00-8:00pm – Endswell FH, 407 Meadowlands Dr., Hillsborough. Facilitated by: Sara Williams, Registration at https://endswellfuneralhome.com/news-and-events/.
–Southwest Durham Death Café: 4th Monday each month, 5:30-7:30pm – Southwest Regional Library, Shannon Road, Durham. Facilitated by: Kathy Rudy Ph.D. Registration is not needed.
–LGBTQ+ Death Café: 4th Thursday each month, 1:30-3:00pm – Seymour Center, Chapel Hill. Facilitated by: Tsyr Han Chow. Register by contacting the Seymour Center front desk at 919-968-2070.
–Pagan Death Café: 4th Saturday each month, 4:00pm – 3800 N Roxboro St., Panera Bread
UPCOMING EVENTS:
–Medical Aid In Dying Panel (MAID): August 13, 6:00-7:30pm, Held at the Durham
Main Library, 300 N. Roxboro St. Hosted by: Endswell Funeral Home, Speakers
include: Jay Niver (Final Exit Network), Dr. David Fisher (Duke HomeCare and
Hospice), Ed Tiryakian (Dying Right NC) and Joshua Briscoe (Durham VA
Medical Center). Discussion will cover legal and social topics related to assisted
medical death, the right to choose, and the effects these services can play in an individuals end of life experience. For more information and registration visit:
https://durhamcountylibrary.libcal.com/event/14099662.
–Info. Session & Lunch: August 21st 11:30am-1:00pm, Endswell FH, 407
Meadowlands Dr., Hillsborough. Learn about green funeral options at Endswell Funeral
Home and enjoy some lunch! Reserve your spot at:
https://endswellfuneralhome.com/calendar/information-session-aug-21-2025/.
–Speaker Series: Matt Zemon – Psychedelics for Living & Dying: August 26th 6:30-
8:30pm, Endswell FH, 407 Meadowlands Dr., Hillsborough. Special guest Matt Zeamon
shares what he has learned about psychedelic medicine through personal experience
and scientific research. Matt brings the ideals of purpose, meaning, and connection to
the conversation surrounding end of life experiences. Come join us and learn more
about emerging opportunities in this developing field that can help ease the stress of
death and dying for all. Register at: https://endswellfuneralhome.com/calendar/august-
26-speaker-series-matt-zemon-psychedelics-for-living-and-dying/.
CONVERSATIONS:
–Self-Delivery vs. Legislation: Organizations; The Hemlock Society vs.
Compassion and Choices set the stage for discourse on public policy relevant to
MAID and people’s rights to choose. See upcoming events for details.
–Conservation Cemetery (Heidi & Jeff): Grassland restoration, quiet and open
spaces for reflection and peace, specifically reserved for use as a conservation
cemetery (natural burial). https://www.bluestemcemetery.org/home.html
–Shrouding: Silk saris, family queen sized quilts, and handmade shrouds (must
be silk or wool) will work with aquamation as well as other crematory ceremonies.
Occasionally, shrouding workshops are taught by Veronica Beattie from Endswell
Funeral Home.
–Five Wishes – Specialized Advanced Directive: 1) Medical care agent.
2)Treatment. 3)Comfort care. 4)Wishes to be treated. 5)Want loved ones to
know. Although this directive is designed for ease of use by patients and their
families, it is a legal document requiring notary. https://agingwithdignity.org/five-
wishes/
–F-U-N: First three letters in the world funeral.
–DNR & MOST Forms: Do Not Resuscitate & Medical Orders for Scope of
Treatment forms which explain the patient’s desires regarding resuscitation or
life-prolonging measures in life-compromised situations. These forms should be
kept in a very obvious, visible place, or on the person. These forms are only available at a physicians office, hospital, or healthcare facility, but the NC EMS
website that shows what they look like is here: https://oems.nc.gov/dnr-most/
–Thoughts & Unfinished Threads:
○ Where do we go when we die? Is there a higher form of consciousness, or
do we become cosmic energy and stardust?
○ Do Near Death Experiences offer us a real glimpse into the future? Can
psychics tap into the unknown and connect us with those on the other
side?
BOOKS:
–After (By: Bruce Greyson, M.D. ISBN: 978-1250265869)
–The In-Between: Unforgettable Encounters During Life’s Final Moments (By: Hadley Vlahos, RN ISBN: 978-0593499931)
–Gone From My Sight: The Dying Experience (By: Barbara Karnes RN ISBN: 978- 0962160318)
–Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory (By: Caitlin Doughty ISBN: 978-0393245950)
–From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death (By: Caitlin Doughty ISBN: 978-0393249903)
LINKS:
–Crestone End of Life Project (CEOLP): Non-Denominational offering end of life
options (open pyre). More info: LINK