Hosted by Lorien Gruchalla/Nora Carria

About this Death Cafe

Ballard-Alki Odd Fellows is proud and happy to donate space for the Ballard Death Cafe
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows mission is about mutual aid, compassion, and community care—and Death Cafe aligns beautifully with that tradition. Here's how:

Visiting the Sick
Talking openly about mortality can be a profound act of care for those who are ill or facing end-of-life concerns. Death Cafe offers companionship and listening—echoing the Odd Fellows’ commitment to visiting the sick with empathy and presence.

Relieving the Distressed
Grief, fear of death, and unspoken worries can be heavy burdens. By creating a safe, nonjudgmental space for discussion, Death Cafe relieves distress not by fixing or counseling, but by allowing people to share honestly and feel heard.

Burying the Dead
While Odd Fellows traditionally ensured that members received proper burial, Death Café supports the same spirit of honoring death—by restoring dignity to conversations about dying and breaking the taboo around discussing mortality. It keeps the remembrance and respect for the dead alive in community dialogue.

About Lorien Gruchalla/Nora Carria

Welcome to Ballard Death Café. We gather here to create a safe and compassionate space where people can speak openly about death—free from taboo, judgment, or expectation. In our death-denying culture, these conversations are often avoided, yet they can bring connection, insight, and even relief when shared in community. At Death Café, we are not offering counseling or structured grief support; instead, we invite honest, open-ended dialogue about death, dying, and life itself. Past gatherings have included laughter, tears, and meaningful reflections—all shared over refreshments in the company of others who are curious and willing to explore. Together, we honor the impermanence of life by talking about it directly, creating a sense of clarity, comfort, and connection along the way.

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