Congressional Cemetery is committed to offering activities and resources that promote a healthy attitude about mortality. Throughout the year we invite speakers, gather for conversations, offer documentary screenings, and do activities about dying and death. It is our goal to promote a spirit of curiosity and courage and often a sense of humor about this important topic.
We even have a “Death Doula In Residence” to help facilitate these activities. Laura Lyster-Mensh is a passionate volunteer for Congressional Cemetery who coordinates death education activities and meets with those interested in talking about mortality and how to “accept, talk about, and plan for death.”
See the calendar for details and feel free to contact her at DeathDoula@congressionalcemetery.org with any questions.
We welcome you to join us at one of our monthly Death Cafes at Historic [...]
Congressional Cemetery will host a candle lighting on December 10 as part of The Compassionate Friends 27th Worldwide Candle Lighting. Compassionate Friends is an international organization dedicated to "supporting family after a child has died."
Death Cafe is a global movement to encourage discussion about the often-taboo subject of death. These are intimate informal gatherings where we discuss death while eating cake and drinking tea to remind us of comfort and sweetness even in difficult times.
Death Cafe is a global movement to encourage discussion about the often-taboo subject of death. These are intimate informal gatherings where we discuss death while eating cake and drinking tea to remind us of comfort and sweetness even in difficult times.
News & Past Events
August 2024
March 2023
What is a Death Doula?
Death Doulas, or “end of life doulas,” are trained, non-clinical supporters of dying people and their families. Death doulas offer support with telling one’s life story, planning for death, and vigil at the end of life.
Death Doula Days
Congressional Cemetery hosted visitors for Death Doula Days on Saturdays mornings throughout 2023 with a weekly rotating slate of different death positive programs, activities, and discussions.
Death Awareness at Congressional Cemetery
- The Washington Post – Dying can be a taboo topic. Enter the death doula.
- WTOP News – Death doula brings life lessons to Congressional Cemetery with new class
- Axios D.C. – Congressional Cemetery’s Death Doula helped me write my obituary
- The Hip Senior Podcast – “A Death Doula’s Journey to Spread ‘Death Positivity’”
- City Cast D.C. – “Meet D.C.’s Death Doula”
- The Hill is Home – The To Do List: Week of January 6, 2023
- Go Ask Ali – “It’s Time to Talk About Death w/ Doulas Valoria Walker & Laura Lyster-Mensh”
- HillRag – Meet Death Doula Laura Lyster-Mensh: Death Positivity Comes to Congressional Cemetery
- Other People’s Pockets – Laura Lyster-Mensh, Death Doula
- The Washington Post – At the Congressional Cemetery Death Cafe, life often winds up on the menu
- Interdisciplinary Podcast – “Living ‘Death Days’ at the Cemetery”
- District Fray Magazine – D.C. Death Cafes: Getting Cozy with Mortality
- Healthnews – A Guide to Dying: We Talked to 3 Death Doulas
Make an Appointment
There are no remaining appointments with Laura in 2024. Check back in 2025 for an update on how to book an appointment with Laura
