Talking About Death
Welcome!
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 led our 2023 series called Death Doula Days.
We will now offer a new service we call The Transition Tea Room. This resource library and meeting space in the cemetery gatehouse will allow the public to come meet our Death Doula In Residence to talk about mortality, advance care planning, legacy projects, and end-of-life decisions. On the menu are activities like writing your own obituary, learning about the dying process, and even playing card games about death with other visitors.
Laura coordinates our now monthly Death Cafes held in the chapel on 1st Thursdays of the month. See the calendar for details and feel free to contact her with any questions.
Upcoming Death Literacy
Activities
Transition Tea Room
April 28 @ 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Visit the new Transition Tea Room during office hours on Sundays from 10am to 4pm, by appointment. Morning appointments are individual opportunities to meet with the Death Doula in Residence, and afternoon appointments are shared with other visitors. Work on projects, research options, explore ideas, read, play deathy card games: join us!
Big Chair gathering: meet the artists
May 3 @ 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Join us as we gather to introduce the newest Message of Hope painting on the cemetery's famous Big Chair. This informal gathering at 2:30pm on [...]
Silent Book Club of Death
May 11 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Like book clubs, but want to read your own book? Want to reflect on your mortality in the company of polite bookworms? Looking for an anti-social social club, where you can meet people then politely ignore them? Catherine, the Death Project Manager, and leader of the Silent Book Club of Death worldwide, will be welcomed by our Death Doula in Residence.
Transition Tea Room
May 19 @ 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Visit the new Transition Tea Room during office hours on Sundays from 10am to 4pm, by appointment. Morning appointments are individual opportunities to meet with the Death Doula in Residence, and afternoon appointments are shared with other visitors. Work on projects, research options, explore ideas, read, play deathy card games: join us!
