In 2014, when I started Love Your Life to Death I had no idea what I was doing!
So I reached out to people who were creating a culture of change around death and diffusing the fear. One of those people was Jon Underwood, who started the Death Café movement in 2011. I thought to myself, “What the heck is a Death Café? So I read up on it, was intrigued and realized, it was amazing! A Death Café is a group directed discussion about death, with no agenda, objectives or themes. They are also respectful and inclusive. The purpose is to increase awareness of death with a view on making the most of our finite lives. And eat cake too! Jon gave up his job and he gave his heart and soul and was so passionate starting this movement. There have now been Death Cafes in over 50 countries and more than 10,000 people have gathered to discuss death so they could live their lives fully. I’ve hosted a few Death Cafes myself and they were incredible with inspiring and empowering conversations. So it is with a heavy heart, I share that Jon Underwood died in June 2017 at the age of 44. I was stunned and shed many tears. He leaves behind a beautiful wife and two young children. The Death Café legacy will live on forever and continue to help so many people. I take this opportunity to say thank you to Jon, for starting this incredible movement. My book, Love Your Life to Death is a resource on the Death Café website. I am proudly going to donate $5.00 per book ordered from this site/my website, to help the Death Café movement carry on. They have also started a fundraiser for his family. Jon left his job and used his savings to bring this to the world. This is a great way to give back. I’m going to do my part. I encourage everyone to check out the website and even to host your own Death Café. It’s just a conversation with coffee, tea and cake! Thank you, Jon Underwood, for your selfless gift. I send love to your family, friends and following. I promise to continue to do everything I can to bring death out of the darkness and into our conversations and to diffuse the fear. You have left a legacy of love and I will be forever grateful. www.deathcafe.com
4 Comments
Claudette
8/4/2017 09:50:43 am
Touching..Beautifuo..thank yiunYvonne xo
Reply
Yvonne
8/4/2017 12:22:46 pm
xxxooo
Reply
Margaret Ann Gendreau
8/4/2017 12:18:13 pm
I am so sorry to be reading this. Thank you for your wonderful words Yvonne.
Reply
Yvonne
8/4/2017 12:25:36 pm
It really is heartbreaking and sadly ironic! And you are wise and wonderful, Margaret Ann! You certainly could live many more years, but I believe we should have these conversations throughout life anyway! You are giving your children a priceless gift! xo
Reply
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Yvonne Heath is Canada's Proactive Living Consultant. She is a Speaker, Television Host, Award Winning Author Guest Blogs
Best Selling Author & Coach Ann McIndoo's Blog Yvonne's Guest Blog Life and Death Matters Archives
April 2023
Categories |