Plan a Death Dinner

Following the advent of a program called “Let’s Have Dinnerand Talk About Death,” more people are gathering to talk about issues in deathand dying that few like to acknowledge. The program was started by a group of master’s degree students andfaculty at the University of Washington and offers talking points, readingmaterial concerning death, and tips on wording death dinner invitations.  About 400 people have already signed up tohost dinners since last month.

Talking about death may seem taboo to some, but discussingit with your family or friends can help avoid unnecessary suffering at the endof life as well as common conflicts arising after death. 

Voicing your final wishes may also inspire some much-neededestate planning.  About 30 percent of those over 65 currently don’t have awill and around 70 percent of adults don’t have a living will. 

See ShannonPettypiece, Death Dinners at Baby Boomers’Tables Take on Dying Taboo, Yahoo! Finance, Sept. 24, 2013.

Special thanks to Melissa J. Willms (Davis &Willms, PLLC) for bringing this practice to my attention.