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Events

Circle of Friends for the Dying actively promotes events that give people the opportunity to explore their feelings about death—such as our monthly Circle of Friends Death Cafés—and to learn about the various issues pertaining to dying, like preparing your end-of-life advance directives or taking advantage of hospice when the time comes.

We feel that knowledge is power, which can bring great relief during a time of powerlessness. We can’t control our dying, but we can explore ways to do it so that the choices available to us become meaningful options.

In the past, CFD has hosted provoking speaking engagements in the Hudson Valley region. We held a day-long seminar at Health Alliance Hospital in Kingston, New York, with Stephen Jenkinson, author of Die Wise and Come of Age among other titles. Jenkinson, also a teacher, a farmer, and an activist in what he calls “the death trade,” spoke of his experiences in Toronto hospitals, where his job was to counsel terminal patients and ease their way to accepting death.

We’ve responded to the interests expressed by Death Café participants by inviting pertinent speakers to present brief talks before each Death Café begins. We’ve hosted Sharon DiCarlo of Hudson Valley Hospice Foundation, Laurie Schwartz (CFD co-founder) who talked about homes for the dying and our project, Circle Home, and Jo Scari, CFD board member, to talk on securing one’s LGBTQ identity in death, among many other fascinating subjects.

And we occasionally throw parties, like the Day of the Dead dance and fundraiser held at BSP in Kingston and Circlestock, a benefit concert and dance, held at The Colony in Woodstock, New York. Let us know how we can contact you when things are happening!

To receive information by email about future events, please sign up here.

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Choices & Wishes: Advance Care Planning Workshop

Zoom

PSA: Choices & Wishes: Advance Care Planning Workshop This Advance Care Planning workshop will provide an overview of the Health Care Proxy, Living Will and MOLST documents and will help you to define your end-of-life wishes regarding medical treatment. To register, please call the Oncology Support Program at 845-339-2071 or email elise.lark@hahv.org

Death Cafe this Tuesday, Jan. 19th

Death Cafe returns to the Hudson Valley for the 69th time for our 9th virtual gathering via the interweb! Last year people from all over the country  joined our virtual death cafe with folks logged in to connect with each other and share their ideas and concerns about dying and death.   Plus, we’ve teamed… Read More »Death Cafe this Tuesday, Jan. 19th

Death Cafe this February!

Death Cafe returns to the Hudson Valley for the 70th time for our 10th virtual gathering via the interweb! Last year people from all over the country  joined our virtual death cafe with folks logged in to connect with each other and share their ideas and concerns about dying and death.   Plus, we’ve teamed… Read More »Death Cafe this February!

Death Cafe this March!

Death Cafe returns to the Hudson Valley for the 71st time for our 11th virtual gathering via the interweb! Last year people from all over the country  joined our virtual death cafe with folks logged in to connect with each other and share their ideas and concerns about dying and death.   Plus, we’ve teamed… Read More »Death Cafe this March!

Peace of Mind for Life – Advance Directives program

Zoom

To highlight the vital importance of making healthcare choices in advance of need, Circle of Friends for the Dying is launching a program for Ulster County residents called “Peace of Mind for Life” on National Healthcare Decisions Day, April 16, 2021. Please register for our free, info-filled Zoom event, 10 am – 12 pm on… Read More »Peace of Mind for Life – Advance Directives program

Free

Death Cafe this April!

Click here to register » Registration in advance is required. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. ABOUT THIS EVENT: Death Cafe returns to the Hudson Valley for the 72nd time for our 12th virtual gathering via the interweb! Last year people from all over the country  joined… Read More »Death Cafe this April!

Death Cafe on Zoom • May 18

Zoom

Click here to register » Registration in advance is required. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. ABOUT THIS EVENT: Death Café returns to the Hudson Valley for the 73rd time for our 13th virtual gathering via the interweb! Last year people from all over the country joined… Read More »Death Cafe on Zoom • May 18

Free

Peace of Mind for Life – Advance Directives program

Zoom

To highlight the vital importance of making healthcare choices in advance of need, Circle of Friends for the Dying launched a program for Ulster County residents called “Peace of Mind for Life” on National Healthcare Decisions Day in April 2021. Please register for our next free, info-filled Zoom event about filling out your Advance Directives,… Read More »Peace of Mind for Life – Advance Directives program

Free