About us
The Houston Death Collaborative meetup is a place for those curious about becoming “death-positive”!
What started in 2012 as a group primarily for hosting Death Cafes has expanded. We are a hub for activities in Houston that normalize talking about death and dying and foster the humanity behind our mortality.
In addition to organizing monthly Death Cafes across greater Houston, we also host other events for anyone who wishes to engage in conversations about death, and connect with others while doing so.
Upcoming events
7
Central Houston’s Monthly Death Cafe — come to talk about death, dying, and life
McGovern-Stella Link Neighborhood Library, 7405 Stella Link Rd, Houston, TX, USTalking about death won’t kill you, so come along to a death cafe!
What in the world is a Death Cafe? Simply put, it is a place where people, often strangers, gather to eat treats and discuss death.
Our objective is 'to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives'.
Houston’s Central Death Cafe is part of the larger international social franchise movement of Death Cafes. We welcome all, members old and new.
A Death Cafe features a group-directed discussion of death with no preset agenda, objectives or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counseling session, and not affiliated with any specific faith or belief system.I want to talk about death! What should I expect?
Welcome!
We are meeting this month at the McGovern-Stella Link Neighborhood Library.
We will be in the private Meeting Room -- there will be a small paper sign with the Death Cafe logo on the door.- Doors open at 10:45am
- The group discussion starts at 11:15am and will wrap up by 1:00pm
- There is no obligation to stay for the entire discussion; you are free to come and go as you wish
- Feel welcome to stay and mingle after the group discussion, the room is ours until 1:30pm
There will be light snacks and beverages available.
If you have specific dietary requirements or preferences, you are more than welcome to bring something to suit those needs -- our library room allows food.FAQs
- What exactly happens at a Death Cafe? I have no idea what to expect!
This article from the LA Times is a great description of what it's like to attend a Death Cafe. Give it a read! https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2024-06-12/death-cafes-los-angeles-grieving-discussion-group
You can find even more details at deathcafe.com.
- How do I find the meeting room?
Enter through the library door. Continue straight, past the checkout desk. If you turn left, the meeting room door is immediately opposite the checkout desk.
Any difficulty, ask the library staff how to find the Death Cafe!- What is the parking situation?
The McGovern-Stella Link Library luckily has a very large parking lot with ample spaces, including accessible and handicapped spots.
7 attendees
*UNHOSTED* From Breath to Breath: Celebrating Life and Death
Unity of Houston-Pyramid, 2929 Unity Drive, Houston, TX, TX, US✨✨This is an unhosted event we wanted to pass along to the Death Collaborative community✨✨
Facilitated by Sarah Gish
Suggested Love Offering $10 at the door
Join us for a special event in the Unity Pyramid created by artist Sarah Gish, whose show is currently on view in the Unity Art Gallery.
This community celebration of life and death provides space for deep contemplation, connection with others, self-caring, and joyful living. The gathering includes music, activities, a labyrinth walk, meditation, energy healing, poetry, and art.
The facilitated World Labyrinth Day Walk for Healing Broken Hearts begins at 1 pm. The Last Breath discussion includes a death doula, a funeral home director, a medium, and a grief counselor.
In addition to the scheduled events, self-guided activities will include art- making inspired by Val Kilmer (one of the subjects in the show), prompts from quotes for paired discussions, hand-held labyrinths for finger walking, writing your life story and more. The labyrinth will be available for self-guided walking all afternoon.
In addition, a massage therapist, Reiki Master, and energy healer will be on hand for celebrating life. Other resources include an attorney who specializes in end-of-life documents and resources for navigating grief and loss.
The event will close out with a 30-minute live harp performance and bubblesEvent Schedule:
- 11:30 am-12:30 pm: BYOL (bring your own lunch), a time to connect and share meal time together
- 12-12:30 pm: improv poetry performance by Ugochi Emenaha
- 12:30-1 pm: opening of self-directed activities
- 1-2 pm: World Labyrinth Day Walk on Healing Broken Hearts with Cathy Whitman-Ingram
- 2-3 pm: The Last Breath discussion about death with Amber Ramirez (death doula), Melanie Harrell (past life regression facilitator), and ClayDippel (funeral director at Bradshaw-Carter Memorial & Funeral Services).
- 3-3:30 pm: Dance performance “The Cycle of Birth, Life, Death, and Beyond” by Sky Shotwell
- 4-4:30 pm: Harp performance by Emily Klein
- 4:30-4:45 pm: bubble meditation by Tracie Jae
- 11:30 am-5 pm: the pyramid will have areas for people to enjoy community and activities such as massage, reiki, art-making, writing your life story, paired conversations with prompts, and information on end-of-life documents.
- 11:30 am-5 pm: the Art Gallery will be open for viewing Sarah’s Fotofest Participating Spaces show titled Ignite Your Life: Honoring the Deceased
Sarah Gish is an artist, writer, and teacher who ignites and connects people with her artwork and her events. Her FotoFest photography show in the Art Gallery – titled IGNITE YOUR LIFE! Honoring the Deceased – has been inspiring events to explore and heal from grief, and to discover new ways to connect to oneself.
MORE INFORMATION AT THIS LINK:
https://unityhouston.org/event/from-breath-to-breath-celebrating-life-and-death/3 attendees
Downtown Death Salon — a Happy Hour For Talking About Death! (21+)
notsuoH, 314 S. Main St, Houston, TX, US✨What is a Death Salon?
A Death Salon is meant to be a low-pressure, social way to engage with death alongside people from all walks of life. Instead of one big group discussion, Death Salons focus on smaller conversations and mingling in relaxed, welcoming spaces.If you’re familiar with the Death Café model:
- A Death Café is a group-directed discussion of death, with no set agenda or theme. The goal is to increase awareness of death to help people make the most of their finite lives.
- A Death Salon is its more informal cousin: still open to everyone, but structured around social connection and one-on-one conversation rather than a single group discussion.
Both share the same spirit: death isn’t just the end, it’s a part of life, and talking about it can make life richer.
Who is a Death Salon for?
If you're going to die someday, Death Salon is for you — as long as you’re 21 or older. Because our venue this month is a bar, all attendees must be 21+.Whether you’re deeply curious about mortality, just enjoy big conversations with strangers, or simply want an unusual way to spend a night out, this space is for you. All perspectives and levels of comfort are welcome.
What to expect
- Unstructured conversations — no set agenda, just free-flowing talk about death, dying, and life. We will have some conversation cards available for inspiration.
- A laid-back, 21+ happy hour vibe — you don’t need to drink alcohol, but a purchase from the bar is required to use the space.
- Small group or one-on-one chats — perfect if big group discussions aren’t your style.
- An open, respectful space for curiosity and connection.
What a Death Salon is NOT:
❌Not a grief support group — while grief may come up, this isn’t structured as counseling or therapy.
❌Not a space for advice-giving — everyone’s experience of death and life is different, and we’re here to share, not fix.
❌Not a heavy, somber event — sure, we’re talking about death, but there’s room for humor and lightness.
❌Not networking or dating — please come with openness to conversation, not ulterior motives.Logistics
Meetup spot: The 2nd floor Mezzanine- How to find us: Take the staircase near the bar up to the mezzanine — it’s the first space you’ll see. Look for the signs and a plush raven ⬛ on a table. You can’t miss us!
Cost: This event is free to attend, but a purchase from the bar is required to access the 2nd-floor space. This helps us support our hosting venue.
Parking: Street parking is free downtown after 6pm. We recommend Franklin St. for the best chance at spots, just a short walk from notsuoH.❓FAQs
“What happens at a Death Salon? I have no idea what to expect.”
Perfect — neither do we! Every conversation is unique. The goal is simply to connect and talk about the thing we all have in common: mortality.
“Do I have to drink?”
Nope! You’re welcome to order a soda or anything non-alcoholic. Just please support our host bar with a purchase.
“I get nervous in groups. Can I still come?”
Absolutely. Many attendees prefer one-on-one conversations, and this space is designed to allow for that.Disclaimers & Guidelines
- This event is 21+ only — no exceptions.
- Please use discretion when meeting/talking with ANY member of our group. We don’t recommend sharing personal info, rideshares, or other contact details with people you don’t know well.
- Do not attend if you’re feeling sick.
- This is not a therapy group or grief support — just a space for open, curious conversation.
7 attendees
Past events
207
