'Death Cafe' to Stir Understanding of Mortality in Cuyahoga Falls

"Death Cafe."

Sounds morbid, right? Well, not exactly, according to co-organizer Bob Pontius, of the Death Cafe, Akron Chapter. 

First off, the Death Cafe is not intended to lead participants toward any particular conclusion, religion, product or course of action, wrote Pontius in a recent Patch event post. 

Rather, the concept is to provide people of all ages with a place to explore, explain and examine death's aspects from the biological realities to spiritual realms.

Pontius explains the end mission is to respectfully break through the taboo topic and increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their finite lives.

The movement is relatively new in the United States, but has been popular for years in Europe, according to fox8.com.

Here's what else they are:

• They function on a not-for-profit basis, though to be sustainable, chapters try to cover expenses through donations and fundraising.

• Death Cafes are open to the public and are meant to be confidential. 

• They're not designed to be a bereavement or grief support group.

• They do not serve as a replacement for professional counseling programs.

• While the subject matter and topics may be therapeutic for some, this effect is not the primary intention. This is partly in an effort to sustain Death Cafes as comfortable, relaxed and openly exploratory spaces, as well as to respect continuity of existing bereavement resources.