Senior Market Advisor editor Daniel D. Williams spoke with Kristine Bentz, facilitator of The Friendly and Fearless Tucson Death Café in Tucson, Ariz., to get her thoughts on death and the taboo surrounding the topic.
Williams: You've mentioned before how messy death is, but what do you mean by that comment?
Bentz: I brought it up because from what I witness serving families as well as in my personal experience, death "churns the water" physically, emotionally, financially, socially, spiritually — it is often messy on quite a few figurative and literal levels. The more we can be open and clear about our wishes surrounding dying, death and after-death arrangements, there is a proportionate increase of ability to navigate the mess.
Williams: You mentioned that some people are scared to talk about death because they think that talking about it will make it
happen.
Bentz: One thing people are constantly noting during cafés is how much ease exists in the conversation with strangers. Talking about death with people who don't want us to die is harder. But mortality is really a buzz kill if you think you're going to live forever.
