A MOTHER-of-two is inviting people to a cafe where the sole topic of conversation will be death.

Former palliative care nurse Naomi Wood said the Death Cafe event in Thirsk would create an informal environment for the community – rather than a medical or religious setting – to come together and reclaim the subject of mortality.

She said no aspect of death, such as suicide, would be taboo at the free drop-in event, and there would be no set agenda.

SheIt is hopes the event, which will feature a Mexican-style skull cake, will create an relaxed atmosphere for in which people to can share ideas, questions, rituals, ideas and fears to highlight a range of views about death and dying.

Ms Wood said: “It is a heart-warming opportunity to talk death and dying and can be quite life-affirming.”

Since 2011, the non-profit Death Cafe movement – a concept to increase awareness of death to help people make the most of their lives – has rapidly spread across Europe, North America and Australasia, with more than 1,300 events being held.

Naomi said while the first event will be held at the Quaker Meeting House, Kirkgate, on November 27, from 7pm to 9pm, many numerous cafes in the town had indicated they’d be interested in hosting future meetings.

She said people who attend Death Cafes could include family members of terminally-ill patients, or those who have received a diagnosis or people who have had a bereavement, and topics could feature the song you would like at your funeral, or how would you like to be remembered.

Naomi, a dinner lady at Sowerby Community Primary School, said she had been inspired to organise the Thirsk event as she wanted to carry on with the connections she made with patients while nursing.