Funeral and Memorialization Planning 101
2023-06-05 18:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York)
Courtesy of Amanda King

Some of the hardest—yet most important—conversations we’ll have during our lifetimes are about end-of-life planning. While this topic may seem daunting or scary, being prepared is one of the best ways to care for and protect those you love. Let us help you give your family peace of mind, while alleviating the stress and burden by planning before the time of need.

At this presentation, New York State licensed funeral directors and members of the Green-Wood staff will share all that you need to know to get started on planning your own funeral, or that of a loved one.

Price: Free. Registration required.

Get Tickets

In-Person Event(see details below)

It’s an evening of death education like no other. We will talk about how to prepare for death as we indulge in life’s small pleasures (sandwiches and drinks) in our Modern Chapel.

We’ll cover such questions as, “what do I need to know to bring to the funeral home to get my end-of-life plans started?” “what forms of memorialization are offered at the Cemetery?” and “what should I know about the professionals that will be helping me?”

Free. Registration required. Please consider a donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

BEFORE RESERVING YOUR SPOT, PLEASE NOTE:

COVID-19 Policy: In accordance with New York State and CDC guidance, masks are optional. Attendees must follow ALL instructions and guidance from Cemetery staff and ambassadors.

Where to go: Contactless check-in will take place at the Modern Chapel.

A Day in the Life of a Death Positive Thought Leader
2023-06-06 18:00 - 19:00
Credit: Jothan Cashero

Ever wonder what it’s like to live alongside death on a daily basis? What inspires someone to work in the death-care field? Green-Wood’s “A Day in the Life” series brings together industry professionals for lively conversations on the intricacies of their trade and to answer your burning questions about the field of end-of-life care.

This evening, we’ll be joined by an all-star panel of movers and shakers in the death care industry: Melissa Meadow, Amber Carvaly, and Sandra Baker.

Price: Free. Registration required.

Get Tickets

Virtual Program (see details below)

Each of their work has served as a conversation catalyst for the changing landscape of death care, providing thought-provoking topics for those both in and outside of the field.

About the panelists:

Melissa Meadow, also known as the “Modern Mortician” is a licensed funeral director and (non-practicing) embalmer who has been in the death care field since 1996. She is one of five professionals pioneering the first not-for-profit Funeral Home and Conservation Burial Park for People and Pets with The End Foundation.

Amber Carvaly has been a licensed funeral director for almost a decade. With Caitlin Doughty, she co-founded and ran Undertaking LA, a mortuary in Los Angeles, where she found herself teaching Kim Kardashian how to do makeup for the dead. As a culinary grief educator, Carvaly now runs Mortician in the Kitchen which focuses on the role food can play in grief.

Sandra Baker is a licensed funeral director, a founder at The End Foundation, and an advocate for end-of-life options.

Free. Registration required. Please consider a donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

Grief in our Hands: Interacting with Loss through Art
2023-06-12 18:00 - 19:30
Credit: Brianna L. Hernández

In this interactive workshop, artist and death doula Brianna L. Hernández will share about the role of grief in her creative practice and guide participants to create a work of their own. The evening begins with Brianna discussing ways that art can be an engaging tool for understanding and coming to terms with the inevitable. After, participants will reflect on their own experience with loss by creating memorial artworks through guided prompts, and support from Hernández.

Price: Free. Registration required.

Get Tickets

In-Person Event(see details below)

Whether honoring a loved one or contemplating one’s own life, this workshop will provide space to express grief unique to each participant.

Attendees are encouraged to bring a personal memento related to their grief (images on a phone work just fine!) and to wear comfortable clothing that is okay to get a little messy. Not artistically inclined or you just don’t consider yourself creative? Don’t worry! This workshop is about the process, not the final product. Supplies (paint and canvas) will be provided, but you are encouraged to bring your own sketchbooks, clay, etc.

Brianna L. Hernández is a Chicana artist, curator, educator, and death doula guided by socially engaged practices. In developing as an artist Hernández credits her late mother, Sylvia D. Hernández, as her most significant mentor. In the studio, Hernández focuses on end-of-life care, grieving processes, and mourning rituals based on lived experience, cultural research, and collaborations with peers. As a curator, she works with artists to make socially-charged topics publicly accessible in order to create opportunities for education and empathy. Hernández proudly serves as Director of Curation and Board Secretary of Ma’s House & BIPOC Art Studio on the Shinnecock Indian Reservation, and as Assistant Curator at the Parrish Art Museum.

Free. Registration required. Please consider a donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

BEFORE RESERVING YOUR SPOT, PLEASE NOTE:

COVID-19 Policy: In accordance with New York State and CDC guidance, masks are optional. Attendees must follow ALL instructions and guidance from Cemetery staff and ambassadors.

Where to go: Contactless check-in will take place at the Modern Chapel.

Art and Preservation: An Artist Talk with Rowan Renee
2023-07-10 18:30 - 20:00
Credit: Maria Baranova

Artist Rowan Renee will be joined in conversation with Neela Wickremesinghe, Green-Wood’s Robert A. and Elizabeth Rohn Jeffe Director of Restoration and Preservation, to discuss the role of preservation and archival research in memorializing queer histories and narratives.

This discussion is presented in conjunction with The Perimeter Path, an immersive installation currently on view in the Historic Chapel. Through extensive onsite research into the public burial lots around the Cemetery’s perimeter and the meticulous crafting of works in marble and glass, Renee investigates how race and class influence memorialization.

Price: Free. Registration required.

Get Tickets

In-Person Event(see details below)

Historically, public lots at Green-Wood offered more affordable burial sites for the working class and poor. Many are located near the Cemetery’s perimeter, where land was seen as less valuable because of its proximity to city streets. In a historic site like Green-Wood, known for its stunning and elaborate Victorian era monuments, Renee shifts visitors’ focus to the erasures and absences in the landscape that point to societal and systemic patterns of inequity.

Free. Registration required. Please consider a donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

BEFORE RESERVING YOUR SPOT, PLEASE NOTE:

COVID-19 Policy: In accordance with New York State and CDC guidance, masks are optional. Attendees must follow ALL instructions and guidance from Cemetery staff and ambassadors.

Where to go: Contactless check-in will take place at the Modern Chapel.

To the Perimeter: A Walking Tour with Rowan Renee
2023-07-23 10:00 - 12:00, 2023-09-03 10:00 - 12:00
Artist Rowan Renee will lead a walking tour that begins in the Historic Chapel to experience The Perimeter Path before setting out on foot to explore the Cemetery’s grounds and visit the public lots referenced in the installation.

The Perimeter Path is an immersive installation currently on view in the Historic Chapel. Through extensive onsite research into the public burial lots around the Cemetery’s perimeter and the meticulous crafting of works in marble and glass, Renee investigates how race and class influence memorialization.

Price: Free. Registration required.

Get Tickets

In-Person Event(see details below)

Historically, public lots at Green-Wood offered more affordable burial sites for the working class and poor. Many are located near the Cemetery’s perimeter, where land was seen as less valuable because of its proximity to city streets. In a historic site like Green-Wood, known for its stunning and elaborate Victorian era monuments, Renee shifts visitors’ focus to the erasures and absences in the landscape that point to societal and systemic patterns of inequity.

Free. Registration required. Please consider a donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

BEFORE RESERVING YOUR SPOT, PLEASE NOTE:

For your Safety: This is a long walking tour that goes over hilly and uneven terrain, appropriate attire and footwear is recommended.

COVID-19 Policy: In accordance with New York State and CDC guidance, masks are optional. Attendees must follow ALL instructions and guidance from Cemetery staff and ambassadors.

Where to go: Contactless check-in will take place at the Modern Chapel.

A Day in the Life of a Post-Mortem Restorative Specialist
2023-07-29 15:30 - 16:45
Courtesy of Amanda King

Ever wonder what it’s like to live alongside death on a daily basis? What inspires someone to work in the death-care field? Green-Wood’s “A Day in the Life” series brings together industry professionals for lively conversations on the intricacies of their trade and to answer your burning questions about the field of end-of-life care.

Everyday, we look in the mirror and prepare ourselves, but who will we trust for our final reflection of our personal physical identity when our time comes?

Price: Free. Registration required.

Get Tickets

In-Person Event(see details below)

This evening, we explore another facet of the funerary world with embalmer, funeral director, and professional educator, Amanda King.

As a post-mortem restorative specialist, it’s King’s job to restore the appearance of a body to what that person looked like in life to ensure a more peaceful goodbye for their loved ones. She’ll share the various restorative techniques she uses and how she manages to achieve a natural appearance, despite a variety of ways a person may die, including “traumatic deaths.” We’ll take a look at up-close examples of Amanda’s work and afterwards, we’ll have an engaging Q & A session—so bring your curiosity and questions!

Amanda Marie Eilis King, CFSP, is a licensed embalmer and funeral director with extensive training in postmortem reconstructive work. She is also an educator who specializes in and teaches reconstructive work and cosmetic application. Currently she is a funeral director and embalmer for B.C. Bailey Funeral Home in CT, does freelance work as AMEK Graphics, and is an embalming specialist with Frigid Fluid Company. You can contact her by email at amanda@baileycares.com or on Instagram @amek_graphics.

Free. Registration required. Please consider a donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

BEFORE RESERVING YOUR SPOT, PLEASE NOTE:

COVID-19 Policy: In accordance with New York State and CDC guidance, masks are optional. Attendees must follow ALL instructions and guidance from Cemetery staff and ambassadors.

Where to go: Contactless check-in will take place at the Modern Chapel.

Death Cafe
2023-09-12 18:30 - 20:00
The Death Cafe is a simple concept. Bring strangers together to discuss one of the great universal truths: death. With thousands of chapters in over 25 countries around the world, Death Cafes are informal gatherings that aim to “increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their lives.” There is no set agenda, but small group conversations might include thoughts on burial and cremation versus water cremation and natural organic reduction, what music you want played at your funeral, the way death is depicted in literature and film, or a personal experience you had dealing with grief.

Price: Free. Registration required.

Get Tickets

In-Person Event(see details below)

Taking place in the Cemetery’s Modern Chapel, Gabrielle Gatto, Green-Wood’s coordinator of public programs and a death doula who holds a certificate in thanatology, invites you to share their thoughts, anxieties, hopes, and questions about death. It’s an opportunity for safe and open exchanges—along with tea and pastries!

In remembrance of the 22nd anniversary of 9/11, we will reserve space in this meeting to reflect on the particular branch of grief that finds its roots in tragedy. Green-Wood is the final resting place of many victims of 9/11; we will honor them with a reflection at the beginning of the program.

Free. Registration required. Please consider a donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

BEFORE RESERVING YOUR SPOT, PLEASE NOTE:

Attendees must follow ALL instructions and guidance from Cemetery staff and ambassadors.

Tickets: There is no need to print tickets. Attendees will be checked in by name.

Where to go: Contactless check-in will take place at the Modern Chapel near the Main Entrance at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street (500 25th Street).

Death, Grief, & Music with Ghost Stories Podcast & The Bad Light
2023-10-12 18:30 - 22:00
Join the captivating hosts of the Ghost Stories podcast, Sashka Rothchild and Dr. Victoria Sterkin, along with The Bad Light—a band destined to perform in a cemetery—for an unforgettable musical experience ruminating on death, dying, grief, and the creative process. Set in Green-Wood’s Historic Chapel, the band will play through their latest album, GOODBYE. Rothchild and Sterkin will take pause between songs and engage the audience in reflection and conversation, inviting us to explore the profound aspects of life’s inevitable end.

Price: $35, and $30 for members

Get Tickets

In-Person Event(see details below)

About The Bad Light

Born out of a garage in Santa Cruz, CA circa 2009, The Bad Light has grown, morphed and matured into a vessel for its members to explore, write and perform their own style of music. With its soul deeply rooted in Americana, the body of The Bad Light lives in Blues soaked psychedelic rock, with Edu Cerro on guitar/vocals, Dana Shepard on drums, Chloë Menkes-Coffee on vocals and multi instrumentalist Hiram Coffee in the current line up, the band is exploring new spaces for the songs from its new album “GOODBYE” which was written as a tribute to Celeste Deruisa, a former band mate who passed away from cancer in 2020. To learn more about their album GOODBYE, visit their website here.

About Ghost Stories

Sashka Rothchild and Dr. Victoria Sterkin have been friends in life and death for many years, and most recently partners on their podcast, Ghost Stories, which explores the quantum entanglement between our world and other realms. Rothchild is currently focused on producing media at the intersection of art, creativity, grief, and loss in Brooklyn and Sterkin is a behavioral analyst focused on the intersection of psychology and mycology in California.

Before Purchasing A Ticket, Please Note:

Refunds and exchanges: Ticket sales are final. No exchanges or refunds unless the event is canceled.

Where To Go: Check-in begins at 6:00pm and takes place at the Main Entrance on Fifth Avenue and 25th Street (500 25th Street). The band will start at 7pm.

Tickets: There is no need to print tickets! Attendees will be checked in by name.

For Your Safety: We strongly encourage attendees to wear suitable footwear and dress appropriately for the space.

Reminder: The only entrance and exit for the night will be the Main Entrance on Fifth Avenue and 25th Street.

Not a Member?

Click here for all of our membership levels and information.

Already a Member?

Click the gray tickets button to activate the Eventbrite pop-up, then click Enter promo code. Type in your ID number and apply your discount.

Questions?

Don’t know your Member ID number? Not sure which ticket or membership type to order? Call 718-210-3080 or email contactus@green-wood.com with any questions.

Death Cafe in Spanish
2023-10-23 18:00 - 19:30
El Café de la Muerte en Español

The Death Cafe is inspired by the centuries-old European salon (or cafe), an informal gathering to discuss philosophical, political or scientific ideas. In 2011, British entrepreneur Jon Underwood applied this concept to discussions of the most universal topic of all: death. Underwood’s intention was to provide an opportunity to “increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their lives.” Today, there are over 4,400 Death Cafes in 26 countries around the world.

Price: Free. Registration required.

Get Tickets

In-Person Event(see details below)

Green-Wood is proud to host this gathering of the Death Cafe in Spanish. Lorena Kourousias of Mixteca invites participants to share their thoughts and feelings on death through drawing, meditation, and safe and open exchanges.

Free. Registration required. Please consider a $10 donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

El Café de la Muerte (Death Café) está inspirado del antiguo salón (o café) europeo, una reunión informal para discutir ideas filosóficas, políticas o científicas. En 2011, el empresario británico Jon Underwood aplicó este concepto a las discusiones sobre el tema más universal de todos: la muerte. La intención de Underwood era ofrecer la oportunidad de “aumentar la conciencia sobre la muerte con el fin de ayudar a las personas a aprovechar al máximo sus vidas”. Hoy en día, hay más de 4.400 Death Cafés en 26 países de todo el mundo.

Green-Wood se enorgullece de organizar esta reunión en español del Café de la Muerte. Artista y educadora Lorena Kourousias (Mixteca) invita a los participantes a compartir sus pensamientos y sentimientos sobre la muerte a través del dibujo, la meditación y los intercambios seguros y abiertos.

Free. Registration required. Please consider a $10 donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

BEFORE RESERVING YOUR SPOT, PLEASE NOTE:

Attendees must follow ALL instructions and guidance from Cemetery staff and ambassadors.

Tickets: There is no need to print tickets. Attendees will be checked in by name.

Where to go: Contactless check-in will take place at the Modern Chapel near the Main Entrance at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street (500 25th Street).

Live After Death: Ben Wasserman
2023-10-26 19:00 - 20:15, 2023-10-26 21:15 - 22:30
Within the span of three years, comedian Ben Wasserman lost his dad, granddad, uncle, and four friends. In his new show Live After Death, Wasserman blends comedy, clowning, and crowd work as he leads the audience on a hilarious yet moving journey through grief, honoring and celebrating the ones we’ve lost along the way. Expect vulnerable conversation, juggling, some dancing—it’s part catharsis, part circus…total chaos!

Price: $50, and $45 for members

Buy Tickets

In-Person Event(see details below)

Live After Death has been featured and recommended by NPR, The New York Times (twice), Huffington Post, and Time Out NY, among others.

Join us for the end, dare we say “death,” of Live After Death, as Wasserman closes out this tour in Green-Wood’s iconic Catacombs. Closed to the public except for select performances, comedy greets us in this hallowed hall, celebrating the one time of year when death is on all our minds—in the most playful of ways.

Ben Wasserman is a comedian based in New York City. He has appeared in the Brooklyn Comedy Festival, New York Comedy Festival, and NY/Philly/Burlington Fringe Festivals. His work and shows have been featured by The New York Times, VICE, Paste Magazine, Vulture, Comedy Central, Buzzfeed, and Time Out.

Before Purchasing A Ticket, Please Note:

All attendees must be 18 or older: IDs will be checked.

Refunds and exchanges: Ticket sales are final. No exchanges or refunds unless the event is canceled.

Where To Go: Check-in takes place at the Gothic Arch at the Main Entrance on Fifth Avenue and 25th Street (500 25th Street). Doors open at 6:30pm for the 7pm show and 8:45pm for the 9:15pm show.

Tickets: There is no need to print tickets! Attendees will be checked in by name.

For Your Safety: We strongly encourage attendees to wear suitable footwear and dress appropriately for the space as it can be chillier inside the Catacombs than outside. The trolley will transport attendees to and from the Catacombs.

Reminder: The only entrance and exit for the night will be the Main Entrance on Fifth Avenue and 25th Street.

Not a Member?

Click here for all of our membership levels and information.

Already a Member?

Click the gray tickets button to activate the Eventbrite pop-up, then click Enter promo code. Type in your ID number and apply your discount.

Questions?

Don’t know your Member ID number? Not sure which ticket or membership type to order? Call 718-210-3080 or email contactus@green-wood.com with any questions.

Day of the Dead Family Celebration
2023-11-01 15:30 - 19:00
Discover the rich history and traditions associated with the holiday Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) through family-friendly crafts, performances, music, activities, and food. PROGRAM IN ENGLISHPROGRAMA EN ESPAÑOL

Celebrated throughout Latin America from October 31st to November 2nd, this holiday is a time for family and friends to commemorate departed loved ones through prayer, altars, music, and dance.

Price: Free. Registration recommended to receive event updates.

Get Tickets

In-Person Event(see details below)

Price: Free. Registration recommended to receive updates about the event. Walk-ins are welcomed. No admittance after 5:30pm.

Please consider a $10 donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

BEFORE RESERVING YOUR SPOT, PLEASE NOTE:

COVID-19 Policy: In accordance with CDC, and New York State and City guidance, masks are optional. Attendees must follow ALL instructions and guidance from Cemetery staff and ambassadors.

Where to go: The event takes place near the Modern Chapel located just a short distance from the Main Entrance at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street (500 25th Street). Please arrive before 5:30pm. No admittance after 5:30pm.

For Your Safety: Parts of this event will take place over grassy terrain. Attendees are strongly encouraged to wear appropriate shoes.

A Little More About Safety: Follow ALL instructions and guidance from Cemetery staff and ambassadors.

Inclement Weather Policy: We monitor the weather throughout the day for the best chance of proceeding with the event and will not make a final decision until at least 3 hours before the start time. Cancellations will be announced via Eventbrite email blasts, so check your email and spam folders.

Grief Artlab Workshop + Daffodil Bulb Plantings
2023-11-04 13:00 - 15:00
For centuries, the ritual burning of paper items as offerings to the dead has been an integral part of Chinese funerary culture. Inspired by this age-old tradition, artist Mary Ting leads a workshop centering on grief and creative expression.

Participants are invited to write letters to, share stories of, and craft paper objects for their deceased loved ones. Afterwards, we’ll bury these items beneath daffodil bulbs at the Cemetery as a way to practice ritual and engage, on a physical level, with our grief.

Price: Free, registration required

Get Tickets

In-Person Event(see details below)

Mary Ting is an artist, researcher, and adjunct associate professor at John Jay College in both the art department and the environmental justice program. Grief Artlab, which originated in 2012, is ongoing and part of Ting’s 2022-2023 Social Practice CUNY faculty fellowship.

Grief Artlab is partially supported by a grant from Social Practice CUNY, an Andrew W. Mellon Foundation-supported initiative.

Free. Registration required. Please consider a $10 donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

Before Reserving Your Spot, Please Note:

Attendees must follow ALL instructions and guidance from Cemetery staff and ambassadors.

Attendees are encouraged to wear comfortable, outdoor appropriate clothing.

Tickets: There is no need to print tickets. Attendees will be checked in by name.

Where to go: Contactless check-in will take place at the gate at the Sunset Park Entrance on 35th Street and Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn.

Not a Member?

Click here for all of our membership levels and information.

Already a Member?

Click the gray tickets button to activate the Eventbrite pop-up, then click Enter promo code. Type in your ID number and apply your discount.

Questions?

Don’t know your Member ID number? Not sure which ticket or membership type to order? Call 718-210-3080 or email contactus@green-wood.com with any questions.

The Joy of Funerals—20 Years Later: A Book Talk and Signing With Alix Strauss
2023-11-06 18:00 - 19:30
Described by the Los Angeles Times as “part ‘Six Feet Under,’ part ‘Sex and the City,’” The Joy Of Funerals by Alix Strauss has become a cult classic since its publication in 2003. Now, twenty years later, on the occasion of the novel’s rerelease, Strauss joins us at Green-Wood for a reading, discussion, Q&A, and book signing. Books will be available for purchase.

The Joy of Funerals is a collection of stories that explores the lives of nine young women, each willing to take drastic measures to fill the voids created by longing and loneliness. The stories are anchored around the character of Nina, a lonely, single thirty-something woman who attends funerals in the hope of connecting with others.

Written with raw wit, mordant humor, and a uniquely penetrating voice, Strauss turns the spotlight on the unattractive subjects of loss, grief, and loneliness. The Joy of Funerals is a smart, vivid and arresting look into the inner world of those left behind, and those still holding on.

Price: Free, registration required

Get Tickets

In-Person Event(see details below)

Alix Strauss is a trend, culture, and lifestyle journalist; an award-winning, four-time published author; and a speaker. She is a frequent contributor to the New York Times, among other publications, having written over 1500 articles over the past 25-years. Her books include: The Joy of Funerals (St. Martin’s Press & Palagram Press), Based Upon Availability (Harper Collins), and Death Becomes Them: Unearthing the Suicides of the Brilliant, the Famous and the Notorious (Harper Collins). She is also the editor of Have I Got a Guy for You (Simon & Schuster), an anthology of mother-coordinated dating horror stories. She lives in Manhattan. You can connect with Alix at www.alixstrauss.com or @alixstrauss.

Free. Registration required. Please consider a $10 donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

Before Reserving Your Spot, Please Note:

Attendees must follow ALL instructions and guidance from Cemetery staff and ambassadors.

Tickets: There is no need to print tickets. Attendees will be checked in by name.

Where to go: Contactless check-in will take place at the Modern Chapel near the Main Entrance at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street (500 25th Street).

Not a Member?

Click here for all of our membership levels and information.

Already a Member?

Click the gray tickets button to activate the Eventbrite pop-up, then click Enter promo code. Type in your ID number and apply your discount.

Questions?

Don’t know your Member ID number? Not sure which ticket or membership type to order? Call 718-210-3080 or email contactus@green-wood.com with any questions.

Día de los Muertos: An Artist Talk with Cinthya Santos-Briones
2023-11-09 18:30 - 20:00
Artist, educator, and cultural organizer Cinthya Santos-Briones will discuss the inspiration for her installation, Mictlán, a large-scale community ofrenda in celebration of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). On view in Green-Wood’s Historic Chapel, the altar draws inspiration from both ancient and modern conceptions of death in Mexico.

Price: Free. Registration required.

Get Tickets

In-Person Event(see details below)

The title, Mictlán, refers to an underworld of Aztec mythology where souls of the departed spend eternity. Cinthya will be joined in conversation with Elena Ketelsen Gonzalez, an Assistant Curator at MoMA PS1, where she works with artists, activists, and organizations to create programs and exhibitions.

This talk will take place in the Modern Chapel. There will be an opportunity afterward to visit and contribute to the ofrenda in the Historic Chapel.

Santos-Briones is a visual artist, educator, and cultural organizer with indigenous Nahua roots based in New York. Her photography has been published in The New York Times, Vogue, Buzzfeed, The Intercept, The New Yorker, and The Nation Magazine, among others. Mictlán is her first large-scale installation. To learn more about her work and current projects, click here.

Free. Registration required. Please consider a donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

BEFORE RESERVING YOUR SPOT, PLEASE NOTE:

Attendees must follow ALL instructions and guidance from Cemetery staff and ambassadors.

Where to go: Contactless check-in will take place at the Modern Chapel near the Main Entrance at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street (500 25th Street).

Sacred Passage Passport: Rituals From Around The World
2023-11-14 18:00 - 19:30
With nearly 8 billion people on Earth—that’s 8 billion different perspectives on death, each influenced by the regional and cultural norms embedded in those individuals’ daily lives.

What can we learn from these diverse perspectives? How can we broaden our outlook beyond the limitations of American customs?

Journey around the globe with us as we explore funerary customs and rituals from 195 countries. Some of these may sound familiar—like casket dancers in Ghana or paid mourners in Italy—but do you know how or why these rituals started?

Price: Free. Registration required.

Get Tickets

In-Person Event(see details below)

In this introduction to global perspectives on death, we’ll touch upon facts from as many countries and cultures as we can in the hope that it sparks your curiosity and opens you to new perspectives on how we care for the dead.

Research completed by Sarah Posey and Gabrielle Gatto.

Free. Registration required. Please consider a $10 donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

BEFORE RESERVING YOUR SPOT, PLEASE NOTE:

Attendees must follow ALL instructions and guidance from Cemetery staff and ambassadors.

Tickets: There is no need to print tickets. Attendees will be checked in by name.

Where to go: Contactless check-in will take place at the Modern Chapel near the Main Entrance at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street (500 25th Street).

Cremation: History and Modern Process
2023-11-16 18:00 - 19:00
This sweeping review of the history of cremation will take us from humankind’s earliest known cremation—in Australia over 32 thousand years ago—to its impact on modern funeral practices. Along the way, Joan of Arc, Walt Whitman, Mahatma Gandhi, and Whitney Houston will all make appearances in this engaging, lively talk led by funeral director Amy Cunningham in Green-Wood’s Modern Chapel. Afterwards, Gabrielle Gatto, Green-Wood’s coordinator of public programs, will lead a tour of the Cemetery’s crematory retorts to explain how cremation happens today, and the evolution of machinery and process.

Price: Free. Registration required.

Get Tickets

In-Person Event(see details below)

Free. Registration required. Please consider a $10 donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

BEFORE RESERVING YOUR SPOT, PLEASE NOTE:

Attendees must follow ALL instructions and guidance from Cemetery staff and ambassadors.

Tickets: There is no need to print tickets. Attendees will be checked in by name.

Where to go: Contactless check-in will take place at the Modern Chapel near the Main Entrance at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street (500 25th Street).

Death Cafe
2023-12-07 18:15 - 19:45
The Death Cafe is a simple concept. Bring strangers together to discuss one of the great universal truths: death. With thousands of chapters in over 26 countries around the world, Death Cafes are informal gatherings that aim to “increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their lives.” There is no set agenda, but small group conversations might include thoughts on burial versus cremation, green burials, what music you want played at your funeral, or a personal experience you had dealing with grief.

Price: Free. Registration required.

Get Tickets

Virtual EventA Zoom link will be in your confirmation email upon registration.

In this virtual version of the popular program, Gabrielle Gatto, Green-Wood’s coordinator of public programs who holds a certificate in Thanatology, invites you to share your thoughts, anxieties, hopes, and questions about death. It’s an opportunity for safe and open exchanges over Zoom.

Free. Registration required. Please consider a $10 donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year. A Zoom link will be in your confirmation email upon registration.

Feeling Tones: Pop-Up Video Installation
2023-12-10 11:00 - 16:00
Multimedia artist Leigh Davis has thought a lot about death and dying. Now, she’s thinking about what comes next—in the afterlife. In her new video series Feeling Tones, Davis explores how we construct our beliefs about human consciousness and a possible afterlife. She focuses on how abstraction, imagery, and non-linear narrative help us process discomfort and imagine decisions based on assumptions about our lives and deaths.

Price: Free. No registration required.

In-Person Event(see details below)

Following the screening, at 4pm, please join Leigh Davis for an artist talk in conversation with Dr. Harry Weil, Green-Wood’s director of education and public programs. Click here to register.

Leigh Davis is an interdisciplinary artist and educator. Her work explores grief, memory, and storytelling—how these universal experiences help define what it means to be human. Trained as a photographer, her work now ranges across media, from sculpture and installation to sound, performance, and video. Davis has shown work at Open Source Gallery (Brooklyn), BRIC (Brooklyn), EFA Project Space (New York), Oliver Art Center at CCA (Oakland), and MICA (Baltimore). In fall 2020, Davis presented Vigil, a site-specific sound installation in Green-Wood’s Historic Chapel.

Free. No registration required. Please consider a $10 donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

PLEASE NOTE:

Attendees must follow ALL instructions and guidance from Cemetery staff and ambassadors.

Registration is not necessary. All are welcome to view the films throughout the day.

Where to go: Films will be on view in the Modern Chapel near the Main Entrance at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street (500 25th Street).

Feeling Tones: Artist Talk with Leigh Davis
2023-12-10 16:00 - 17:30
Multimedia artist Leigh Davis has thought a lot about death and dying. Now, she’s thinking about what comes next: the afterlife. In her new video series Feeling Tones, Davis explores how we construct our beliefs about human consciousness and a possible afterlife. She focuses on how abstraction, imagery, and non-linear narratives help us process discomfort and imagine decisions based on our own lives and deaths. Joined in conversation with Dr. Harry Weil, Green-Wood’s vice president of education and public programs, Davis will share about the work’s intention to create and transfer visceral, instinctual, humorous, and sensory knowledge around death.

Price: Free. Registration required.

Get Tickets

In-Person Event(see details below)

Feeling Tones will be on view in the Modern Chapel from 11am-4pm on Sunday, December 10th, for you to experience before the artist talk.

Leigh Davis is an interdisciplinary artist and educator. Her work explores grief, memory, and storytelling—how these universal experiences help define what it means to be human. Trained as a photographer, her work now ranges across media, from sculpture and installation to sound, performance, and video. Davis has shown work at Open Source Gallery (Brooklyn), BRIC (Brooklyn), EFA Project Space (New York), Oliver Art Center at CCA (Oakland), and MICA (Baltimore). In fall 2020, Davis presented Vigil, a site-specific sound installation in Green-Wood’s Historic Chapel.

Free. Registration required. Please consider a $10 donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

BEFORE RESERVING YOUR SPOT, PLEASE NOTE:

Attendees must follow ALL instructions and guidance from Cemetery staff and ambassadors.

Tickets: There is no need to print tickets. Attendees will be checked in by name.

Where to go: Contactless check-in will take place at the Modern Chapel near the Main Entrance at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street (500 25th Street).

Things that Matter: Holiday Edition
2023-12-14 18:00 - 19:30
Things that Matter (formerly known as Show & Tale) with Martie McNabb is like Antiques Roadshow but with storytelling, or a Death Cafe turned Pinterest board. Everyone is welcome to join in—just bring an object of your choosing and share your story about loss. No judges, no prizes, no pressure. And no need to practice! Just want to come and listen? Awesome! Observers are always welcome.

At this edition of Things that Matter, we’re focusing on the items, people, and stories that have made the year-end holidays a special time for us.

Price: Free. Registration required.

Get Tickets

Virtual EventA Zoom link will be in your confirmation email upon registration.

Did you inherit your aunt’s ornament collection? How about that wool scarf your grandmother made? Do you still get tipsy off that old family eggnog recipe? Bring a piece of your personal holiday or winter history and share how it’s influenced your story.

Some ideas to inspire you: Christmas and Chanukah gifts, cold-weather garments, household decorations, holiday recipes… any objects that connect you to the season! Martie McNabb is a personal historian and artist who creates visual narratives from client’s photo, document, and memorabilia archives. She’s also an interactive story-sharing heartist who helps people create connections by holding space for them to share the stories about the things they keep.

Free. Registration required. Please consider a $10 donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year. A Zoom link will be in your confirmation email upon registration.

Grieving & Weaving: Resolutions and Renewal
2024-01-10 18:30 - 20:30
There is something cathartic about working with yarn—a solace to be found in methodically creating patterns and textures with your own hands. Join Green-Wood Death Educator Gabrielle R. Gatto and artist Mary Pat Klein as they bring together creativity and contemplation with an evening of knitting and crocheting.

For the January meeting of Grieving & Weaving, our theme is resolutions, fresh starts, and renewal.

Price: Free. Registration required.

Get Tickets

In-Person Event(see details below)

We’ll explore ways we can inspire one another with new project ideas, discussing our personal and collective craft goals for the year ahead. We will delve into the significance of tactile and kinesthetic healing modalities and how knitting and crocheting can be integrated into your grief journey.

All skill levels are welcome, from beginners to experts! Mary Pat will lead a tutorial for newcomers in both knitting and crocheting, while those at intermediate and expert levels are encouraged to bring their ongoing projects. Feel free to bring your own yarn, needles, and hooks; some materials will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Mary Pat Klein is a highly skilled and renowned yarn craftsperson. Her knit creations have graced television screens, print ads, and Broadway stages. Her works have been featured on The Today Show and Guiding Light, as well as Broadway productions including Frozen, A View From a Bridge, Present Laughter, and the stage adaptation of Mrs. Doubtfire, for which she crafted the iconic blue sweater. Collaborating closely with Tony Award-winning costume designers, Mary Pat has custom crafted blankets, sweaters, hats, throw pillows, and an array of unique items.

Free. Registration required. Please consider a $10 donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

BEFORE RESERVING YOUR SPOT, PLEASE NOTE:

Attendees must follow ALL instructions and guidance from Cemetery staff and ambassadors.

Tickets: There is no need to print tickets. Attendees will be checked in by name.

Where to go: Contactless check-in will take place at the Modern Chapel near the Main Entrance at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street (500 25th Street).

Civic Solidarity: Conversations on Death & Society
2024-01-28 14:00 - 15:30
Join us for an open forum on the past, present, and future of socially and environmentally sustainable memorialization and burial in New York City. This event is sponsored by the New York Community Trust and presented by Columbia University DeathLAB and The Green-Wood Cemetery.

We invite you to share your thoughts, hopes, and questions about disposition and memorialization, both personal and societal.

Price: Free. Registration required.

Get Tickets

In-Person Event(see details below)

Following a brief presentation on urban American disposition practices, we will open the conversation to our guests to discuss the future of memorialization and burial in New York City. The program will be co-hosted by DeathLAB associates and Gabrielle Gatto, Green-Wood’s coordinator of public programs and a death doula who holds a certificate in thanatology.

Free. Registration required. Please consider a $10 donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

BEFORE RESERVING YOUR SPOT, PLEASE NOTE:

Attendees must follow ALL instructions and guidance from Cemetery staff and ambassadors.

Tickets: There is no need to print tickets. Attendees will be checked in by name.

Where to go: Contactless check-in will take place at the Modern Chapel near the Main Entrance at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street (500 25th Street).

Death Cafe
2024-01-31 18:15 - 19:45
The Death Cafe is a simple concept. Bring strangers together to discuss one of the great universal truths: death. With thousands of chapters in over 26 countries around the world, Death Cafes are informal gatherings that aim to “increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their lives.” There is no set agenda, but small group conversations might include thoughts on burial versus cremation, green burials, what music you want played at your funeral, or a personal experience you had dealing with grief.

Price: Free. Registration required.

Get Tickets

In-Person Event(see details below)

Taking place in the Cemetery’s Modern Chapel, Gabrielle Gatto, Green-Wood’s coordinator of public programs and a death doula who holds a certificate in thanatology, invites you to share their thoughts, anxieties, hopes, and questions about death. It’s an opportunity for safe and open exchanges—along with tea and pastries!

Free. Registration required. Please consider a $10 donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

Things That Matter: Tails, Paws, Beaks, & Claws
2024-02-05 18:15 - 19:45
Our beloved pets are as much a part of the family as any human, and the grief that follows their deaths can hold more weight than we anticipated. As dogs, cats, parakeets, gerbils, lizards, and goldfish have shorter lives, loving and caring for them in both youth and old age can be transformational in our own relationships with death, teaching us important lessons about how to find meaning in life.

At this edition of Things that Matter, we’re focusing on the furry, scaly, and feathered friends who bring so much joy to our lives.

Price: Free. Registration required.

Get Tickets

Virtual EventA Zoom link will be in your confirmation email upon registration.

We invite you to join us and share the stories of your pets through those objects that you hold dear. You can bring collars and leashes, photographs, favorite toys and blankets, or any object that reminds you of your pet.

Things that Matter (formerly known as Show & Tale) with Martie McNabb is like Antiques Roadshow but with storytelling, or a Death Cafe turned Pinterest board. Everyone is welcome to join in—just bring an object of your choosing and share your story about loss. No judges, no prizes, no pressure. And no need to practice! Just want to come and listen? Awesome! Observers are always welcome.

Martie McNabb is a personal historian and artist who creates visual narratives from client’s photo, document, and memorabilia archives. She’s also an interactive story-sharing heartist who helps people create connections by holding space for them to share the stories about the things they keep.

Free. Registration required. Please consider a donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year. A Zoom link will be in your confirmation email upon registration.

Grieving & Weaving: Matters of the Heart
2024-02-07 18:30 - 20:30
There is something cathartic about working with yarn—a solace to be found in methodically creating patterns and textures with your own hands. Join Green-Wood Death Educator Gabrielle R. Gatto and artist Mary Pat Klein as they bring together creativity and contemplation with an evening of knitting and crocheting.

For the February meeting of Grieving & Weaving, our theme is love and relationships.

Price: Free. Registration required.

Get Tickets

In-Person Event(see details below)

We’ll explore how thoughtfully crafted objects can be physical reminders of our relationships built on love. We’ll also discuss women who changed the game in the arts and pay honor to the roads they laid out for us. We will delve into the significance of tactile and kinesthetic healing modalities and how knitting and crocheting can be integrated into your grief journey.

All skill levels are welcome, from beginners to experts! Mary Pat will lead a tutorial for newcomers in both knitting and crocheting, while those at intermediate and expert levels are encouraged to bring their ongoing projects. Feel free to bring your own yarn, needles, and hooks; some materials will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Mary Pat Klein is a highly skilled and renowned yarn craftsperson. Her knit creations have graced television screens, print ads, and Broadway stages. Her works have been featured on The Today Show and Guiding Light, as well as Broadway productions including Frozen, A View From a Bridge, Present Laughter, and the stage adaptation of Mrs. Doubtfire, for which she crafted the iconic blue sweater. Collaborating closely with Tony Award-winning costume designers, Mary Pat has custom crafted blankets, sweaters, hats, throw pillows, and an array of unique items.

Free. Registration required. Please consider a $10 donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

BEFORE RESERVING YOUR SPOT, PLEASE NOTE:

Attendees must follow ALL instructions and guidance from Cemetery staff and ambassadors.

Tickets: There is no need to print tickets. Attendees will be checked in by name.

Where to go: Contactless check-in will take place at the Modern Chapel near the Main Entrance at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street (500 25th Street).

Mortality & Me: Green-Wood’s Book Club
2024-03-11 18:30 - 19:45
It’s often difficult to engage in conversations about death: Will I say the wrong thing? Am I going to offend someone? Who wants to talk about that morbid stuff anyway? Green-Wood’s book club, Mortality & Me, will help make death an easier subject to talk about through compelling books that tackle this topic head on.

For this book club session, we will be discussing The Collective Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer. This novel follows Clover Brooks, a death doula living in New York City, as she struggles to navigate her own life, while peacefully guiding others through the end-of-life process.

Price: Free. Registration required.

Get Tickets

In-Person Event(see details below)

No need to read the book in its entirety, a portion of the book in .pdf form will be sent to you. This section will be the basis of our discussion.

Free. Registration required. Please consider a $10 donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

BEFORE RESERVING YOUR SPOT, PLEASE NOTE:

Attendees must follow ALL instructions and guidance from Cemetery staff and ambassadors.

Tickets: There is no need to print tickets. Attendees will be checked in by name.

Where to go: Contactless check-in will take place at the Modern Chapel near the Main Entrance at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street (500 25th Street).

Grieving & Weaving: National Craft Month
2024-03-13 18:30 - 20:30
There is something cathartic about working with yarn—a solace to be found in methodically creating patterns and textures with your own hands. Join Green-Wood Death Educator Gabrielle R. Gatto and artist Mary Pat Klein as they bring together creativity and contemplation with an evening of knitting and crocheting.

For the March meeting of Grieving & Weaving—which falls in National Craft Month our theme will surround the benefits of being in community and sharing our creative endeavors. We will delve into the significance of tactile and kinesthetic healing modalities and how knitting and crocheting can be integrated into your grief journey.

Price: Free. Registration required.

Get Tickets

In-Person Event(see details below)

All skill levels are welcome, from beginners to experts! Mary Pat will lead a tutorial for newcomers in both knitting and crocheting, while those at intermediate and expert levels are encouraged to bring their ongoing projects. Feel free to bring your own yarn, needles, and hooks; some materials will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Mary Pat Klein is a highly skilled and renowned yarn craftsperson. Her knit creations have graced television screens, print ads, and Broadway stages. Her works have been featured on The Today Show and Guiding Light, as well as Broadway productions including Frozen, A View From a Bridge, Present Laughter, and the stage adaptation of Mrs. Doubtfire, for which she crafted the iconic blue sweater. Collaborating closely with Tony Award-winning costume designers, Mary Pat has custom crafted blankets, sweaters, hats, throw pillows, and an array of unique items.

Free. Registration required. Please consider a $10 donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

BEFORE RESERVING YOUR SPOT, PLEASE NOTE:

Attendees must follow ALL instructions and guidance from Cemetery staff and ambassadors.

Tickets: There is no need to print tickets. Attendees will be checked in by name.

Where to go: Contactless check-in will take place at the Modern Chapel near the Main Entrance at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street (500 25th Street).

Financial End of Life Planning 101
2024-03-21 19:00 - 20:30
In partnership with Ameriprise Financial

There are two great taboos: death and money. This evening, we will tackle both! Daniel Delaney of Ameriprise Financial will present a holistic overview of what questions we should be asking ourselves and our loved ones to plan for the end of life. He will cover basic financial topics like saving, investing, and setting goals. He will also dive deep into estate planning as an important part of end-of-life planning. Bring your questions!

Price: Free. Registration required.

Get Tickets

In-Person Event(see details below)

Since 1894, Ameriprise Financial has provided financial planning services and advice. They aim to help people invest towards their financial goals so they may feel confident about the present without losing sight of the future.

Free. Registration required. Please consider a $10 donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

BEFORE RESERVING YOUR SPOT, PLEASE NOTE:

Attendees must follow ALL instructions and guidance from Cemetery staff and ambassadors.

Tickets: There is no need to print tickets. Attendees will be checked in by name.

Where to go: Contactless check-in will take place at the Modern Chapel near the Main Entrance at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street (500 25th Street).
