We are a volunteer collective of death-curious individuals exploring what it means, and what it takes, to die well in our island community. We, as individuals, under the umbrella group of Orcas Threshold Collective, seek to build compassionate awareness and provide resources around end-of-life literacy as well as advocating for home-based death care.
Upcoming events
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CONVERSATIONS WITH MORTALITY : An Invitation for all of Orcas to explore dying well to live more fully
ORCAS CENTER
4 Consecutive Sundays IN 2025:
March 23rd & 30th
April 6th & 13th
Doors open at 3:30pm/ Film starts at 5pm
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"Saying Goodbye" WEEKLY VIRTUAL GRIEF CALLS
Every Sunday 7:00-8:00PM PST
Tom Nickel hosts virtual weekly grief calls on VR chat platform. The event is “Saying Goodbye” and can be found by searching for a world named ‘Zen Garden’
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DEATH CAFE
3 x YEAR
EPISCOPAL CHURCH, Parish Hall
2025 DATES:
May 10th + November 8th, 1-3pm
Libby Garcia + the Orcas Threshold Collective host an island Death Cafe three times a year. All ages, all death-curious folks welcome
Chocolate Cupcakes (GF +DF), Coffee + Tea available
Donations go to the church
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
With reverence, we recognize and honor that we reside as guests on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish Nations. We extend our deepest gratitude to the original stewards; those who care for the land and sea, acknowledge the cosmos + listen to the plant and animal life since time immemorial. May the original ways be heard, heart learned and restored to all humanity for the betterment of the world we tend.
In peace.
About OTC
In September 2023 Elder Reverend Judy Lay of the Full Circle Living and Dying Collective, California came to Orcas Island to host a Death Vigil workshop. From this workshop was born a group of passionate people who wanted to bring more awareness and conversation around death and dying well in the San Juan Islands. Over a period of time we created an umbrella name to hold all our interests : the Orcas Threshold Collective. Effectively OTC offers guidance, facilitation, events and information in collaboration with community members to engage in everything that encompasses end-of-life, leading up to and after it. This website aims to streamline all island resources in one place for the use of everyone navigating the threshold of life and death and everything between.
Vision & Values
Our VISION
We are death-curious souls practicing connection from a place of integrity, inquiry and interbeing. We, as individuals under the umbrella group of Orcas Threshold Collective, seek to build compassionate awareness around end-of-life literacy and support as well as advocating for aging in place. OTC is a team of folks guiding, facilitating, organizing and bringing awareness to all that encompasses end-of-life and leading up to it. We honor all the folks doing this work already on the San Juan Islands and desire to create a streamline network of connection between professionals and individuals in need of service.
Our VALUES
We respect:
● Collaboration ~ everyone brings something valuable to death work
● Self responsibility, self-care & self respect ~ we individually remember to take care of our needs, without apology, knowing that this benefits everyone around us
● Regard for others ~ we respect the diversity of backgrounds, ages, beliefs and experiences within our group, members, volunteers and with those we serve
● Curiosity ~ suppose that conflict is rooted in misunderstanding and bravely seek the support needed to find resolution
● Tending ~ to personal limits, needs and boundaries in meetings and our work in the community
● Fostering ~ our group will expand and contract: we foster this space for growth in all its iterations
● Reverence ~ for mystery and the unknown
We pursue the experience and growth we desire
We participate and engage in the collective rather than consuming it
We co-create this collective with a whole-hearted yes!