I asked my 80-year-old mum recently if she was afraid of dying.

I know that would probably shock some people because death is a taboo subject, but we have a very open and honest relationship.

She didn’t fear it, but was nervous of hospitalisation and illness as she’s never poorly.

My best friend died of cancer last year and in her final week I asked her the same question.

Her answer will stay with me forever. “No, I’m not afraid. I welcome it because I don’t want to live like this any more.” Selfish as it sounds, that helped me cope with the grief of losing her.

I don’t have a fascination with death, more a fascination with life, which is why I get concerned about people’s feelings on this matter. I wouldn’t want anyone I cared about to be terrified of the inevitable.

My husband died seven years ago this September. He committed suicide following a deep depression.

When people ask me how he died at 45, I tell them and their mouths flop open and they start to fidget.

I could lie about it and say he had cancer, but that would only complicate the issue.

It’s something myself and my kids have had to cope with and we’ve come through it, an impenetrable family unit.

If someone feels uncomfortable about the way he died, I’m afraid that’s their problem because we, his family, understand and can’t blame him because in his disturbed mind he had no option.

All of which seems a bit heavy for a Wednesday, but these are the sort of issues being debated at a series of Death Cafe events organised by the Rev Andy Froud, of St Magdalene’s Church, Clitheroe.

Originating in London five years ago, Death Cafe aims to discuss all aspects of our demise, and the Diocese of Blackburn is trialling similar events.

During the event at Caffe Nero in Clitheroe people talked of their experiences of losing a family member or friend whilst others discussed plans for their own funeral.

The reverend says: “We are terrible at talking about death and I hope that this is one way that the church can change that. Death is a reality of life for all of us and a fact of life.”

And I couldn’t agree more, discussing death in the way we discuss life, is far healthier than ignoring the obvious and living in fear of the Grim Reaper.