Whitewater Times

The Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of Walworth County is organizing an event titled "Living with Death: A Community Conversation" in partnership with the East Troy Area Intergenerational Community Center and Citizens Bank of Mukwonago. The free event aims to encourage open discussions about death and end-of-life planning, seeking to reduce stigma around these topics.

Scheduled for Saturday, October 25, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the event will be held at the East Troy Area Intergenerational Community Center at 2043 Division Street, Door #7, East Troy, Wisconsin.

Participants will be able to engage in conversations about death, dying, and preparing for the end of life. Dr. Janet McCord, a recognized expert in thanatology—the study of death—will deliver the keynote address. Additional sessions will feature a local death doula, representatives from the Walworth County Medical Examiner’s Office, and a spokesperson from Hazel Ridge Cemetery.

There will also be a vendor area where organizations related to end-of-life care—including hospice providers, funeral homes, and organ donation programs—will present information about their services.

“Death, like birth, is a life event we all experience,” says Jake Sawyers, Dementia Care Specialist at the ADRC. “While we celebrate and prepare for birth, our society often avoids conversations about death. This event is about changing that narrative—helping people prepare and feel more comfortable discussing end-of-life matters.”

Those interested in attending or learning more can contact Jake Sawyers by phone at 262-741-3273 or via email.

Walworth County schools serve a diverse student population. In the 2023-24 school year, Badger High School had the highest enrollment with 1,275 students; Elkhorn Area High School followed with 941 students; Elkhorn Area Middle School enrolled 676 students (https://dpi.wi.gov/). During this period, white students comprised approximately 70% of the county’s student body while Hispanic students represented nearly one-quarter (https://dpi.wi.gov/). Multiracial students made up close to three percent of total enrollment (https://dpi.wi.gov/).