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This post was re-published with permission from https://www.les-passeuses.com/blog/Blog%20Post%20Title%20One-2n472-5laka We rarely talk about our own death. Yet taking a moment to imagine how we would like to experience this final transition can become an act of freedom—almost an act of tenderness. An “ideal death” is not a perfect death; it is simply a death that reflects who we are, one that honours our history and our way of moving through the world. Photo from Wix. An end

This post is re-published with permission from www.serenityendoflifedoulaservices.ca Grief often arrives in silence. After the loss of a loved one, many find themselves yearning for one more conversation—one more chance to say the things left unsaid. While death is a natural part of life, the emotional landscape it leaves behind can feel overwhelming and isolating. As a death doula, I've seen firsthand the healing that comes from creating spaces where grief is not only acknow

Dear Friends, I am writing to recommend the book 21 Days to Die: The Canadian Guide to End of Life by Linda Hochstetler. This guide offers an invaluable perspective for individuals navigating the complex emotional journey of end-of-life, whether it be the person dying or those that love them. Linda Hochstetler has extensive experience and has created a resource that is useful for patients, families and their caregivers. The book is structured to provide clear, accessible guid

In a world that celebrates birth with joy and ceremony, why do we so often shy away from discussing the end of life? Death is one of the few universal experiences, yet it remains cloaked in fear, avoidance, and uncertainty. As a death doula candidate, my mission is to shift this narrative by offering compassionate, trauma-informed, and culturally sensitive support to individuals and families navigating the sacred transition of dying. My journey into end-of-life care began wit

The sign read, “Please help me feed my three children.”  It was made of a discarded side of a cardboard box, well-used and bent in the middle. The black ink was bold and dark, the P lease underlined. The whole sentence should have been underscored and punctuated. By her unspoken English and pleading gestures, I knew that someone else had written the sign for her. She wore her misfortune like a grieving widow, veiled in sadness and complexity. She, too, was deserving of somet

This post is republished with permission from Westcoast Duck Yoga . In a past post, I have outlined the role of the  yoga therapist a nd in this post, I wanted to outline the crossover between the role of a death doula and the yoga therapist. What is a  death doula ? The word “doula” is Greek for helper. Birth doulas, for example, are known in their work supporting /helping women during their labour process and so a death doula supports/helps a person through the dying proce

Having a Power of Attorney (POA) in Alberta is important because it ensures that someone you trust can make financial and legal decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so due to illness, injury, or absence (if you are away for an extended period, traveling or living abroad). Photo from Wix. Here are the key reasons why it's essential at any age! 1. Protects Your Financial Affairs A POA allows your chosen representative ("attorney") to manage your bank accounts, in

As someone entering the world of death care, it feels only natural to reflect on the roles and responsibilities I may have in positively influencing the reality of death and dying in my community. The assignments that Home Hospice Association (HHA) death doula candidates encounter during our training are designed to help us do just that: they are intentional, thought-provoking, and change-making. One assignment in particular stands out for me, and it involves writing a lette

Dear Friends, I hope you're doing well. I wanted to recommend a book that I believe you'll find incredibly meaningful and helpful, given your experiences and current work. The book is called Daddy, This Is It: Being-with My Dying Dad by Julie Saeger Nierenberg.   This memoir beautifully chronicles Julie's journey alongside her father as he faced metastatic cancer with incredible bravery and grace. What truly stands out in this story is how he chose to live fully despite his

This blog post is reprinted with permission from https://www.mercyheartscompanioncare.com/post/the-rise-of-the-death-doula-reclaiming-death-care-traditions . Photo from Wix. The death experience, for both the dying & their bereaved loved ones, often leaves them with irrevocable pain & loss, some even facing the regret of unresolved goals or incomplete relationships. When I embarked on this journey to becoming a Death Doula , I thought a lot about my own death experiences, won

From our first moments in this life, food plays a central role. Food evokes feelings and memories. Cultures around the world celebrate holidays and important life events with specific dishes. Most people can instantly name their favourite foods, and for many of us, making someone their special meal is an act of love. Food is comfort. Food is survival. Food is health. Food is strength. Food is a love language. Photo from Wix. When someone is diagnosed with a life-limiting illn

Dear Friends, The book Grief is Love by Marisa Renee Lee is one that I have bought and started reading two times, before having someone...

Dear Friends, I wanted to recommend a book I recently read- It’s Ok That You’re Not Ok by Megan Devine. Devine is a psychotherapist who...

Dear Friends, I read the book Bearing the Unbearable: Love, Loss and The Heartbreaking Path of Grief  by Dr. Joanne Cacciatoreafter...

Dear Friends, I have come across this book on grieving that contains several of the challenges that cause grievers heartache. The book ...

I had never heard of a death doula until the winter of 2016 when I attended my first Death Café in Guelph. The facilitator was a local death doula who, as a trained professional, provided companionship, emotional support, and assistance with end-of-life planning to individuals and their families. Her attitude struck me; she didn’t shy away from hard questions but was on a mission to celebrate life! I was inspired! For those that don’t know, a Death Café is where people from a

Dear Friends, I would like to introduce you to a not-so-ordinary book about death called Will my Cat Eat my Eyeballs? The book is a collection of 35 questions dealing with corpses and their possible, likely or unlikely fate. The author, Caitlin Doughty, is a mortician, funeral owner, podcaster and videographer who puts death in the main focus of all she does. Her research and presentation of facts is historically fact checked, medically accurate and presented blunt, honest, f

Cleaning the space of a hoarder… but wait, I was always told he was “collecting.”Cleaning anyone’s home after they die is a daunting...

Dear Friends,  Young children have important questions about death and need supportive adults. It’s never too early to begin the...

The medical model of care is focused on writing invoices, billing medications and not to say the least try to keep people from dying....