end-of-life doula services
Dying is part of life, but most of us aren’t given the tools or space to be with it. As a death doula, I offer compassionate, non-medical, holistic support to ease the logistical, emotional, and spiritual journey of dying. All services are personalized, tuned to your beliefs, culture, family, and what feels sacred to you. Together, we can create a gentler experience for everyone involved: the person who is dying and the loved ones who remain close by.
This work is rooted in presence, trust, and honoring the full range of what it means to be alive, right up until the final breath. My heart is especially in LGBTQ+ community care, where safety, affirmation, and chosen family often carry unique weight. At the same time, I offer this support to anyone seeking a more intentional, compassionate approach to dying and grief.
why this support matters
-
Having clarity and choice brings peace.
-
You (and those you love) don’t have to manage everything alone.
-
Honoring the human, the sacred, the relational helps make the passage gentler.
-
Feeling seen and affirmed for who you are matters, especially at the end of life.
-
Every family system, whether biological, chosen, or community-based, deserves support and care.
-
Trust, safety, and presence allow both the dying and their loved ones to soften into what matters most.
-
Creating space for both grief and love can transform the way we experience loss.
end-of-life literacy
Helping you understand all your options, from hospice, home death, funeral choices, rituals, and after-death care, so that your end-of-life plan reflects your deepest values and your authentic self.
advance care planning
Co-creating conversations and documentation around your wishes: medical preferences, spiritual or religious needs, who you trust to make decisions, what matters most in your final days.
vigil presence & planning
Holding space in the final days and hours: helping plan what the environment feels like (sights, sounds, smells), how you want people to be with you, how rituals or traditions will be honored. Being present, physically and emotionally, as your witness, guide, and companion.
legacy & memory work
Supporting you in reflecting, collecting, and preserving stories, values, messages, and keepsakes. Whether it’s letter-writing, recording stories, compiling memoirs, audio/video memory work, or creating tangible legacy artifacts.
family guidance & caregiver respite
Offering education to loved ones about what to expect, how to communicate, and how to prepare practically and emotionally. Also giving caregivers moments of relief, respite, emotional support, and relief from feeling alone in the process.
reiki sessions
As part of holistic care, I offer both in-person Reiki sessions and remote Reiki sessions. This energy-healing work can enhance emotional balance, comfort, and deep presence for the dying person as well as for caregivers while they are supporting loved ones or navigating grief.
individualized support
Everything is adapted to your spiritual, cultural, and family values. There’s no one-size-fits-all: if certain rituals matter to you, or you prefer a quieter, minimalist approach, we'll shape the journey accordingly.
flexible engagements
You can engage me for a one-time project (e.g., legacy work, or a ritual), ongoing support, or full care partnership through the final chapter.
compassionate guidance
We’ll walk through what you want, what you need, and what’s realistic. All services come with clear communication, honest support, and kindness.
how it works
This work begins with a conversation. There’s no commitment until you feel ready.
We start with a connection call, a free 30-minute call to meet, share your story, and ask questions. If you decide to proceed, we'll hold a 90-minute discovery session to explore your needs, hopes, and values, and to create a preliminary support map. From there we'll build a care plan that I’ll send you in writing outlining the services, timeline, and cost. We’ll adjust until it feels right.
With each care plan, you'll have ongoing support. I walk beside you as your doula, checking in regularly, staying flexible as things change, and holding space through the entire journey.
This approach gives you structure and softness: clear next steps, with plenty of room to breathe.
How is a death doula different from hospice?
Hospice provides medical care and pain management. A death doula offers non-medical emotional, logistical, and spiritual support. You do not have to be in hospice to work with a death doula. When someone is in hospice, I complement the hospice team by tending to the human side of dying: presence, ritual, meaning-making, and holding space.
When should we reach out to a death doula?
Anytime. Some people invite doulas in to help work through a fear of death, explore existing feelings of grief from past loss, and to guide end of life planning long before anyone's death is imminent. Some people reach out when they're received a diagnosis and some during active dying. There’s no wrong time. The earlier we connect, the more space there is to build comfort and trust.
Do you provide medical care or make medical decisions?
No. I don’t provide medical treatment, medication, or clinical advice. I can help you understand your options and communicate with your care team, but all medical care remains with licensed professionals.
Can you work with our existing hospice or care team?
Yes. I am also a hospice volunteer with The Community Hospice (part of St. Peters Health Partners) and I collaborate closely with hospice staff, social workers, chaplains, and other caregivers to create a seamless, supportive environment.
Do you offer virtual support?
Absolutely. Planning, legacy work, family education, and emotional support can all happen virtually. Vigil support is typically in-person, but I can also guide and support families remotely if needed. Reiki is offered in-person and remotely.
Which spiritual and cultural traditions do you support?
Death is deeply personal and often rooted in family, cultural, and spiritual traditions. I welcome and affirm all identities, backgrounds, and belief systems. Whether you envision a secular environment, ancestral rituals, prayer, music, sacred texts, or simply silence, I will honor and uphold what is meaningful to you. If your traditions are unfamiliar to me, I can try to refer you to someone who is a better fit for you in the death doula community or, if you would prefer, I can learn from you and your community, seeking guidance to ensure they are respected. This is your threshold, and it will be tended in the way that feels right for you.
What kinds of barter or trade do you accept?
I'm willing to barter for goods or services such as carpentry, masonry, tree services, landscaping, painting, plumbing, electrical services, small engine repair, veterinary services, tattooing, flooring/tiling work, and more. Please reach out so we can talk and you can describe your offering; I reserve the right to accept or decline.
frequently asked questions
service tiers & packages
Because every journey is different, support can be tailored as lightly or as fully as you need. These tiers are flexible starting points to mix and match from based on your circumstances. We’ll work together to create something sustainable for your family and circumstances.
I prefer bartering, but I accept checks, credit card, Venmo, and can arrange installment plans for larger packages. For Threshold Care packages, a 50% deposit reserves dates; the balance is due at the start of active services.
As noted, I’m open to creative exchange for goods or services in trade of equivalent value (see FAQ above). If you’d like to propose a barter arrangement, please reach out. We can discuss your idea and determine whether it feels fair to both of us. I am not in this work to profit and while I believe in honoring my time and experience, I also believe deeply that money should not be the reason someone walks this path alone. Let's find a way together.
foundations
Gentle guidance and planning for those just beginning to think about end-of-life care. ($250 value)
Includes:
-
One 90-minute planning session
-
End-of-life literacy resources
-
Introductory legacy and reflection prompts
-
Advance care planning templates and guidance
Best for: Early-stage planners, or families seeking clarity and education.
companionship
Steady emotional and logistical support through a season of decline or active dying. ($1000 value)
Includes:
-
Everything in Foundations
-
6 hours of flexible support (used for family education, vigil planning, or emotional support)
-
Email/text support between sessions
-
Optional coordination with hospice or care teams
Best for: Those actively walking alongside a dying loved one.
threshold care
Comprehensive support through the full arc of dying, from planning to vigil presence. ($2400 value)
Includes:
-
Everything in Foundations and Companionship (7.5 hours)
-
Custom vigil planning
-
Legacy project facilitation (one small recorded legacy/letter package)
-
In-person presence during active dying
-
10 hours of flexible support, divided as needed for the above
Best for: Those seeking consistent presence and continuity of care.
vigil & hourly services
-
Reiki: valued at $75 for a 1 hour session, either in-person or remote
-
Vigil hourly rate: valued at $100/hr (for more than 5-hours, I will coordinate with other doulas)
-
Legacy project, short (1 x 90-minute recorded interview, edited audio file, transcript): valued at $250
-
Legacy project, extended (3 x 90-minute recorded interviews, edited audio or video file, short memoir/collection of stories): valued at $1,000
-
Advance care planning session (1 x 90-minute): valued at $200
-
Caregiver respite block (3-hours, non-medical tasks only): valued at $200
-
Travel / mileage fee: $1 per mile beyond 30 miles round trip
-
Retainer / deposit: 50% retainer for Threshold Care packages; 2-hour minimum for hourly bookings.