Welcome

What is a Death Doula / End of Life Practitioner?

End-of-Life Doulas / Death Doulas / Practitioners empower, educate and encourage people and their families to be involved in making decisions. The word “doula” is Greek for servant or helper. Like a birth doula supports women during the labor process, a death doula supports a person during the dying process.

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Mission

To empower all individuals from all walks of life, through knowledge and communication, the right and privilege to quell fear and anxiety surrounding death and the dying journey. By initiating holistic, non-medical conversations with dignity and honesty, I hold space for all people to practice and retain control over their own decisions, thereby returning death to its sacred place in the beauty, mystery and celebration of life and living more fully today.

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My Values

I value compassionate care support persons, such as EOL doulas, who provide non-medical, holistic support and comfort to the dying person and their family, which may include education and guidance as well as emotional, spiritual or practical care.

I value and respect the diverse voices and viewpoints of all doulas, trainers, and others whose practices honor the individual traditions, heritages, experiences and unique needs of the dying, and their loved ones.

I value a cultural environment that encourages the potential for healing exchanges between doulas and the dying, the family, and the healthcare team as part of the life-death process.

I embrace the Doula Model of Care that recognizes the need for ethical, compassionate care for all, and emphasizes empowering, non-judgmental support to maximize the self-determination of the individual and honor significant others and family as part of the circle of care.

I acknowledge and honor the fundamental value and dignity of all individuals. To this end, I strive to create an environment that is welcoming to all, and where each person feels accepted, included, seen, heard, valued, and safe.

I pledge myself to developing and maintaining an environment that recognizes, understands, and appreciates the impact of differences such as race, ethnicity, gender, class, education, age, sexual/affectional orientation, physical ability, language, political affiliation, economic status, immigrant/citizenship status, military experience, and legal position.

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How it all began

“Please call!” These words were received by an email from my mentor, friend and spiritual advisor, a mere 3 weeks before her death. In her final days on earth, Leigh Anne taught me my greatest spiritual lesson that holding space, supporting, and guiding a friend through death, is the ultimate gift we can offer to those we love.

It was from witnessing death intimately, and the culmination of my life experiences, that I realized I was on the journey of my life’s work, namely a ‘dynamic journey’. Fulfilling my call to be an End of Life Doula, it would therefore be an honour to walk with you and your loved ones’ through their dynamic death journey. 

Providing companionship with the intention that no one has to be alone as they transition out of this world, I understand the importance of how it helps to hold space, make friends comfortable and to listen to their last wishes. I offer people facing the end of their lives and/or their loved ones, tools for their tool box that they may need so they can be reassured that they will die with grace, dignity and peace.

As a healer I offer emotional support to children with grief loss and mentoring for those who have experienced infant and pregnancy loss. As an educator I help with practical assistance, non-medical support, providing up-to-date information about end of life care services to the dying and their loved ones before, during and after death.

Bringing care, compassion, laughter and love to the death process, I believe that death is a sacred, beautiful part of our journey. Allow me the gift of sharing a gentle guiding hand and a loving heart during your dynamic journey.

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Testimonials

• “Janet is truly a special gift to our society. I am so so incredibly grateful for meeting her when I did, over one year ago. It really was divine timing. Her ability to hold a safe presence and to listen with deep compassion made me feel comfortable, seen and heard, during my awakening into caring/being there for those dying close to me. She helped me understand my role in the realms of aging loved ones and how I can best be there not only for them, but also for myself. She helped me ground into the human experience and release myself of fear that sometimes felt all consuming. She helped me feel powerless to powerful. Thank you Janet!!!!!! “— A.T.
• “If you are looking for an end-of-life celebrant who will bring vitality, inclusiveness, integrity, appropriate gratitude and joy to the service, Janet is the right choice. I found her to be talented, professional and to have a youthful spirit that is uplifting and inspiring. I highly recommend her services.” — J. Michael Conley, D. Min.
• “Thank you my friend for your guidance and steering me on to the right direction to go into our situation that doesn’t seem real or fair.” -J.C.
• “Janet from another planet is magical, simply magical! She’s a keeper!” -J.R.
• “You certainly have the knack to get people involved.  It was a super presentation, and l’m sure left lots of thoughts swirling in many a mind since.  That amount of audience participation, l believe, was a new first…..very impressive. Janet it was my pleasure to meet you today. l want to thank you not only for your time, but for aiding us in providing this community service to our members. It was so very much appreciated.” – Gayle, Comox Valley Seniors’ Centre D’Esterre House Senior Citizens

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Disclaimer: As an End of Life Doula, I refrain from offering medical or legal advice. All decisions are for the individual or representative to make. My role is to offer a safe space for conversation, information, listening and guidance to ensure all wishes and options unfold in a manner that provides ease. The journey is a collaborative team effort and confidentiality is guaranteed.