NOT THE END

What is an End of Life Doula?

A person bringing a service of companionship, emotional and logistical navigation to individuals at the end of life, their families, and communities.
The guiding principles are rooted in deeply attentive listening, witnessing, and serving in a nonmedical and nonprescriptive way, while honouring the sacredness of the dying process and respecting individual and family wishes.
This is possibly the only profession that makes a meaningful connection between the dying individual, medical teams, family, funeral homes, spiritual counselors, throughout the entire journey, whatever it takes, as long as it takes.

CONNECT

"Life is but a brief pause between two great Mysteries."
Carl Jung

Why I do this?

Because of the deep, undeniable desire to support the natural continuity of the life-death process in a society where end of life is often treated as a nuisance, instead of Mystery. I aim to infuse a sense of awe and sacredness into the journey for all involved.

Life comes to its natural closure, relationships continue. Mourning is the process by which the relationship with a living person, transmutes into a continuing bond with a memory of them. I am honoured to witness and help bring to light legacy projects and accompany individuals and groups in grief work.

Dying is a journey on which no profession will follow the client and family as long as needed. Doctors come and go. Funeral directors come and go, as do spiritual counselors, and even family and friends.. An end of life doula connects the dots between everyone involved in the process, making it meaningful.

Having wrestled with my own losses, I became unafraid of entering the wilderness of emotions and the grieving process of others, as an attentive companion, and a resourceful educational, and logistical support.
As the most natural of life’s transitions, dying deserves to reestablish itself in non-medical settings where it always belonged, and it merits normalized, open conversations that bring families and communities closer together.

My Initiation

I experienced several baptisms of fire through loss of my dearest loved ones, following one another closely. Within that vulnerable, unpredictable emotional space, the needle of my inner compass was temporarily disabled. While still actively mourning, I began volunteering with NOVA (a home-care agency dispatching nurses, social workers, and volunteers to the individuals choosing to die at home in the Montreal area).
Wise NOVA nurses realigned me towards navigating my own mourning process. Unwilling to quit, I switched to helping NOVA in an administrative capacity, instead of interacting directly with the terminally ill and their families. Eventually, I began facilitating Grief Support Groups and walks, and contributing to the Newsletter. That was just the initiation, yet I knew I felt at home within this liminal landscape where so many were profoundly uncomfortable, scared, or confused. My interest in the field grew, and I read voraciously, followed by formal studies, and further volunteering activities in long-term care facilities, and later facilitating Death Cafes.
As I moved from Quebec to Nova Scotia, I began working with a group of 35+ end of life doulas and related professionals in Atlantic Canada as the group facilitator, on establishing regional operating principles, sharing the know-how, educational activities, and discussions about forming a Chapter of the National organization.
I am actively contributing to the initiatives to support hospice infrastructure building within Nova Scotia.

My Services

Services are based on principles of Integrity, Respect, Compassion, Full Attention, and No Judgement

Terminal patient advocacy within medical environment
Vigiling and non-medical bedside attendance
Assisting with funeral arrangements
Short- and long-term grief support and companioning
Leading grief-support circles, walks, activities
Logistical relief and respite care for families
Estate planning, insurance
Preparing Advance Care Directives
Downsizing: facilitating moves from homes to long-term care facilities
Education: alternative burial options, MAiD, access to hospice, palliative care, and spiritual support
Referral to other end of life doulas and life celebrants

My Training

MSc in Biochemistry and a BSc in Molecular Biology and Physiology, from University of Belgrade. My career over 25 years has been medical research in oncology, specifically clinical trials of new anticancer therapies, worldwide;
End of Life Doula Certification with Vancouver Douglas College in 2021;
Palliative Care Orientation Certificate Course with Seneca College in Toronto, ON in 2018;
Grief Counseling Skills Fundamentals Course with Dr. Alan Wolfelt of Center for Loss and Life Transition in Colorado, USA 2016;
Nova Scotia Financial Professional License obtained Feb 2024;
I am a member of End of Life Doula Association of Canada and Nova Scotia Hospice Palliative Care Association.

Pricing

$40/hour
Packages: For longer-term support, packages and reduced pricing available (10+ hours)
Accommodations will always be made for low-income individuals.

Connect

902 890 5527
[email protected]

I live in Scotsburn, Pictou County, Nova Scotia and will support clients province-wide.

DISCLAIMER: End of Life Doulas do not perform any medical services (prescribing, recommending, administering).
End of Life Doulas do not participate in preparing the body for the funeral.