What is a Death Doula?

Death can be both incredibly complex and amazingly simple at the same time. For the last 2 years of his life, my father faced complexities due to dementia that were immensely stressful and terrifying. However, his death was quick, quiet and filled with love. Being present for the death of my father in 2021 began shifting my perspectives on life and what matters. Being present for the final week and final breath of my aunt's life a few years later brought home the feeling that I wanted to be with people who are dying. I saw the need for a presence within that time that can help the dying person, the family and the care-team hold the complexities in a container of calm. Fast forward to 2025 when I found out there is such a thing as a death doula. I immediately felt a calm of knowing, of centered purpose and of excitement. I signed up for training and began immersing myself in the sacred sadness and mysterious beauty of death. Each new step I take to enter into this world leaves me feeling deeply grounded in purpose. I am comfortable with death, it feels like a profound part of the greater mystery that we are all a part of.