“We are all just walking each other home.”
Ram Dass, Author and Spiritual
About Me
I grew up in a large extended family in a neighborhood that was and is as close to family as you can get. This exposed me to the realities of death and dying at a young age from older relatives who had lived long lives, to the “out-of-order” deaths of young fathers leaving their families behind, and a tragic auto accident that took the life of a friend.
I remember my heart feeling broken many times at the losses and yet, I don’t ever recall being afraid of death or uncomfortable with being around people who were grieving. I came to view it as a part of living. I had wonderful role models of people in my life who embraced the dying and the grieving in a circle of care and support. They leaned in when others stayed back. This has shaped my views on what it means to journey with people through life and death.
In 2020, like so many people during the pandemic, I began to re-think what I would do in the next chapter of my life. My exploration led me to the End-of-Life Doula program offered by the International End of Life Doula Association (INELDA) where I completed the coursework to become an End-of-Life Doula/Specialist in October 2020.
In addition to my INELDA training, I also have a Masters Degree in Counseling. My previous professional work includes over thirty-five years in Human Resources Management and three years in Move Management where I have worked with people during all kinds of transitions in their lives. I truly see death as the ultimate life transition and now feel called to support individuals, families, and friends through this process, wherever they find themselves to be.
Since my training, I have been gaining practical, hands-on experience and am actively working toward my full certification.