Recently, I’ve been having conversations with good friends about a topic we all choose to avoid: death. Specifically, their death… and mine.

Despite death being an unavoidable fate that’s simply part of life, we all avoid discussing it for fear of conjuring the Fates. However, what results from our avoidance is a grand mess left for others to untangle, often at considerable legal and emotional cost.

The term “end-of-life doula” may not be widely known, but their role is as significant as it is ancient. Known as death doulas, death walkers, transition guides or soul companions, these compassionate individuals offer emotional, practical, and spiritual support to those nearing the end of life and their families.