WALKING HOME DOULAS

END OF LIFE PLANNING, EDUCATION AND SUPPORT

What is a Death Doula?

A death doula is a non-medical professional who provides holistic emotional, spiritual, and practical support to individuals and families navigating the dying process. We walk alongside people facing the end of life with presence, compassion, dignity, and care.


Death impacts not only the person who is dying, but the entire family unit—biological or chosen—in ways many people are unprepared for. Death doulas are experienced in supporting families through this profound life transition and helping them navigate the emotional, practical, and relational challenges that can arise along the way.

For most of human history, people died in community, surrounded by family, neighbors, and the wisdom of elders. In modern society, many of us have become disconnected from death and from the communal support that once helped guide people through it. As a result, many families feel overwhelmed, isolated, or unsure of what to do when someone they love is dying.


Death doulas help bridge the gap.

While medical professionals focus on physical care and treatment, death doulas focus on the human experience of dying. We help support the emotional, spiritual, and practical needs that often go unaddressed within the healthcare system.

We offer grounded presence, practical support, respite for caregivers, opportunities for life reflection, and compassionate listening for both the dying person and those who love them. We help create a safe space for honest conversations, fears, hopes, grief, and questions about the uncertain journey ahead.

We also believe these conversations matter long before a crisis occurs. Death doulas are not only here for those actively dying, but also for people who are “death curious” — those wanting to explore questions about mortality, end-of-life planning, grief, and what it means to live fully in the face of our finite lives.

In a society where death is often avoided or feared, we help create safe spaces for open conversation. By normalizing discussions around death and dying, we can reduce fear, build connection, and approach the end of life with greater understanding and peace.

Our Mission

To empower individuals and communities to approach the end of life with openness and peace. Through education, planning, and compassionate support, we transform the fear of death into an opportunity to live more fully.

Who We Are

Hi! We are Kim & Lindsay. We met over 20 years ago working as neonatal intensive care nurses in Chicago. Our friendship grew over countless shifts together seeing the joy of miraculous births and the heartbreak of premature loss. Holding compassionate space for families (biological or chosen) in crisis. 

Through our NICU work and each experiencing numerous deaths personally, we both developed a deep understanding of life’s most precious transitions. 

Since 2022, we have been working as hospice volunteers and have done extensive study on the topic. We both received our death doula certification through Going with Grace.

Contact Us

Services

For Individuals & Families

  • We talk with clients and their support circle about the dying process and what it often looks like. Knowing what to expect when the body shuts down. Fear comes from the unknown. The body knows how to die. We help normalize the experience so it doesn’t feel scary and families aren’t caught off guard as changes occur.
  • We teach clients and their loved ones about the realities of what end of life care really looks like and how to navigate the process. (Palliative vs Hospice care, home care vs facility)
  • Financial and estate planning covers the technical/legal care for your end of life and death. We provide emotional and human care when considering your final days and after death. 
    • 5 Wishes (Advance Directive)- We help clients understand and fill out these documents, which consider what medical, spiritual, and emotional treatment you’d want at the end of your life if you were unable to speak for yourself, and who you’d want to speak for you.
    • Funeral and Body Disposition Options- There are many choices to consider for our body’s final resting place and how we want to be celebrated. We support clients in being fully informed and choosing what feels right for them.
  • Create a safe space for the conversations people often avoid. We sit with families (biological or chosen) and guide thoughtful, honest conversations about what matters most. We help people:
    • Talk openly, and feel seen and heard
    • Understand real options, not just default decisions
    • Make choices that reflect their values
    • Feel more grounded and connected
  • These conversations can be difficult to start, but when we make space to talk about death, dying, and what matters– something shifts. We begin to live with more intention, more clarity, and more connection. These conversations, though often avoided, are much easier to have before a crisis occurs and decisions are urgent.
  • Supporting clients in confidently navigating the healthcare system. Sometimes a doctor’s visit can be very overwhelming with a lot of information (much of which is lost in translation). With our experience as RNs, we are able to help our clients understand their diagnosis and treatments. We can provide support for medical appointments to help our clients prepare appropriate questions, understand what they are being told, and talk through options so decisions feel clear.
  • Ensuring our client’s wishes for their care and treatment are honored.
  • Creating personalized ceremonies and rituals aligning with each client’s spiritual beliefs.
  • Holding space and providing a grounded calm presence for the dying person and their support team.
  • Creating the most supportive and sacred environment by supporting the dying person to write the script of what their death can look like.
  • Reading of prayers, poetry and blessings as appropriate for each client.
  • Sitting bedside with families during the active dying phase.
  • Honoring the grieving process before, during, and after a loss.
  • Every family and situation is unique. We tailor our support to meet the specific needs and circumstances of each client and their loved ones. Support may include:
    • Connecting the client and family to local resources and professionals
    • Helping coordinate hospice, home care, or other needed support services
    • Providing respite presence so caregivers/family can rest, run errands, or take time for themselves.
    • Helping create a comfort plan for the home environment.
    • Assisting with obituary writing, legacy projects, or memorial planning. 

This 3 hour guided planning session helps individuals and families explore and document their end of life treatment wishes in a supportive and comfortable environment. Together we walk through the emotional, spiritual, practical, and medical considerations (including the 5 Wishes advance directive), to help bring clarity to what really matters. 

Session may include:

  • Advance care planning and 5 Wishes guidance
  • Identifying healthcare decision makers
  • Exploring medical and comfort care preferences
  • Code status/DNR education
  • Funeral reflections and important conversations
  • Guidance on gathering/organizing important documents
  • Support in beginning conversations with loved ones

For Groups & Communities

  • A free community gathering where people come together to talk about death, dying, and end of life topics over tea and dessert. There is no agenda or specific focus beyond creating a safe space where participants can share their thoughts, questions, and curiosity around death.
Join Our Next Cafe
  • Host a meaningful dinner and open up honest conversation about life, death, and everything in between. We provide the tools and guidance—you set the table. These gatherings help break down fear, spark connection, and bring people closer through shared stories, brave dialogue, sometimes tears and often, laughter. 
Schedule Your Initial Call Today

What Our Clients Say

Highly Recommended!

Rating: 5 out of 5.

“It was a comfortable way to share what is sometimes an uncomfortable subject matter for people.It was a good way to share ideas and opinions w/o feeling judged. I would highly recommend it.”

-Death Dinner participant

Powerful

Rating: 5 out of 5.

“I remember how powerful the opening candle dedication/toast was. And I remember feeling warmth and love.”

-Death Dinner participant

A Great Experience!

Rating: 5 out of 5.

“It was nice to meet new people and share ideas. The hostesses were amazing and left everyone engaged and allowed time for reflection.The food was outstanding!!!”

– Death Dinner participant

“We are all just walking each other home.”

-Ram Dass