DEATH DOULAS NW
“maybe death isn't darkness, after all, but so much light
wrapping itself around us”
~Mary Oliver
Welcome.
We are so glad
you are here.
What is a Death Doula?
​Death Doulas, or End-of-Life Doulas, support individuals and families through the final stages of life, honoring death as a natural and meaningful part of the human experience. With the right presence and preparation, this transition can unfold with dignity, grace, and compassion.
We collaborate with clients to create personalized end-of-life plans that reflect their values and wishes. This may include education, practical support leading up to death, legacy and remembrance projects, home funerals, ceremonies, and informed, compassionate advocacy.
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Services may also include support through physical death—often called the “eleventh hour”—offered in a way that is compassionate and meaningful.​​
​Care is available in homes, hospitals, or hospice settings--wherever you are! Services are always tailored to each person’s unique rhythms and needs. This work helps fill the emotional and practical gaps that healthcare systems and hospice teams often cannot.
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Death Doulas NW serves people of all backgrounds—regardless of spiritual, religious, or cultural tradition.
Services Offered
At Death Doulas NW, care is personalized, integrated, and deeply attuned to the needs of each individual and family. No two deaths are alike—and your support shouldn’t be, either.
Before Death:
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Advance care planning and values clarification
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Guidance on advance directives
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Vigil planning and preparation
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Ritual and ceremony design (before or after death)
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Support with decision-making aligned to personal values and goals
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Support in planning with home funerals or ceremonies
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Burial planning and natural burial support*
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Life review and legacy projects
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Education, resources, and advocacy for individuals and families
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During the Dying Process:
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Ongoing presence and bedside support
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Emotional and spiritual support for the dying and their loved ones
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Help understanding hospice, comfort measures, and medical system processes
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Respite for caregivers
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Education and advocacy for individuals and families​
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Compassionate support and guidance for caregivers during time of passing
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Alternative comfort measures such as gentle massage and aromatherapy
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"On-call" services
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After Death:
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After-death body care and instruction for families
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Post-death rituals
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Home funeral guidance and bereavement ceremonies
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Burial coordination and support
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Early grief support and compassionate presence
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About and Philosophy
Aerlyn Pfeil has spent decades supporting individuals and families through life’s most profound transitions. As a Death Doula, Ceremonialist, and Midwife, she brings a calm, steady presence to the dying process—guiding each person through their unique experience with care, clarity, and respect. Drawing on both clinical and ceremonial wisdom, Aerlyn helps bring meaning and a sense of ease to the end of life.
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To be prepared for death is not morbid—it is a kindness. Planning how we want to live out our final days can reduce suffering, lift fear, and allow us to create meaning and memory at the end. This might include choosing music, telling stories, creating ritual, or simply being surrounded by the people who matter most. Death does not need to be hidden, dark, or lonely. With support, it can become a time of deep reflection, honesty, and love.
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Whether walking alongside someone nearing death or supporting loved ones through anticipatory grief, Aerlyn helps make space for a more connected, intentional experience of dying.
Before founding Death Doulas NW, Aerlyn served on the Board of Directors for Doctors Without Borders and spent over a decade teaching midwifery overseas. She holds a degree in Sociology and a Master’s in Global Public Health. She now lives in Portland, where she finds joy in gardening and adventures with her dog.​​
“We’re all just walking each other home.”
– Ram Dass