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?
A death doula—also called an end-of-life doula—provides non-medical support to individuals and families before, during, and after death.
What We Do:
At Death Doulas NW, we support individuals and families through the final stages of life, honoring death as a natural and meaningful part of the human experience.
We collaborate with clients to create personalized end-of-life plans that reflect their values, needs, and wishes. With the right presence and preparation, this transition can unfold with dignity, clarity, and compassion.
Our support is practical, relational, and responsive to each situation—offered before death, during active dying, and after death.
What We Provide:
We provide non-medical end-of-life services for individuals and families in Portland, Oregon and the greater PNW. We support individuals and families through planning, active dying, and after-death care—offering presence, guidance, and practical support throughout the process.
End-of-Life Doula Services in Portland, Oregon
Services Offered:
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End-of-life planning and decision-making support
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Education about the dying process and available care options
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Logistical support and coordination
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Helping families navigate practical details before and after death
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Emotional support for individuals and caregivers
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Grounded presence, including vigil support during active dying (“the eleventh hour”)
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Legacy, life review, and remembrance projects
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Rituals, ceremonies, and home funeral guidance
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Support around end-of-life choices, including space to explore values, preferences, and legally available pathways
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Advocacy and navigation within medical and hospice systems
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.
How We Work & Who We Serve
How We Work:
Support is tailored to each individual and family, and is available in homes, hospitals, or hospice settings—wherever you are.We work alongside hospice and medical providers, offering continuity, presence, and guidance during times when systems are limited or unavailable.Our role is not to replace medical care, but to provide steady, relational support through the practical, emotional, and logistical realities of the end-of-life process.This work helps fill the gaps that healthcare systems and hospice teams often cannot—particularly in moments that require time, presence, and continuity.
Who We Serve:
Death Doulas NW supports individuals and families across Portland, Oregon and surrounding communities.We work with people navigating serious illness, active dying, and after-death care, as well as those seeking to plan ahead with greater clarity and intention.Support is available to people of all backgrounds—regardless of spiritual, religious, or cultural tradition—and is always guided by each person’s values, beliefs, and preferences.
Common Questions
What does a death doula do, and how is it different from hospice?
A death doula provides non-medical support before, during, and after death, while hospice provides medical care. We work alongside hospice to offer additional presence and guidance.
When should we contact a death doula?
Support can begin at any point—during diagnosis, as illness progresses, or in the final days. It is never too early or too late to reach out.
Can you be present during active dying?
Yes. We offer bedside ("vigil") support and calm, grounded presence during active dying, helping families navigate what is happening in real time.
What if I don’t know what I need?
That’s very common. We help orient you to what’s happening, offer education about the dying process, and support you in identifying what matters most—so decisions can be made with more clarity and less pressure.
Can you help with practical or logistical support?
Yes. We provide guidance with advance planning, coordination, and the practical details that arise before and after death. This includes education, informed decision-making, and helping families navigate next steps.
About Death Doulas NW
Aerlyn Pfeil is a Portland, Oregon–based end-of-life doula and community health practitioner with over 20 years of experience, including more than a decade providing direct end-of-life care.
She provides non-medical support, education, and advocacy for individuals and families navigating the dying process across home, hospital, and hospice settings.
Her work includes advance care planning, bedside support during active dying, and guidance through after-death care.
Aerlyn supports individuals in exploring end-of-life choices, including Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking (VSED) and Medical Aid in Dying (MAID), where legally available. She offers clear, grounded, and non-judgmental guidance to help people understand their options and prepare with intention.
She believes that individuals have the right to make informed choices about their end of life, and offers grounded, non-judgmental support to those exploring their options—including approaches such as Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking (VSED) and Medical Aid in Dying (MAID), where legally available.
“We’re all just walking each other home.”
– Ram Dass