About Death Doulas NW
What does it mean to be prepared for the last part of our lives?
Aerlyn Pfeil is a Portland, Oregon–based death doula (end-of-life doula) who has supported individuals and families through life’s most profound transitions for more than two decades.
In 2016 she started Death Doulas NW where she provides non-medical end-of-life support for individuals and families navigating serious illness, active dying, and after-death care. This work is grounded in presence, clarity, and respect for each person’s values, beliefs, and preferences.
Approach to End-of-Life Care
As both a midwife and an end-of-life doula, Aerlyn believes that the thresholds of life—birth and death—deserve to be honored as profound human experiences, not solely medical events.
Just as the body knows how to give birth, it also knows how to die.
Much of our society, however, lacks the confidence or guidance to navigate this process together. Her role is to help individuals and families move through dying with intention, support, and care—so that even in grief, the experience can feel meaningful and grounded.
End-of-life doulas play a unique role in our communities—supporting thoughtful preparation, easing fear, and helping individuals and families feel more present and connected during the dying process.
End-of-Life Planning & Choice
What does it mean to be prepared for the final chapter of our lives?
To be prepared for death is not morbid—it is a form of care. Intentional planning can ease physical and emotional suffering and reduce uncertainty for those we love. Death does not need to be hidden, isolating, or clinical. With support, it can become a time of meaning, expression, reconciliation, and even sacred memory.
How do you want your final days to look and feel? What music would you play? What stories remain untold? What would bring comfort, familiarity, or peace?
Whether walking alongside someone nearing death or supporting loved ones through anticipatory grief, Aerlyn helps create space for a more connected, intentional experience—helping individuals and families navigate the practical, emotional, and relational aspects of the dying process.
Aerlyn believes that individuals have the right to make informed choices about their end of life. She offers grounded, non-judgmental support to those exploring end-of-life options, including legally available pathways such as Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) and Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking (VSED). Her work includes helping individuals understand these options, prepare for them, and navigate the experience with clarity, intention, and support
Experience and Background
As both a midwife and an end-of-life doula, Aerlyn believes that the thresholds of life—birth and death—deserve to be honored as profound human experiences, not solely medical events.
Just as the body knows how to give birth, it also knows how to die.
Much of our society, however, lacks the confidence or guidance to navigate this process together. Her role is to help individuals and families move through dying with intention, support, and care—so that even in grief, the experience can feel meaningful and grounded.
End-of-life doulas play a unique role in our communities—supporting thoughtful preparation, easing fear, and helping individuals and families feel more present and connected during the dying process.
Working Alongside Hospice & Care Systems
Hospice teams provide essential medical and emotional care, yet their time is often limited. A death doula offers complementary support—someone who can sit longer, respond more flexibly, and support families through moments that feel uncertain or overwhelming. This steady presence helps ensure that no one faces death feeling unprepared or alone.