Death Doula Services
Portland, Oregon & the PNW
As a death doula serving Portland, Oregon and the greater Pacific Northwest, I offer comprehensive end-of-life care for individuals and families navigating serious illness, aging, or the final chapter of life. I bring more than a decade of experience supporting individuals and families through life’s most profound transitions. Care is individualized and tailored to the needs, values, and circumstances of each person and family.
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Support may include advance care planning, bedside presence, home death guidance, vigil support, and collaboration with hospice teams across Oregon and Washington. It is never too early to begin these conversations, and meaningful support is possible at every stage of the journey. Care is provided in the home whenever possible, with consultations available by phone or virtual appointment.
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End-of-life care is not only about dying—it is about living intentionally until the very end.
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Before Death: Planning, clarification of healthcare preferences, education about options, and support aligning decisions with personal values.
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During the Dying Process: Bedside presence, caregiver support, coordination with hospice and care teams, and steady guidance through active dying.
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After Death: After-death body care, meaningful practices, coordination of final arrangements, and early grief presence.
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Initial consultations are complimentary and available by phone or virtual appointment.
Before Death: Planning, Clarity, and Meaning
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Preparing for the end of life often brings both practical decisions and deeply personal reflection. This stage offers an opportunity to clarify values, reduce uncertainty, and ensure wishes are honored. Through advance care planning and thoughtful conversation, we create space for informed decision-making, meaningful ritual, and a sense of steadiness long before the final days arrive. Care is shaped by each individual’s cultural, spiritual, and personal beliefs.
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Support before death may include:
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Support for advance care planning and clarification of healthcare preferences
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Education about end-of-life options, including hospice and palliative care
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Assistance navigating advance directives and healthcare documentation (non-legal support)
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Preparation for conversations with medical providers and loved ones
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Values clarification to help align decisions with personal goals and beliefs
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Vigil planning and preparation for the final days
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Ritual and ceremony design (before or after death)
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Burial planning support, including natural and green burial options
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Life review conversations and legacy projects
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Advocacy to help ensure wishes are understood and respected
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Referrals to trusted medical, legal, funeral, and community professionals when appropriate
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Support for individuals and families exploring Death with Dignity Act, including education about MAID and VSED
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During the Dying Process: Presence, Comfort, and Guidance
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I provide steady bedside presence and compassionate end-of-life support during the active dying process. This phase can feel overwhelming for families navigating hospice care, medical decisions, and emotional transitions. My role is to offer calm guidance, advocacy, and hands-on support so that individuals and their loved ones feel informed, supported, and not alone. Support is responsive to each family’s traditions, spiritual framework, and cultural practices.
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Support during the dying process may include:
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Steady bedside presence and emotional support for the dying person and their loved ones
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Education about hospice care, comfort measures, and what to expect as the body changes
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Advocacy within care settings to help ensure comfort and clarity
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Respite and grounding support for caregivers
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Compassionate guidance during the time of passing
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Alternative comfort measures such as gentle massage and aromatherapy
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On-call availability for urgent needs and transitions
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Coordination of care needs, including identifying caregivers and filling gaps in support
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Liaison and communication support with hospice and care team
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Support for individuals and families navigating Death with Dignity, including MAID and VSED
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After Death: Care, Ritual, and Early Grief Support
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The hours and days following a death are tender and often unfamiliar. Gentle, knowledgeable guidance during this time can bring clarity and reassurance. Support continues through after-death body care, meaningful ceremonies and remembrance practices, coordination of disposition options, and early grief presence, allowing families to move forward with intention, cultural integrity, and care.
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After-death support may include:
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Early grief support and compassionate presence
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Education and hands-on guidance for after-death body care at home
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Support for families choosing to remain with their loved one at home for an extended vigil
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Creation and facilitation of post-death rituals, bedside ceremonies, and remembrance practices
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Assistance coordinating next steps, including contacting cremation providers, funeral homes, or arranging green burial options
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Referrals to clergy, grief support, and community resources as needed
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Meaning-making and legacy support for families after a recent death
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How to Work Together​
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Services are tailored to each individual and family. Support may be short-term and focused on a specific transition, or ongoing throughout the planning and dying process.
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Initial inquiries are complimentary and available by phone or virtual appointment. Ongoing support is generally provided in the home, with phone or virtual options available for those outside the Portland–Vancouver area. Travel to other locations may be available depending on circumstances.​​​​​​​​​​
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Services are non-medical and non-legal in nature and are intended to complement, not replace, professional medical, legal, or hospice care.
Request a Consultation
Initial consultations are complimentary and available by phone or virtual appointment. Please fill out the form to get started.