Death Doula

What Is A Death Doula?

A death doula, sometimes called an end-of-life doula, is a trained professional who provides holistic support to individuals and families during the dying process. Much like birth doulas assist with childbirth, death doulas guide people through the final stages of life, offering emotional, spiritual, and practical assistance specifically tailored to the needs of the dying person and their loved ones.

Death doulas help create a compassionate and meaningful end-of-life experience. Their roles vary but can include:

  • Emotional Support: They listen, offer comfort, and provide a non-judgmental presence, helping individuals process fears, regrets, or unresolved emotions.
  • Spiritual Guidance: Doulas may facilitate rituals, meditations, or conversations about legacy and meaning, respecting the person’s beliefs or cultural practices.
  • Practical Assistance: They assist with planning, such as organizing advance directives, coordinating with hospice care, or helping create a peaceful environment.
  • Family Support: Doulas educate and support families, helping them navigate grief, understand the dying process, or even take breaks to avoid burnout.

Death doulas don’t replace medical professionals or hospice staff but rather complement their work by focusing on the human side of dying. They empower people to approach death with dignity, intention, and peace, ensuring the experience aligns with the individual’s values.

By fostering connection and understanding, death doulas help transform an often-taboo topic into one of acceptance and even beauty, marking the end of life as meaningful as the beginning.

Get In Touch

Complete the form below to get in touch with one of our Death Doulas.

    SANDI BIANCHI

    End of Life Doula
    Acompañante al Final de la Vida

    Sandi comes from a line of healers and has had an intimate relationship with death since she was born. Sandi completed her training with Lifespan Doulas in 2020. By explaining the gentle way, we leave this world and offering an abundance of love and comfort, Sandi minimizes the fear of death while helping souls cross over. Sandi is fluent in Spanish, and her Mexican culture inspires her to bring the tradition and practice of Home Funerals to American culture.

    She is a co-founder of the Chicago Death Doula Collective and volunteers with hospice at various facilities and homes. Sandi, a member of the International Association for Near-Death Studies (IANDS), uses her personal near-death experience to help guide others through their transitions and spiritual journeys without judgment.

    Through her own NDE at the age of 14, she offers guidance to others who have had a Near Death Experience by helping individuals integrate and process their own NDE. Besides her various roles, she is also a Death Doula mentor, Reiki healer, and an ordained minister.

    Acompañante al Final de la Vida
    Sandi proviene de una línea de sanadores y ha tenido una relación íntima con la muerte desde que nació. Completó su formación con Lifespan Doulas en 2020. Al explicar la manera suave en que dejamos este mundo y ofrecer una abundancia de amor y consuelo, Sandi minimiza el miedo a la muerte mientras ayuda a las almas a cruzar al otro lado. Sandi habla español con fluidez, y su cultura Mexicana la inspira a traer la tradición y práctica de los funerales en casa a la cultura estadounidense.

    Es cofundadora del Colectivo de Doulas de Muerte de Chicago y ofrece su tiempo como voluntaria en hospicios, tanto en instalaciones como en hogares. Sandi es miembro de la Asociación Internacional de Estudios sobre Experiencias Cercanas a la Muerte (IANDS). Ella utiliza su experiencia personal de una experiencia cercana a la muerte para guiar a otros en sus transiciones y viajes espirituales sin juicio.

    A través de su propia experiencia cercana a la muerte a los 14 años, Sandi ofrece orientación a quienes han vivido una experiencia similar, ayudándoles a integrar y procesar lo vivido. Además de sus diversos roles, también es mentora de doulas de muerte, sanadora de Reiki y ministra ordenada.

    www.shepherdyouhome.com

    SANDI BIANCHI

    End of Life Doula
    Acompañante al Final de la Vida

    Sandi comes from a line of healers and has had an intimate relationship with death since she was born. Sandi completed her training with Lifespan Doulas in 2020. By explaining the gentle way, we leave this world and offering an abundance of love and comfort, Sandi minimizes the fear of death while helping souls cross over. Sandi is fluent in Spanish, and her Mexican culture inspires her to bring the tradition and practice of Home Funerals to American culture.

    She is a co-founder of the Chicago Death Doula Collective and volunteers with hospice at various facilities and homes. Sandi, a member of the International Association for Near-Death Studies (IANDS), uses her personal near-death experience to help guide others through their transitions and spiritual journeys without judgment.

    Through her own NDE at the age of 14, she offers guidance to others who have had a Near Death Experience by helping individuals integrate and process their own NDE. Besides her various roles, she is also a Death Doula mentor, Reiki healer, and an ordained minister.

    Acompañante al Final de la Vida
    Sandi proviene de una línea de sanadores y ha tenido una relación íntima con la muerte desde que nació. Completó su formación con Lifespan Doulas en 2020. Al explicar la manera suave en que dejamos este mundo y ofrecer una abundancia de amor y consuelo, Sandi minimiza el miedo a la muerte mientras ayuda a las almas a cruzar al otro lado. Sandi habla español con fluidez, y su cultura Mexicana la inspira a traer la tradición y práctica de los funerales en casa a la cultura estadounidense.

    Es cofundadora del Colectivo de Doulas de Muerte de Chicago y ofrece su tiempo como voluntaria en hospicios, tanto en instalaciones como en hogares. Sandi es miembro de la Asociación Internacional de Estudios sobre Experiencias Cercanas a la Muerte (IANDS). Ella utiliza su experiencia personal de una experiencia cercana a la muerte para guiar a otros en sus transiciones y viajes espirituales sin juicio.

    A través de su propia experiencia cercana a la muerte a los 14 años, Sandi ofrece orientación a quienes han vivido una experiencia similar, ayudándoles a integrar y procesar lo vivido. Además de sus diversos roles, también es mentora de doulas de muerte, sanadora de Reiki y ministra ordenada.

    www.shepherdyouhome.com

    CATHERINE DURKIN ROBINSON

    A graduate of the University of Vermont’s End-of-Life Doula program, Catherine is a credentialed, NEDA-proficient member of the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance. She was also a longtime hospice-trained volunteer and registered pre-need counselor in Florida before relocating to Chicago in July 2022. Her varied career includes 30 years as a political organizer, 10 years of teaching at the high school and college levels, and 10 years as a newspaper columnist. She teaches future doulas at the University of New England and is also an educator and board member at End-of-Life Psychedelic Care. Catherine holds regular classes and workshops in Chicago at St. Joseph’s Hospital, assisted living facilities, DePaul University, and Northwestern University. 

    Read her popular death-positive column at catherinedurkinrobinson.substack.com

    HOME FUNERAL

    We honor each family’s unique values, traditions, and preferences—including those who choose to care for their loved one at home.
    We proudly support families planning home funerals by providing the essential legal services required in Illinois, including filing death certificates, obtaining necessary permits, and offering transportation when needed. Whether you’re working with your own death doula or ours, planning a home vigil, or simply seeking a more personal farewell, our team is here to collaborate respectfully and ensure your wishes are carried out with dignity and care.

    WHAT IS A DOULA?

    A death doula is a trained, non-medical professional who provides emotional, spiritual, and practical support to individuals and families during the end-of-life process. They offer companionship, advocacy, and guidance to ensure a compassionate and dignified end of life.

    HOW DOES A DEATH DOULA DIFFER FROM HOSPICE CARE?

    While hospice care focuses on medical and palliative support, death doulas provide non-medical care, such as emotional support, legacy planning, and family coordination. They work alongside hospice teams to address holistic needs.

    WHAT SERVICES DO YOUR DEATH DOULAS PROVIDE?

    Our death doulas offer personalized support, including emotional companionship, help with advance care planning, creating legacy projects, facilitating family conversations, and coordinating with funeral services.

    WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM A DEATH DOULA?

    Anyone facing the end of life, their families, or caregivers can benefit. Doulas support individuals with terminal illnesses, aging adults, or those seeking to plan meaningful end-of-life experiences.

    WHEN SHOULD WE CONTACT A DEATH DOULA?

    You can reach out at any stage – upon a terminal diagnosis, during hospice care, or when planning for future needs. Early involvement allows doulas to build trust and tailor support.

     

    HOW DO DEATH DOULAS WORK WITH YOUR FUNERAL HOME?

    Our death doulas collaborate closely with our funeral staff to ensure seamless support. They focus on emotional and practical needs, complementing our expertise in funeral arrangements and memorial services.

    CAND A DEATH DOULA HELP WITH GRIEF SUPPORT?

    Yes, many death doulas provide grief support for families before and after a loved one’s passing, offering a listening ear, resources, or guidance to navigate loss.

    HOW ARE YOUR DEATH DOULAS TRAINED?

    Our death doulas are certified through recognized training programs and have expertise in end-of-life care, communication, and grief support. They are compassionate professionals dedicated to personalized care.

    IS A DEATH DOULA’S SUPPORT COVERED BY INSURANCE?

    Death doula services are typically not covered by insurance, as they are non-medical. Contact us to discuss options and costs, as we strive to make our services accessible.

    HOW DO I CONNECT WITH A DEATH DOULA?

    Simply fill out the inquiry form on this page, and one of our doulas will contact you to start the conversation. You can also call 773.654.3744 for immediate assistance.