Photo by Potter Clay Studios
Hi, I’m Laura …
I have been studying, learning, and growing into the role of an End of Life Doula my whole life. The death of my Grandmothers in 2014 and 2018 respectively, reinforced that this is my right path.
I am a proud member of NEDA - the National End of Life Doula Association and of the DDNI- Death & Dying Network International. I have completed the Douglas College End of Life Doula course as well as the End of Life Doula program by Going with Grace. I have earned my Thanatology certificate through Durham College and am always attending courses to complement the skillset I offer.
I volunteer in a Palliative Care unit weekly. I value the wonderful connections and experiences I have been fortunate to have with staff, patients, and families. I have also been a one-on-one grief support volunteer through the Alberta Hospice Palliative Care Association.
Not sure about an End of Life Doula? Please feel free to get in touch to learn more. It might not be for everyone, but it might be for you.
Education
How to Become A Death Doula, Soul Passages 2018
End of Life Doula Certificate, Douglas College 2019
End of Life Training Certificate, Going with Grace, 2019
Hospice Volunteer Training, Pilgrims Hospice & Capital Care, 2019
National End-of-Life Doula Alliance Proficiency Badge, 2019
Thanatology Certificate (with honours), Durham College 2020
Deathly Matters, Online Conference, 2020
Palliative Massage Certificate, Insitute of Traditional Medicine, 2020
Dementia Foundations Certificate, McMaster University, 2022
Essential Approaches to Palliative Care (PSW) Course, Pallium Canada, 2022
Grief Work Training Certificate, Institute for the Study of Birth, Breath & Death, 2022
Palliative Education & Research Virtual Conference, 2022
MAiD Education Series, Bridge C-14, 2023
Peer Health Navigator, York University, 2023
Hold Space Consultant Training, Institute for the Study of Birth, Breath & Death, 2024
While my sweet Grandma Mary lay dying in a hospital bed, friends and relatives were coming and going, bringing her treats, and making small talk about the weather. I overheard a nurse ask what she was planning for her garden this year. Wait…what? Her garden? It was February.
I optimistically and naively questioned what I was seeing and hearing. Treats, the weather, her garden? Was it possible that maybe she wasn’t dying? I quietly pulled a nurse aside to ask. She smiled, laughed, patted me on the hand, and said, “Oh no, we just talk like that, it’s just easier for everyone.” Grandma would die a week later. I can confidently say that pretending what is happening is not happening approach did not make it easier for me.
I know this is not a unique story. We know that we don’t do death well in our Western culture; I wholeheartedly believe this is a disservice to those of us left behind and those who are on the path of departing. Walking alongside those we love as they prepare to leave this world, and planning for our own eventual departure is an act of love. With guidance and support, we can do much better for ourselves and others. As one of my favourite authors Glennon Doyle says, ‘We can do hard things.’
My Why
My lovely Grandmothers, Armella & Mary