About me

Hi, I am Jill, a Certified Death Doula. My path to becoming a death doula started when caring for my Grandmother during the final stages of her life. 

In 2006, my husband and I moved from California to New Jersey to pursue our dream of opening a bakery. The move also allowed us to live rent-free with my 90-year-old grandmother in the house my grandfather had built for her decades ago.

Not long after settling into our new home, my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer. My family decided to care for her at home over the last four years of my grandmother’s life.  During the last 6 weeks of her life, we added in the help of hospice.

Since I became one of my grandmother's main caregivers, I encountered emotions I had never anticipated. The confusion and overwhelm of witnessing my grandmother's decline, while also raising a 6-month-old baby, pushed me to seek a better understanding of the dying process and end-of-life care.

Through the weeks leading up to my grandmother's passing, I experienced a transformation. I moved from confusion and sadness to a sense of calm and fascination with the help of the hospice team. Instead of fearing death, I embraced the time we had together, cherishing the beautiful moments and learning from my grandmother's experiences at the end of life.

Looking back on the experience, I realized that there was a lack of awareness and preparation for the dying process. I wished I had been better informed and more emotionally equipped earlier on to navigate the journey. This realization sparked a deep desire within me to help others facing similar situations, ensuring they could find healing and beauty in their experiences instead of confusion and fear.

In the summer of 2019, while listening to a podcast, I discovered the term "death doula" and immediately felt the calling in my heart. I embarked on a journey of training and education to become a certified death doula. 

By January 2020, I had started my formal training, earning a certificate as a Death Doula through IAPC and completing a death doula mentorship with Jill Schock of Death Doula LA in August 2020.

My passion for holistic healing led me to pursue a 9-month apprenticeship in shamanic healing techniques with Lilith Moon of Shamanic Yoga in 2021. I wanted to offer my clients deep soul-level healing before death, complementing my 20-year background as a part-time trauma-informed yoga instructor and Reiki level 2 practitioner.

Through my training as a death doula, I found a renewed sense of gratitude for life.  The joy of being with my family made me even more passionate about helping others heal before they face death. Whether my clients have a week or forty years left, I believe that soul-level healing is possible, providing a profound gift for those nearing the end of their journey.

In January 2022, I made the decision to leave my full-time job to focus more on my calling as a death doula. I cherish the opportunity to work closely with my clients, guiding them through their fears, sadness, and grief. By actively listening and understanding my client’s needs, I help them prepare mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically for the inevitable, creating end-of-life rituals and facilitating important conversations with loved ones and doctors.

This transition not only allowed me to embrace my passion fully but also granted me the time and freedom to be with my family and savor every moment with my loved ones. My awakening to what truly mattered in my life made me realize that time was a precious gift, and I intend to use it wisely to support others and cherish my own experiences.

In January of 2023, I created a podcast, Seeing Death Clearly, to help people get comfortable hearing conversations about death, dying, and grief while also learning that by embracing our mortality we can live a better life.

My story continues to unfold, as I dedicated my life to being a comforting presence and guide for those facing the end of life. With my compassion, knowledge, and deep soul-level healing techniques, I offer a sense of peace and understanding to my clients and their families, ensuring that they too can find beauty and healing during life's most challenging moments. As I continue to embrace my calling, I know that my journey as a death doula is just beginning, and I look forward to touching the lives of many more souls along the way.

If you would like to work with me you can find out more about my packages, individual services, and my coaching programs then book a complimentary call with me to see how I can serve you and your family. 

And before you go, don’t forget to grab my free End of Life Checklist.  This is a great place to start if you are terminally ill, a caregiver, or at any stage of life.