You don't have to face this alone.
End-of-Life Doula
Steady presence through life's final chapter.
Being present..
Facing death - your own, or a loved one's - rarely looks the way we expect. Sometimes it's quiet, and lonely. Sometimes the room is full of people who love you, and it still feels hard to say what's really on your mind. Words get complicated. The people closest to you are suddenly asked to be so many things at once - caregiver, decision-maker, comforter - while also grieving themselves. Often, they're too close, too afraid, or too exhausted to be fully present with all of it. And you may see this happening and feel powerless to change it, wishing it were different, for their sake as much as your own. As a society, we've become unpracticed at this. We speak of death rarely, and often too late. And so, when it arrives, for ourselves or someone we love, many of us find we don't quite know how to be with it, or who to turn to.
What the Support Actually Looks Like
What follows is an overview of what you might expect from working with me, or things you could choose from — not a checklist, and not a fixed program. In our conversations, we'll look together at what you truly want and need, and figure out how to make that real —together. That might include things not listed here too, like planning a funeral, or something entirely your own.
Being there.
Sometimes what's needed most is simply someone to talk to — someone who asks how you're really doing, and has the time and space to simply listen. There may be things moving inside you that haven't found words yet, or things you've never said out loud, to anyone.Fears, regrets, hopes, things left unsaid to the people you love. I'm here to listen to all of it, without needing you to feel any particular way. Whatever wants to be spoken, has room here.
Life review
Together, we can look back — at the moments, people, and choices that shaped your life. This might mean looking at what you're proud of, or things that still feel unresolved, things that want to be seen or understood. For many, this brings a sense of peace — though it doesn't have to. Sometimes it's simply about being witnessed.
Advance Directives
If you'd like, we can talk through the medical decisions that may need to be made on your behalf — what kind of treatment you would or wouldn't want, and in what circumstances —so your wishes are clear, documented, and the people caring for you, medical or family, aren't left guessing. We can also talk through who should speak for you, if there ever comes a time when you can't speak for yourself. This is entirely your choice; some people find deep relief in this conversation, others prefer not to have it, and both are okay.
Legacy Projects
Is there something you’d like to leave behind for the people you love — a letter, a recording, an object, a story? Let’s be creative together, and bring your wishes to life. In our conversations, we’ll see what reveals itself — what truly matters to you here. I’ll help wherever you’d like support: maybe with bringing something into being, maybe with making sure it reaches the people you want it to reach, at the time you choose.
Medical Advocacy & Documentation
For some, having support in communicating with medical providers — understanding what's being said, making sure your voice is heard — matters a great deal. I'm here to help with that too, when it's needed.
Sitting Vigil
When the time comes, I sit vigil — with you, and with the people who love you. No one can walk this final path for you, but you don't have to walk it without company. I'm also there for your family — so they can rest, step away for a moment, or simply not carry every houralone. I'm there for all of you, through the dying, and in the immediate hours after.
Getting started
The first step is simply to call or email me.
From there, we'll schedule a home visit — up to 60 minutes, for a flat fee of $60, so we can look together at what's really needed. Your intake fee counts toward your first package. There's no obligation to continue afterward — this is simply a chance to see what could be helpful, and whether this feels right for you. If it is, booking is flexible: by the hour, or through a package that supports the time ahead.
Prices & Booking
Intake Fee: Up to 1 hour — $60, travel fee included.
Hours are valid for use within 6 months of purchase .
All support — from a single conversation to sitting vigil — is drawn from the same pool of hours. Need more than 30 hours? Just reach out — we'll find what works.
Price
$ 85
$ 510
$ 960
$ 1350
Package
Single Hour
6 Hours
12 Hours
18 Hours
Hourly rate
$ 85
$ 85
$ 80
$ 75
I do not come to deliver a service.
I come to be present with you.
About me
Death, dying, and loss have accompanied me for most of my life. I don't come to this work as a stranger to fear — I know what it means to feel that this is unbearable.
What I've learned, slowly, is how to stay present with it anyway: not to look away, not to rush past it, not to pretend it isn't happening.
That's what I want to offer you: someone who can remain, steady, even here. Someone who can sit with whatever is true in this moment — fear, anger, peace, uncertainty, all of it — without needing you to feel any particular way. I won't tell you how this should look. There is no single right way to die, just as there's no single right way to live.
What I can do is ask the questions that help us find out what matters most to you, right now, and walk that path together.
I'm certified as an End-of-Life Doula through the University of Vermont's professional certificate program. I'm also doing hands-on practicum work at a local hospice, two days a week — walking alongside the care team, and accompanying people through the process of dying.
Frequently Asked Questions
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An end-of-life doula offers non-medical, holistic support to people navigating a life-threatening or terminal diagnosis — not only in the final days, but at any point along the way. Some people reach out right after a diagnosis, even if they may have years ahead of them — wanting help understanding their situation, support with things that feel important to address, or simply someone to talk to. Others reach out later, when the end feels closer. However and whenever you find your way here, you're welcome.
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This is for anyone who has received a terminal diagnosis — wherever you are in that process, whenever the wish or need for companionship arises. Someone outside your immediate circle, with whom you can say anything, ask anything, and find support with whatever questions, uncertainty, or emotions and feelings come up. Even if you only want to talk once, for a single hour, you are welcome to reach out.
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No. I don't provide medical treatment, nursing care, or medication management. My certification is through the University of Vermont's End-of-Life Doula program — a non-medical, holistic path of support. It's not a replacement for hospice or medical care, but a complement to it, working alongside your medical team, never in place of them.
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Yes. If your loved one isn't able to make the call themselves, please feel free to reachout. We'll look together at what's needed, and what's possible.
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Yes, in many ways. Respite is part of what I offer — so you can rest, step away, or simply not carry every hour alone. If what you're looking for is ongoing emotional support or space to process your own grief, please reach out to me about that too —together, we can look at how grief and loss coaching could support you.
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I offer end-of-life doula support on Orcas Island and throughout the San Juan Islands. If you're nearby and not sure whether you're in range, just reach out — we'll figure it out together.
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Yes, I hold a limited number of sliding scale spots for people who need it, because I believe this kind of support shouldn't depend on what you can afford. At the same time, honoring my own capacity and needs matters to me too, so these spots are limited. If cost is a barrier for you, please reach out and let me know your situation —we'll see together what's possible.
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The best first step is simply to call or email me. We'll sit down together — in person or by phone — and talk about what's needed. From there, you're welcome to book online, or I can send you an invoice directly, whichever feels easier for you.
Contact me
chiara@heartscominghome.com
(360) 364 6981