Oamaru Marriage, Funeral Celebrant and End of Life Doula

Funerals

End-of-Life Doula

An end of doula or soul midwife, death companion, is a person who eases, calms and soothes, providing loving, peaceful and caring support at the end of life.

Working with you, as much or as little as you wish, throughout your end of life journey. All my work is heart-led, providing support for you and your loved ones with care and compassion in a non-judgemental and non-denominational way.

Talking with your loved ones and having conversations at the end of your life can be emotional and complex. I can help facilitate, navigating those conversations, making connections and understanding with those who mean the most to you. I also support you when you attend appointments, acting as an impartial presence to help through those difficult days, sharing a cuppa, and researching resources to find the help and advice you may need as you navigate the journey ahead.

Funerals and Memories

Memorials and Funerals

Making memories, leaving legacies, and planning goodbyes, I can help you with creative, inspiring ideas to plan a funeral, either as a living funeral whilst you are alive or as a final farewell once you have died—with inspirations and deas for memories captured in various ways, using scrapbooks, memory boxes, flower seed collections, favourite recipes recorded and many more.

Making an audio/ video recording of your life story, reading love letters, and playing them to your loved ones can create a fitting and beautiful legacy for all those you love and carry in their hearts into the future. Offering ongoing support for you and your people from diagnosis through to your death and beyond can be empowering, comforting, and calming for all.

Advance Care Planning

Picture this scenario: you land up in the emergency room; there is panic and noise. You are not sure what has happened to bring you here, and you are in pain and confusion. The medical doctors and teams are asking many questions about your care, which you cannot articulate the answers to. Tcan be both scary and frustrating.

Do you have someone who you can nominate to advocate for you? Have you spoken to them or written down their name and contact details so somebody can easily call them? Having someone who can advocate for you prevents confusion and indecision; they will have a clear understanding of the treatment and course of action you would like the medical teams to take. It gives you peace of mind, alleviates misunderstandings, and empowers them to speak on your behalf. Initiating these conversations and recording your wishes removes the stress and worry from those you love. I will provide a safe space and be present for you and your loved ones as you share those conversations so that you feel valued and heard as we travel this path together.

These are not legally binding documents and can be added to and altered anytime.

Holistic Therapies

Holistic Therapies are excellent for your soul, mind, and body. With my years of experience, I have developed a toolkit offering a range of techniques, including massage therapy, sound, crystals, aromas, and meditation, to bring a sense of calm and peace.

Private Goodbyes

This is a perfect way to have a small, intimate, private, no-fuss funeral ceremony.

A solution for people who don’t want a formal funeral service but would like to gather for a short, intimate, private ceremony to say goodbye.

This service can be held anywhere, designed to allow a few special people, usually including immediate family and friends, to be present. I will work closely with you to understand your unique situation and preferences, helping you create a memorable, meaningful time of sharing and saying goodbye in a relaxed, affordable and informal way.

Bedside Visuals/ Companion

I help you to create a calm, loving and safe environment. I offer the tools and inspiration and assist you along the way. Make lists of visitors you would like to see in those last days, placing candles, ornaments that have been special to you, personal possessions that mean so much, music choices to help soothe and invigorate, a picture, a photo, a favourite tune. Remembering the young children and inviting their presence may be important to you; providing a sense of normality and prompting difficult conversations all serve to provide a safe space for a loving vigil.

Memorials

Training and Educating Workshops

Sharing Workshops to empower families, individuals, and community groups for those caring for the dying. An uncomplicated educational workshop enables a more precise, more profound understanding of the body and soul’s dying process. We are learning about these stages of the end of life, walking through and learning what happens to our bodies when we are dying, giving you the tools to help, and taking the fear out of these difficult last days to empower and give confidence to those who care.

“Love is the most powerful force on earth. It can move mountains and makes the world around you sparkle with joy”

Steve Mueller