JulieCryns.ca

JulieCryns.ca

Death Doula Services

What is a Death/End of Life Doula

The word “doula” comes from ancient Greek meaning “a woman who serves.” While birth doulas have become widely accepted over a number of years, the  death doula movement was created in the United States less than 20 years ago in response to a growing need for end of life care.  End of life doulas provide emotional, practical and spiritual support for the whole family. They can assist with planning and preparations, guidance during the dying process, and support after the death. 

Planning

Information

Support

PLANNING

Many people express a fear of death and dying. By talking openly about it, asking questions, and planning ahead, our fears can be significantly reduced. By creating an Advance Care Plan, we can remove the burden from our loved ones of having to make emotional decisions during an already stressful time.
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Making plans which include family members will strengthen bonds and serve as a healthy model to help children understand that death is a part of life.
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INFORMATION

Life is about choices, and so is death. Just as in life, it is important to make informed choices, so too can we make informed choices when it comes to end of life. In many cases, “we don’t know what we don’t know”, and it is the role of the death doula to navigate resources, share information, and suggest next steps.
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In her role as a death doula, Julie provides information ranging from community care resources and the pros and cons of hospice care, to current MAiD legislation and natural burial options.
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SUPPORT

Julie believes that, with the right support, even the worst situations can be made bearable.When her own husband was dying, she had the support of her incredible family, but they had to travel from Scotland to be with her. While their emotional and practical support were a huge boost to her morale, being family, they were too close to the situation. Her pain was their pain, and every decision was ultimately hers alone.
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Julie’s personal experience enables her to empathize with a family’s loss, and all of the confusion, pain, and grief that surrounds it. Her extensive professional training enables her to provide practical, emotional, and meaningful support when and where it is needed. As a retired primary teacher (30years) and a former mother of two bereaved kids, she also offers tools and strategies for supporting grieving children and youth.
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