Amelia Whalen
Amelia Whalen is a lifelong learner, ever-curious about deepening connection to our life and death
experience. She aims to face both living and dying with an open heart. She is certified as an end-of-life doula by the Peaceful Presence Project and is NEDA Proficient.
Amelia has always lived close to death from losing her mother at age 7, her own near-death experience at 18, and her husband’s long illness and death in her 30s. Amelia works to ease the fear and uneasiness around death and grief, and has found that witnessing death and dying can be enriching and profound.
As a death doula, she recognizes the spiritual and emotional burdens that may come when facing aging, illness, dying, and death. Amelia gives support with understanding options for care and end-of-life planning.
She offers a steady presence as a witness and guide to the dying. She’s available to assist in
getting affairs in order, accomplishing day-to-day tasks, creating legacy work, creating sacred space and ceremony, and help in planning for body disposition and after-death wishes. She offers workshops inviting her community to approach death and dying with an inspired perspective and advocates for death literacy and open dialog around end-of-life options.
Amelia loves to play outside, especially rock climbing and mountain biking. She’s a founding member of the Sparkle Souls Art Collective, a group committed to building community and inspiring change.
She’s currently creating her next book: The Inspired Guide to Dying, a state-by-state guide to end-of-life planning and options.
Contact Amelia at 518-727-3334 or whalen.author@gmail.com
Tracy Corey
Tracy has been working in end-of-life issues since 2011 when her father’s long battle with cancer turned end-stage. She was deeply humbled by the ethereal quality of presence that wraps around that time and space while also being enlightened by what felt like a gap in services that could assist individuals and families during one of the most challenging times in their lives. It was then that she answered the call to companion the dying and those who care for them.
As a death doula, Tracy provides non-medical holistic support in emotional, spiritual, and practical matters that can include but are not limited to: education; logistical support; advocacy; creating and/or assisting in legacy projects; respite care; bedside vigil; end-of-life comfort care; and aftercare. She is non-judgmental and flexible, recognizing that people are unique, every situation is different, and people come to this sacred time on a wide spectrum. She honors who you are, where you are, what you need, and brings with her the resources she has developed and collected over the years to help minimize stress and maximize presence.
Tracy is also a devoted mother, a bibliophile, a poet, a rockhound, and always seems to have at least one rescue animal.
Tracy is a Certified End-of-Life Doula, Volunteer at Agape Hospice, member of NEDA (National End-of-Life Doula Alliance), and is in the process of becoming NEDA-proficient as a Home Funeral Guide.
Contact Tracy at 520.548.0068 or StillpointTransitions@gmail.com
Anita Kellman
Anita Kellman is a certified end-of-life doula with over 40 years of experience in the healthcare profession. She is also a certified patient navigator and a certified health and wellness coach, dedicated to providing compassionate care and support to individuals and their families during the most challenging times of their lives. Most recently, Anita has been volunteering at hospice, helping many people and families transition.
Her extensive history of helping others goes beyond locally.
Twenty years ago, she started a non-profit called Beat Cancer Boot Camp (Beatcancerbootcamp.com) the first nationally recognized fitness support group for all cancer survivors, which is licensed and trademarked across the country. Although the boot camp was about empowering cancer survivors, Anita also experienced extensive end-of-life, on-the-job training with patients and members who did not survive. She was doing end-of-life doula work for decades before there was even a term for it.
Anita's personal experience with loss has profoundly shaped her professional journey. First, dealing with the loss of her father in 2001, she was not prepared. Then, in 2018, even though she was in the healthcare profession, losing her mother was a particularly difficult period. While she was able to navigate the healthcare system, she realized there were many missing links in the whole dying process. This realization motivated her to help others avoid the loss and confusion she experienced. That is when she decided to become an End of Life Doula.
Being involved in the local medical community for over 40 years, Anita has many connections as well as experience in the healthcare industry. She is quite capable of guiding families at the time of need, providing the support and guidance they require. Part of her recent experience includes serving on the board of NEDA, where she was proud to depart of and help contribute with other nationally recognized end-of-life doulas.
Recently, Anita obtained a certificate in MARMA therapy, an Ayurvedic treatment to help others, which she plans to incorporate into her work with families. With empathy and compassion, Anita looks forward to serving many more years guiding others, helping them physically, spiritually, and emotionally through any crisis.
"End of life is a deeply personal process and no two experiences are alike. As a patient navigator and clinical liaison for over 17 years, I held the hands (both literally and figuratively) of 1000s of patients and families who were going through cancer diagnosis and treatment. I understand the impact of what a terminal diagnosis can be. I have the wisdom and empathy to be able to guide patients and families alike. My services are custom tailored to the patient’s needs."
Visit my website: https://anitakellman.com
Or feel free to reach out directly: Cell: 520-419-8632 • Email: Doula@AnitaKellman.com
Billie Jo Vonhoff
Billie Jo provides End-Of-Life Support as a Death Doula, Coach and Educator, Pet Death Guide and Grief Tender. She was called to this work through an intention of finding her place in service to her community, and through an awakening that this work has been a force in her soul from her earliest experiences with death and loss. With an open heart, she began to notice that there is a very real need in our communities to recognize death and its place in our lives.
If we imagine our End-of-Life journey at all, we probably hope it will take place in our home, with our people close by, our comforts within reach and our fears and anxieties lessened by the familiar; but in reality, it is most often experienced in a medical setting without the hoped-for comforts of being in our own space, making our own choices and attending to the sacred journey that is taking place. When we reach that inevitable hour of our life’s journey and discover we have chosen to “hope for the best”, or rely upon chance rather than our own wisdom and knowledge of our wishes, we may find our decisions are constrained or influenced by misguided best intentions that are not our own.
As a Death Doula, she is an advocate for her clients so that they may make informed and thoughtful decisions, and take actions that will empower them throughout their end-of-life journey. She partners with medical care support teams and other chosen caregivers to provide non-medical support so her clients may center their mind and energy where it is most meaningful for them. And she offers her time and her presence. She is a witness, holding dignity and sacredness in this space for death to unfold as it’s intended.
As an End-Of-Life Coach, she provides a brave space to examine death in terms of best life care choices, guides you to determine your end-of-life care plan and supports you as you share your choices & wishes with your people.
Billie Jo also provides Pet Death Guidance - holistic support for pet parents as they prepare for their pet’s farewell.
It is her love for and connection to her family, friends and community, and her recognition of our collective need to talk about death with less fear and more lovingkindness and grace, that has empowered her to be of service in this space.
She is truly living the work of her heart.
Billie Jo received her training & certification through the Conscious Dying Collective, INELDA (International End of Life Doula Assoc) and The Centre for Sacred Deathcare.
Contact Billie Jo at 971-404-4229 or billiejo@consciousactsoflove.com
Yvette
In 2016 Yvette Bredice began to search for deeper meaning to her life. She knew she wanted more than a second career. She wanted to do something purpose driven, not knowing yet where that would lead her.
After two years of being quiet and embracing, the unknown things became very clear. After her own near-death experience/memory surfaced, she understood why the idea of death never really scared her. Her near-death experience opened up a place of knowing and accepting that Life and Death are really ONE event. This knowing also left her with the ability to relate to the fear that we often experience at end of life. She has a tremendous ability to accept souls right where they are without judgement. She is a true empath.
In 2018 she took the training course offer by the International End of Life Doula Association (INELDA). She loves being and working as a Doula. She also volunteers for TMC Hospice here in Tucson, AZ. She has taught several classes at TMC Seniors.
Yvette started Tucson End of Life Doulas in 2018. Her intention was to create a hub for local doulas: A place to come together and collectively support each other while working as End of Life Doulas in our community. With high standards being met, all the Doulas will meet you with dignity, compassion, and respect right where you are.
Contact Yvette at: (520) 904-3389 or ybredice@gmail.com
Jennifer Knochel
Jennifer Knochel has built her life around community empowerment, compassionate care, connection to nature, and deep listening. She has worked as a teacher, outdoor retreat cook, caregiver, Eco-Chaplain, and mindfulness facilitator. These pursuits have come together to support her work as a Death Doula.
Jennifer’s training includes a master’s degree in education, Mindfulness Facilitation through the UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center, Eco-Chaplaincy from the Sati Center for Buddhist Studies, and she is a certified End of Life Doula from the University of Vermont. She has been practicing mindfulness meditation for 15 years and offers community workshops where she shares nature-based mindfulness practices to help people connect with their inner and outer nature. Jennifer is passionate about gathering, growing, and preparing food that supports, empowers, and heals her community. Her teaching career was focused on teaching students about sustainable food systems, interconnection, and emotional intelligence.
As a death doula she hopes to offer presence and space for her clients to process their grief. She invites people to cultivate positive relationships and kindness for themselves, for the earth, and all beings. Jennifer will walk beside you on your path, meeting you where you are at, and supporting you on your journey. Her focus is to be a companion and support in the cultivation of trusting in oneself and in the unique paths we all walk. She is available to help in the planning of all aspects of death from the logistics of advanced directives, planning for caregiving, and discussing body disposition options to creating legacy projects and being a spiritual caregiver.
Being intimate with sickness and death has changed and enriched Jennifer’s life. By working as a caregiver and bringing death into the forefront of her meditation practice, she has cultivated curiosity, kindness, and open-heartedness on a deep level. Her life experiences have prepared her to approach this work with tenderness and wisdom.
Contact Jennifer at:520.247.1848 or jenncookswithfire@gmail.com
