A Peaceful Transition-End of Life Doula

04/15/2026

Sometimes a child will ask a question that makes you pause…
“Why do people die?”
“Will you die?”
“Will I die?”

And suddenly, you’re not sure what to say.

Here’s a gentle reminder:
If a child is asking, it usually means they’re ready to hear 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔.

You don’t need perfect words. Just honest, simple ones.

You might say:
“Most people die when they are very old, after living a long life. Sometimes people die when they are very sick or hurt, and that is really sad.”

Or…
“When someone dies, their body stops working. They don’t feel pain anymore. They are quiet and still.”

It’s also helpful to be clear and avoid phrases like “they’ve gone to sleep” or “they’re away on vacation,” as these can be confusing or even frightening for a child.

It’s okay to use examples from nature, too.
A flower that has wilted.
A bird that no longer flies.

Children understand more than we think…
but they also need reassurance.

“I’m here.”
“I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.”
“If you’re worried, we can always talk about it.”

Simple. Honest. Loving.

If you’re supporting a child through these tender questions, or through the illness or loss of someone they love, you don’t have to navigate it alone. I’m here to gently support you and your family through these conversations.

📞 Call me. Let’s talk.

04/08/2026

At the end of life, things tend to become… beautifully simple.

Not the to-do lists.
Not the achievements.
Not the things we thought mattered so much.

But this…

How deeply we loved.
How gently we lived.
And how we learned to let go.

Letting go isn’t about giving up—
it’s about making peace.
With what was.
With what is.
And with what we cannot change.

And sometimes… we don’t have to wait until the very end to live this way.

We can choose it now.
In how we show up.
In how we love.
In what we release.

If you or someone you love is walking through life’s tender transitions, you don’t have to do it alone. I’m here to walk alongside you—with care, compassion, and presence.

📞 Call me. Let’s talk.

04/01/2026

Did you know…
Studies suggest that hearing may be the last sense to remain at the end of life.

Research has shown that the brain can still respond to sound—even in an unconscious state—during the final hours.

Which means… your voice may still be heard. 💛

Even when there are no words coming back, connection is still possible.

In those final moments, conversations don’t have to be perfect—just real.

“I love you.”
“I’m here.”
“Thank you.”
“You can rest.”

Simple words…
but they can bring comfort and peace in ways we may never fully see.

So if you find yourself beside someone in their final chapter,
don’t be afraid of the silence.

Speak gently.
Speak from the heart.
Because they may still be listening.

And even at the end…
love continues. It is heard. It is felt.

If you or someone you love is walking through life’s tender transitions, you don’t have to do it alone. I’m here to walk alongside you.

📞 Call me. Let’s talk.

03/25/2026

What if the most comforting thing you could offer someone in grief… is simply a story?

A friend shared a story with me this week… and I can’t stop thinking about it.

It was about a mutual friend we recently lost—about his kindness during a time when she felt completely out of place… new in business circles, quietly questioning if she belonged. And there he was, offering warmth without needing to, making space without saying a word.

She didn’t think much of it when she posted it on social media.
But then something beautiful happened…

His loved ones reached out.
They said it made them smile.
That it brought them comfort.

And it reminded me of something so important:
When someone we love is gone, stories become a way we keep them close.

Stories say…
“They mattered.”
“They were here.”
“They made a difference.”

In grief, we often don’t know what to say.
But we don’t need perfect words—we just need real ones.

A memory.
A moment.
A small kindness that meant everything.

Because sometimes, the most healing thing we can offer isn’t advice…
It’s a story.

So if someone you love is grieving, consider sharing a story about the person they miss. You may not realize it, but you could be giving them a piece of comfort they’ll hold onto forever. 💛

And if you or someone you love is walking through grief or life’s tender transitions, you don’t have to do it alone. I’m here to walk alongside you.

📞 Call me. Let’s talk.

03/18/2026

What if we’ve been looking at life all wrong?

We often hear, “You only live once.”
But what if the truth is a little more comforting… and a lot more empowering?

We only die once.
But we live every single day.

Every sunrise is another chance to laugh a little louder, love a little deeper, and show up for the people who matter most. It’s in the quiet moments—the conversations, the shared meals, the simple “I’m here with you”—where life really happens.

And when we remember that life is made up of these everyday moments, something shifts. We stop waiting. We start living.

So today, maybe it’s not about doing something big.
Maybe it’s about being present… and letting that be enough.

If you or someone you love is navigating life’s tender transitions, you don’t have to do it alone. I’m here to walk alongside you—honoring each moment and gently celebrating the life still being lived.

📞 Call me. Let’s talk.

03/12/2026

This is what I do. I am here for you. ♥️♥️♥️

Have you ever wondered what a death doula is, or felt curious about the work and wanted to learn more?

A death doula, also known as an end-of-life doula, is someone who offers compassionate, non-medical support to individuals and families as they approach the end of life. While many people associate doulas with the final days at the bedside, the role is much broader than that.

You might like my class, “At the Bedside,” which is an introduction to becoming an end-of-life doula. Whether you are curious about this role or are already doing this work, this class would be good for you.

The next class is Sunday, May 3rd
10-12pm Pacific Time via Zoom

In this class, we will explore what death doulas can and can’t do, and clear up some common misconceptions. For example, doulas are not state-licensed, mandated, or regulated professionals, and the word “certified” can often create confusion. We will talk openly about what that means and how people can enter this field.

We will look at the ways doulas can support others long before the final moments of life, from companionship and guidance to helping people navigate aging, illness, and life transitions. This work isn’t one-size-fits-all, each person brings their own gifts, presence, and strengths.

This class is an opportunity not only to learn about the field, but also to look inward. You may discover that the qualities you naturally carry, your ability to listen, sit with others, support families, or simply be present, are exactly the kinds of gifts that are needed in this work.

The class fee is $25. If finances would prevent you from attending, please email me to inquire about a scholarship.

At the end of class I will share links to the doula training programs I recommend.
Additional resources are included below.

If you have ever felt drawn to supporting others through life’s most vulnerable transitions, this class may help you better understand the many ways that presence, compassion, and human connection can make a difference.

See you there.
xo
Gabby

Email me for a scholarship:
thehospiceheart@gmail.com

Link to learn more about this class and register for it:
https://www.thehospiceheart.net/at-the-bedside

This is a podcast conversation between a death doula (me) and a birth doula:
https://bestlifebestdeath.com/podcast-89/

Link to the book, “The Doula Tool Kit”:
https://www.amazon.com/Doula-Tool-Kit-End-Life/dp/B0CNN5LJMS

03/11/2026

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠?

When someone we love is grieving, it’s often hard to know what to say. Words can feel small in the face of loss.

But sometimes, love arrives in quieter ways.

A warm bowl of soup.
A simple casserole left on the doorstep.
Fresh bread wrapped in a kitchen towel.
A familiar dish that says, “𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑑𝑜𝑛’𝑡 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑦 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡.”

Comfort food does more than nourish the body. It tells someone, 𝐼’𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢. 𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑑𝑜𝑛’𝑡 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑚𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑒.

Across cultures and generations, sharing food has always been one of the most compassionate ways we care for each other during loss. It creates a small moment of warmth when everything else may feel heavy.

If someone you know is grieving, don’t worry about finding the perfect words. Sometimes a pot of soup, a homemade meal, or even a simple favorite dish can speak volumes.

And if you or someone you love is navigating grief or the end-of-life journey, you don’t have to walk through it alone. As an End-of-Life Doula, I’m here to support families with compassion, guidance, and care.

📞 Call me. Let’s talk.

03/04/2026

𝐀 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 💛

This Women’s History Month, I’m thinking of the quiet strength of women — the ones who keep families beating like a steady heart.

The mothers, daughters, sisters, partners, and friends who show up with compassion and care.
The women who sit beside hospital beds, hold hands, make the calls, and somehow keep everyone else steady.

Women often become the heart of the family creating communities of love, kindness, and compassion around them.

In fact, women make up three-quarters of full-time health care workers today, and about 60% of family caregivers in the U.S.

But behind those numbers are women who love deeply and carry so much for others.

So this month, I offer a small prayer:

May the women who care for everyone else remember they deserve care, too.
May they feel supported when the journey feels heavy.
And may they know they are never alone.

If you’re walking the caregiving or end-of-life journey for someone you love, I’m here to help.

📞 Call me. You don’t have to carry it all alone. XOXO.

02/25/2026

“𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟!” – 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐌. 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐥𝐳

Charlie Brown made that phrase famous… usually after the kite got stuck in a tree or Lucy pulled the football away.

But in real life, grief — especially for children — isn’t comic strip simple.

For kids, grief can look like extra clingy hugs… sudden silence… big questions at bedtime… or wanting to play one minute and cry the next.

Because children don’t just talk about grief, they live it through their bodies, their routines, and their imagination.

💛 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 & 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬 need what they understand best: familiar faces, steady routines, and lots of cuddles. Stability = safety.
🎨 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬 need honest, simple answers and ways to express big feelings through play, art, music, and storytelling.
(And yes, it’s okay when they ask the same question 27 times.)
🖤 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬 & 𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬 may look like they want space, and they often do, but they still need to know you’re right there when they’re ready.

Journals, playlists, poetry, and choice in rituals can help them process in their own way.

Here’s the most important thing to remember:
Children don’t “move on” from grief. They grow around it, again and again, as they grow.

So if your child is grieving, take a deep breath. You don’t have to have all the answers. Presence, honesty, and love are more than enough.

And you don’t have to do this alone. As an End-of-Life Doula, I support families in having these tender conversations, creating safe spaces for expression, and helping children feel held through loss.

📞 Call me. I’m here for you. XOXO

02/18/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟 🎶
Can we talk about how certain songs can undo us in seconds?

One note — and suddenly we’re back in a car ride, a kitchen, a hug, a moment with someone we miss.

That’s because sound doesn’t just live in our ears. It lives in our body.

A familiar melody can slow our breathing.
A simple prayer or mantra can quiet the mental noise.
The soft vibration of a singing bowl… or even humming to yourself… can release emotions you didn’t even know were waiting.

There’s a reason every culture sings, chants, drums, or gathers in sound when someone dies.
It gives grief somewhere to go.
It gives love a way to stay.

So if your heart feels heavy, try pressing play on their song.
Create a memory playlist.
Sit in stillness with a word that comforts you.
Let the tears come if they need to.

These aren’t small things. They’re healing.

And if your grief feels too big or too quiet to carry alone, I’m here. As an end-of-life doula, I help people create gentle, meaningful rituals that bring comfort, connection, and peace.

📞 Call me. Let’s find what soothes your heart. XOXO.

02/11/2026

𝐈𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞’𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲… 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨?

Would you finally say what you’ve been holding back?
Call someone first?
Forgive faster?
Laugh louder?

As an end-of-life doula, I’ve learned something beautiful:
When people reach the end, they rarely wish they had worried more. They wish they had loved more. Said more. Lived more.

If this were my last Valentine’s, I wouldn’t book a fancy dinner.
I’d buy myself a pot of roses.
I’d plant them in my backyard, tend to them, talk to them, and make sure they keep flowering long after I’m gone — so my family could look at them one day and think, “Her love wasn’t cut short. It took root.”

That’s the kind of Valentine’s I believe in.
Love that keeps blooming.

💬 Tell me — what would you do differently if today felt more precious?

And if thoughts about dying, being alone, or unfinished goodbyes feel heavy, you don’t have to carry that alone. As an end-of-life doula, I help create space for honest conversations, peace, and meaningful legacies.

📞 Call me. Let’s talk about what matters most to you.

02/04/2026

One of the most popular new apps in China asks a blunt question: “𝐴𝑟𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑦𝑒𝑡?” 😳

Morbid? Maybe.
But the reason it’s trending says something tender about our times.

A lot of people are living solo. And tucked beneath the independence and cozy one-bedroom vibes is a very human fear: 𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑓 𝐼 𝑑𝑖𝑒 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑒? 𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑓 𝑛𝑜 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑒𝑠?

Death anxiety is more common than we admit. We joke about it. We scroll past it. We download apps about it. But when those thoughts start looping at 2 a.m., when fear becomes paralyzing instead of philosophical, that’s not something you have to carry by yourself.

Here’s the softer truth:
The fact that life is finite is not meant to terrify us. It’s meant to wake us up.

It’s the nudge to call your sister.
To book the trip.
To forgive.
To dance in the kitchen.
To stop saving the “good” plates.

Instead of fearing the end, let it remind you to fully live the middle. 💛

And if thoughts about death, dying alone, or isolation feel overwhelming, heavy, or constant — please reach out. As an end-of-life doula, I help people talk about what most avoid, bring peace to what feels scary, and create connection where there feels like silence.

You don’t have to navigate those fears alone. Call me. Let’s talk. XOXO