Death Doula Support

"Thank you Concetta, as my sister Judy’s Death Doula you gave her comfort, and you gave our whole family help with life passing that was compassionate, clear, gentle, and soul affirming. I only wish every family knew about Death Doula support in their time of need!"

-Anne Beyrer

Concetta Abbate is a NEDA proficient Death Doula and a nationally certified Respecting Choices® advanced care plan facilitator.

Enlisting the support of a Death Doula will provide comfort and ease in a time of life that is filled with uncertainty. A Death Doula can be beneficial at a number of life stages.

  • A healthy person planning early End of Life decisions

  • A person facing a terminal illness

  • An elder person considering their limited time

  • A caregiver facilitating end of life planning for their loved one

Services Offered

*Pricing: Doula Services are charged for at an hourly rate and can be purchased in a package of hours, according to your needs.

There are many people who may be a part of an End of Life Care team including individual caregivers, community members, social workers, chaplains, nurses, doctors, lawyers and funeral directors. The benefit of a Death Doula is that they help connect the many pieces of the process, from before, during, and after time of death.

  • End of Life Planning

    Concetta is a nationally certified Respecting Choices® advanced care plan facilitator. She can assist with navigating advanced directives, exploring burial, terramation, aquamation or cremation options, support decisions around pet care, explore LGBTQIA+ identity affirming plans and prepare avenues for the continuation or preservation of an individual’s life work.

  • Advocate for the Wishes of the Dying Person

    A Doula will spend significant time with a client taking special care to learn their client’s views and choices around their End of Life journey.

  • Facilitate conversations between members of the care team

    Death Doulas are expert in navigating ways to get friends and family members on the same page about supporting the wishes of the dying person during a chaotic, anxious and confusing time.

  • Document Legacy

    Legacy projects such as creating photo books, documenting life stories or collaboratively writing songs can be soothing and comforting to the dying person and leave behind precious memories for their community.

  • Process Death Anxiety

    While a Death Doula does not have all the answers their knowledge and expertise working with death can provide a sounding board for a person’s anxieties and questions on mortality.

  • Sit Vigil

    The dying process may take hours, days or weeks. A Doula can sit with the dying person in times when the process seems arduous or uncomfortable for that person’s closest community.

  • Hold Ritual Space

    When a person dies there is time to sit with the body till the funeral director arrives. A Doula can assist with holding sacred space in the immediate moments after death providing a sense of calm and gratitude for the life of the deceased person.

  • Wrap Up Affairs: Assisting with memorial services, closing accounts, stopping mail services, notifying community.

    When a person dies there is much paperwork and event organizing to do which can be daunting for a person whose mind is heavy with grief. A Death Doula can support in itemizing tasks and coming up with a strategy for wrapping up affairs.

  • "Concetta has been such a huge resource for me when preparing for End of Life Plans for my family. She's been so compassionate and patient with all my questions, and has taken out a lot of fear and anxiety out of the process. She has also offered End of Life guidance for my deceased pet cat. I feel really grateful to have her stability, knowledge and support at this stage of life. She handles it with grace, love and compassion for all. I feel like I'm in good hands with Concetta."

    Lisa Liu

  • "Concetta has been enormously helpful to my family in navigating End of Life planning and memorializing our beloveds. She played violin and sang so beautifully and movingly at the Celebration of Life for my uncle Mike, and has helped my mother with End of Life planning for herself and my grandparents. She shows up to this work with such presence and care, it has been some of the most valuable support we've received."

    Lilly Atlihan

Feel free to reach out for more information, sliding scale rates available.