About

A Journey Started By Personal Experiences

In 2017, I cared for my mother as she faced a terminal illness and eventually struggled with visual impairment. Reflecting on the countless road trips we had taken together where I acted as her navigator, I realized that the skills I used to guide her through everyday challenges could also be applied to the profound journey of death and dying. These experiences revealed that planning for the end of life need not be impersonal or overwhelming—it can be approached with thoughtfulness, creativity, and genuine care.

Transformative Moments That Shaped My Path

Several key experiences further shaped my calling:

• A Traumatic Loss: I witnessed the heartbreak following the sudden death of my husband’s friend in a car accident. The ensuing funeral was impersonal and ‘cookie-cutter’ and only deepened the pain, revealing how traditional approaches can sometimes compound grief.
• A Comforting Farewell: Attending the funeral of my childhood best friend, I saw firsthand how a personalized, thoughtful service, even amidst profound sadness, could offer true comfort and healing.
• The Gift of Guidance: When my mother was nearing the end of her life, we hired a death doula to help plan the funeral and organize documents. I had never known such support existed until then. This guidance helped us avoid conflict, involved my mother in the planning, and ultimately transformed our farewell into a unifying, healing experience for our family.

Blending Compassion with Expertise

Before embracing my role as a death and dying guide, I spent over 20 years creating spaces where people could relax, open up, and reconnect with themselves as a Licensed Massage Therapist. Specializing in geriatric care and chronic conditions, my work in massage taught me how to approach significant life changes with calm and empathy.

Culturally, growing up with Irish and Scottish heritage meant conversations about death and dying were never shut down, they were embraced and discussed. I deeply value that experience, because those conversations were made to feel easy but also really important.

My professional training as a licensed funeral director and my involvement with local death-positive networks have further enriched my ability to provide comprehensive, sensitive support. This combination of personal insight and professional expertise is the foundation of my signature service, “Your End-of-Life Roadmap.”