Funeral Celebrant

End of Life Transitions turns 7!

End of Life Doula, End of Life Educator, Funeral Celebrant, Life, palliative care / 03/08/2025

It’s my 7th business anniversary! Thank you for supporting me and what I do!

7 year anniversary of End of Life Transitions

Today is a really special day in my heart as it’s the seventh anniversary since I started my business End of Life Transitions. It is hard to put in words how much working in the life, end-of-life and funeral space has influenced who I am – for the better. I am forever humbled when I think about what a privilege it is that so many people have graciously shared a small part of their lives with me whether they be facing the reality of their own mortality, or they are caring for someone they love who is dying, or they are remembering or celebrating a person after they have died. My business survived the pandemic and has been very much a part of the evolving changes in the acceptance of the End Of Life Doula role as part of the Australian health landscape. And now to add to it I also have the great pleasure of mentoring new and emerging End of Life Doulas along with connecting them with colleagues and community.

Six people dying in my life in 2016 2017 were the catalyst in me jumping off a nursing corporate ladder and taking the courageous plunge to follow my heart and start my own small business. And it was courageous. (I think anyone starting a business not only needs an idea and a passion, but they also need to have the courage to invest time, money and energy (lots of it) into a space that isn’t guaranteed will be successful. So I am thrilled to successfully reach this 7th year milestone!
My friend and mentor, Zenith reminded me recently that this 7 year anniversary milestone means the ending one 7 year cycle and the beginning of a new one. And I’m very excited to see where the next 7 years lands.

To my wonderful partner, Neale; my family and all of my friends who believed (and still believe) in me, thank you so much. ♥️ Your support has meant the world to me and continues to.

And to those of you who haven’t yet met me, should do like to connect to find out how I might be able to be of service to you, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

End of Life Doula, Funeral Celebrant, Life, palliative care / 05/05/2025

AN END OF LIFE DOULA’S VISUAL DIARY…PLACES VISITED IN APRIL – MAY 2025 FOR END OF LIFE SUPPORT, CONVERSATIONS, ADVOCACY AND MEMORIALS.
What an amazingly privileged role. To be an End of Life Doula and to meet the most amazing people who have taught me so much along the way. – The twinkle – such a genuine twinkle in her eyes – that said “thank you” with no words needed mingled with us both knowing that this was a “good-bye” (because we sensed this would likely be the last time we would see each other). And it was…
– The courage – the absolute courage – to be authentic and raw and to plan and to write letters to the people who mean so much to her. Too weak to write them but strong in voice as she recites her words for me to type. And if I have learnt anything in this End of Life Doula role, it is to NOT procrastinate. So as soon as those letters were written, they were emailed to her and her relative. Just in case I was in an accident on my way home (death can happen to any of us!). And also because she and I just wanted to “complete” this very important task.
– The conviction – to know when you are suffering – and to choose a path that you have some control of, when dying can often rob us of this…
– Reflection and self-care. To write about my experiences – if only to myself. Pen in one hand. And coffee in the other.
– And to remember, through rituals, memorials and nature…
THESE PHOTOS TELL SOME OF THE VISUAL STORY OF MY DOULA AND CELEBRANCY WORK APRIL & MAY 2025.

Where did that year (2023) go! And yes I am still here and still very active on the scene

Compassionate Communities, End of Life Doula, Funeral Celebrant, Licenced Willow EOL Educatorᵀᴹ / 05/01/2024 / , , , ,

It’s true!

You blink and life changes… and before you know it the whole year has gone past since I last blogged!!! 

The year just gone (2023) has been one that has been abSOULutely fulfilling.

As one of Australia’s most active End of Life Doulas, and in my role as an independent Funeral Celebrant, I continue on this life’s journey of learning from spending time with the most interesting people that I have met along the way. Being with the well, the not-so-well, the dying, and those who have died, and their persons ~ family, friends, and carers ~ has touched my heart, mind and soul in a way that is hard to articulate in words.

It is indeed a very humbling, inspiring vocation.

At the end of last year, I spent time with one very, very special woman, on her deathbed. She was in a hospice where the staff were gentle and kind. And the solitary Christmas tree shone brightly and colourfully in the main foyer. A symbol of love and connection despite being the last Christmas for those residing there; and the last one together for the dying persons’ families and friends. The last Christmas for this inspiring lady who I had had the pleasure of knowing for 7 months.

As her End of Life Doula, she held my hand and thanked me for being with her on this ride. And we shared some tears. Kept holding hands. Listened to some of her favourite songs. Just listened… no words…just pure “silence” in amongst Jealous of the Angels and Sunshine on My Shoulders… And we just knew that there were no words that could truly convey the bond of sharing this most intimate of moments that comes with dying , whilst living up until that very last breath. Making sure final funeral plans were discussed. Talking about the letters she had written her grand-children. About relationships of love and healing. About her childhood. About her dreams and wishes. And how much she loved her husband’s singing voice and she hoped that maybe he would sing to her as she was dying. Or at least sing at her funeral or Wake (which he did) x

So it is people like this beautiful woman, and her family, that have entered my life and left their indelible footprints in my heart. This past year has been one of self-discovery and learning. I continue to build my confidence and comfort in this space. Whilst I continue to be humbled by the impact this has on my own life. My personal spiritual growth. My profound gratitude. And the unbelievable life learnings.

It’s hard. Very hard to put in words how the experience of working with the dying, and their families makes you a ‘better person’. It is with the utmost gratitude that I work in this end of life space. That I am humbly part of the transitions that occur at the end of life, and after. And the impact upon me as a person is HUGE. It is grounding. It is enriching.

 

Making death and dying less scary…

Compassionate Communities, End of Life Doula, Funeral Celebrant, Licenced Willow EOL Educatorᵀᴹ / 18/09/2022 / , , , , ,

 

Being a Funeral Celebrant is awesome but oh, so humbling!

Funeral Celebrant / 16/08/2022 / , , , , , ,

I am forever humbled for the absolute privilege to be asked to officiate funeral ceremonies. To have the opportunity to meet with family and sometimes friends of the deceased at their most vulnerable time and yet they are so open and generous in sharing the love, their stories and I their lives with me. Today I undertook a chapel ceremony that then journeyed to the graveside as family and friends said their final goodbye to their loved one in this physical life. There is not one family who has not taught me something or one person who has died importantly who hasn’t taught me something. And it’s with these learnings that I build upon who and what I value most in my own life. I get to meet the most wonderful people. And today, and this past week, was one of those times. Hand on heart sending my hugs and best wishes always to this beautiful family and their friends♥️

And after a ceremony I just go back to Nature and just breathe x

Believe that you can put a dent in the universe.

Change the future for the better.

Follow your fire.

Choose to BE anything really, but choose it with conviction,

and give it everything you’ve got to make it happen.

https://www.logecamps.com/journalposts/2020/2/6/an-ode-to-adventure

Willow EOL Educatorᵀᴹ

DON’T MISS OUT! WILLOW EOL WORKSHOPSᵀᴹ

End of Life Doula, Funeral Celebrant / 28/09/2021 / , , ,

So excited to become Australia’s first Willow EOL Educatorᵀᴹ

When I saw the quality of the workshops that Willow EOLᵀᴹ founders, Michelle and Reena had crafted I just knew that I wanted to be part of this world-wide movement. These unique workshops have a distinct point of difference to many other end-of-life (EOL) workshops being offered. Across the 10 different workshops, each participant has the opportunity to reflect upon who and what is most important to them; their end-of-life values and wishes, and what legacy they would like to leave. They also are able to explore after-death wishes – which many people think about but often don’t have conversations about. And so much more!

So come and join me for my first 2021 workshop : How to Stop Procrastinating with End-of-Life Planning: A Willow Workshopᵀᴹ  which is being held via Zoom on Saturday 2 October 2021 at 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM, Brisbane AEST time!

And come discover the reality of our mortality!

Oh, and if you miss this workshop, contact me and I will send you information on other Willow EOL Workshopsᵀᴹ that I will be facilitating online in 2021-2022!

Grassy hills at sunrise.

COVID-19 and a ‘new norm’

Compassionate Communities, End of Life Doula, Funeral Celebrant / 19/11/2020 / , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

November 2020 The unprecedented changes occurring across Australia and the globe, and the ongoing societal changes caused by the COVID-19 …

COVID-19 and a ‘new norm’ Read More »

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