“Congratulations! You’re having a baby. You must be so excited to get the room ready, painting, furnishing and planning a bright new future and oh…. party with a baby shower!” 

Celebrating birth is what we do. 

 We all are born, most with great fanfare, and we all die, most with little to no celebration before the last breath is taken. Why is that? Our society tends to tip toe around death because we are not educated or knowledgeable on what many find an uncomfortable subject. Wouldn’t it seem like we should ‘party’ with the individual while they are still with us? Shouldn’t we let that person know they are honored before they transition? This is where an Endof-Life Doula (Death Doula) comes in. What exactly is a death doula and what can we expect from them? 

An EOL doula wears many hats. Supporting the family as they go through a challenging time and being a companion to the patient are the top priorities yet listening, reviewing their life history, creating remembrances with photos, assisting in the planning of the vigil, obituary, eulogy, and any directives to be given after passing are some of the things PROVIDED BY SHERRY ANDERSEN, CAUGHLIN RANCH an EOL doula is trained to offer. Bringing these qualities to the table is a gift of relief and breathing room to the family who is already trying to deal with eventual loss. 

How is this different many ask? Hospice is regulated and limited to the number of hours spent with a patient. Hospice workers carry heavy patient loads, seeing many patients a day. An EOL doula can give unlimited time and thus be of comfort to the patient and family. While an EOL doula is a holistic, non-medical person, they can be the eyes and ears of Hospice. Medicare supplements Hospice and EOL doulas are private pay, with varying hourly rates depending on the region of the country, big cities commanding more than a small town.

Your neighbor, Sherry Andersen, had already been doing death doula work with family and friends, and as a Hospice volunteer, when she discovered it is actually a profession. Feeling a passion and calling to this work, she enrolled in the 3-month certification program that Doulagivers International offers. The training was intense and very comprehensive, having been created by Suzanne O’Brien, a former oncology and hospice nurse. Her knowledge, compassion and desire to educate the world and teach us how to create a beautiful safe space for the patient has led to a much-needed awareness of dying, and, hopefully, reducing fear. 

Sherry has lived in Caughlin Ranch for 11 years. After having lived a somewhat nomadic life, and having the good fortune of living in Paris, Lisbon, Washington DC, and San Francisco, she is perfectly content enjoying being a resident of Village Green. She loves experiencing new adventures as her travels and her various careers demonstrate. With a Xerox sales background, Sherry co-managed a Chamber of Commerce, dabbled in real estate, owned a woman’s fitness studio, worked in senior living communities, and most currently was the Stroll Juniper Trails, Content Coordinator. She loves being outdoors with her four-legged pal Murphy, watching her backyard birds, is a huge photography bug and loves children. 

“I’m a big kid at heart. In the fall you can find me jumping in a pile of leaves with the neighbor’s littles. I love their energy, and I also truly enjoy our seniors and their stories.” That path leads to working with the dying and assisting them and their families at the end of life. “My passion is people, be they young and old.” 

Benita Flarity of Reno shares her experience with EOL doula Sherry. “It is so difficult when your spouse is at the end of his life. I was so grateful when an angel sent Sherry to be a friend with so much love and compassion. Jim couldn’t be left alone for me to go to appointments or even do necessary food shopping. She never left his side, and they developed a great friendship adding laughter and humor to a challenging time. 

Sherry was there at the end and again at the beginning of his new journey, returning at 6AM to support me and see Jim off. I’ll always be grateful, and I will never forget. Sherry is a loving, caring Angel. As an advocate to the patient and soother to the family, Sherry is ready to help you navigate your most difficult challenges and be your family’s guiding light in this sacred journey. 

For more information, you can visit: www.4peacefulpassings.com