WHY is this work important?

A TRADITION as old as time

For most of human history, death was tended in the home, by the hands of loved ones and trusted community members. Across cultures, wise women, midwives, and spiritual caretakers held space for both birth and death, understanding them as two halves of the same threshold. From ancient death rites to the mourning practices of our ancestors, this work was deeply woven into the rhythms of life. Caring for the dying and the dead has always been an act of love and community, not a task performed by an institution. But as death became medicalized and moved behind closed doors, much of this wisdom was lost. Today, death doulas are reclaiming these traditions, carrying on our collective wisdom, restoring the role of community care and sacred tending to the dying process.

The Deathwork REVOLUTION

Modern deathcare is undergoing a transformation fueled by compassion, accessibility, and a return to human-centered care. The rise of death doulas is part of a larger societal and global movement right now that is challenging the fear, avoidance, and clinical detachment that have long defined our relationship with death. People are seeking new ways to care for their loved ones and meet their own mortality with presence and ritual, and death doulas are leading this movement by educating and advocating for alternative end-of-life options, eco-conscious burials and disposition options, and holistic, human-centered emotional support for grief and loss. Death doulas stand at the forefront of this revolution, offering a more connected, intentional way to walk with death that honors both the individual and our collective need for healing.