The dying process can be a time of intense emotion, transformation and healing. It is an intimate, time-limited rite of passage. As an End of Life Doula, I work with clients and their families and friends to create an intentional and heartfelt journey that is infused with as much beauty and meaning as possible. I do this by companioning clients on their path, using the wisdom I've gathered from serving others through this process.
Trina Wacasey, Ph.D.
End of Life Doula
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I received my End of Life Doula training at the Conscious Dying Institute in Boulder Colorado. While there, I was introduced to a unique practice by a natural death care expert. She told us of an assisted living facility where she worked in the 1980's. When a resident at the facility died, the other residents--their friends, would take care of them. They would clean the body, wrap the body in a simple shroud, adorn the body with greenery. They would gather together around their friend's body and share memories in the place they called home. Rather than turning away from death, they leaned in and honored their friend in a very personal and intimate way as a community.
After hearing about this hands-on communal death care practice, I began to explore how I might guide others through this special experience. In my exploration and journey, I learned that it's not always easy for the Caring Circle to take this on as the funeral establishment often makes it seem like it would be unwise and unseemly to be around a dead body. Their mantra is often, "leave it to the professionals". I believe that the Caring Circle knows better than anyone else how to care for their loved ones. They just need a little guidance and support. Some doulas like me have been specially trained to guide the Caring Circle through this practice. I collaborate with Honor Cremations to offer this service so that families who prefer it can be more involved in the oversight and care of the their loved ones body for a few hours or a few days. We walk families through this process preceding final disposition--whether it's cremation or burial or natural organic reduction. Honor files the paperwork and offers transport and cold storage. Creating Honoring Spaces offers the hands on, in person guidance and support. |
Services Offered
There are three options available that allow the Caring Circle to spend more time with their loved one after they die and before final disposition. Two of our services are offered in or at the home. The third is offered in a private setting that we've found to be well suited for this purpose. With our assistance you can oversee the care of your loved one's body and create your own unique and final farewell.
Option One - At Home Death Care
There are three options available that allow the Caring Circle to spend more time with their loved one after they die and before final disposition. Two of our services are offered in or at the home. The third is offered in a private setting that we've found to be well suited for this purpose. With our assistance you can oversee the care of your loved one's body and create your own unique and final farewell.
Option One - At Home Death Care
- With some assistance in moving the body, Creating Honoring Spaces cleans, shrouds, cools and lays the body out for viewing so the Caring Circle can then create their own ritual or experience in the home before the body is removed by the funeral home.
- Note that the Caring Circle can be as involved as they desire including doing the work on their own with minimal guidance and support. Also, the body may already be in the home or it may be transported to the home from another facility enabling the family to create their own ritual or experience.
- It's difficult to know how one will feel about having the body of a loved one in the home after death so Creating Honoring Spaces offers a Mini Mobile Suite that we bring to the client's private property so they can oversee and care for their loved one's body in a neutral space that is safe and private. Learn more about the Mini Mobile Suite.
- Many people choose a direct cremation but they would still like to see their loved one's body one last time. We offer an alternative to a traditional viewing that allows the family to be with their person in a small, private setting to say a natural goodbye. Learn more about the Natural Goodbye.