A life well-lived and a death well-planned.
Distant Light
Janet Clattenburg
Death Doula
Services
Free Consultation
It all starts with a conversation. I am happy to provide a free half hour consultation over the phone or by Zoom to discuss the scope of my services. Please reach out to me via phone or email to set up a convenient time.
Phone & Email Support
I prefer to work with one family at a time so that I am available 24/7 by phone or by email as a situation changes and evolves.
Geographical Location
I am happy to service clients from the Lunenburg and Queens County areas in Nova Scotia. I also serve clients in the Halifax area.
Pricing Information
Death Doula services vary as well as the cost. Depending on the situation, a family may wish to pay by service or create a package that suits their needs and budget. Please do not hesitate to inquire about the possibility of pro bono work or a sliding fee scale. Some health plans cover death doula services.
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Funeral Options
I can help you explore the different funeral and burial/cremations options available, but my role is not to influence your decisions at all nor do I sell or receive any commissions.
Living Wake
If you prefer to have a Living Wake instead of, or in addition to, a Regular Wake, I can assist in making this event happen.
Pet loss
A loss of a pet can be just as traumatic, especially to children for whom this may be their first experience with death. I can offer parallel services such as a Vigil service, arranging to transport the pet before or after a passing to the veterinarian's office, creating a Legacy Project , or even networking the details for a backyard burial and graveside ceremony. Aftercare visits would also follow the same format.
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Vigil Planning and Bedside Vigil Services
At some point, the body begins "actively dying" which means the person's body can no longer actively hold back death. A vigil should begin as soon as a person enters this stage. People who participate in a vigil alongside a Death Doula will experience death in a less anxious and disconnected way. The primary aim of a vigil is to hold space for the kind of dying experience wanted by the client. This is why it is so important to have pre-planned and prepared for this passage. While present at a Bedside Vigil, part of my role would be educating the family about the process, and following through with the client's wishes.
Legacy Projects
Meaning and legacy are two of the most important elements preceding the time a person is actively dying. The search for meaning is primarily for the person who is dying. As a Death Doula I encourage my client to find some time to have special conversations with family members and to spend some time to inner reflect and to journal about their life. Out of this experience a Legacy Project may involve, taking on various formats (e.g., a book, a memory box, live audio or video recorded memories, a series of dictated letters, quilts or other handiwork, etc.) that are only limited by one's imagination. This Legacy is primarily for the family and most often is created through a team effort of the Death Doula, the dying person and selected family members.
Death Café
A Death Café is a free scheduled get-together for the purpose of talking about death over food and drink, usually coffee/tea and cake/cupcakes. I hold them monthly. It is a safe, non-judgmental space to ask questions, freely converse or just listen. If interested, please check my Events Page to find out when the next session will be held (on-line or in person).
"Death is like an uninvited visitor one gets to know quite well."
- David Kessler
Reprocessing and Grief
A few weeks after a death, I will return to visit the family for a final visit. The goal of this session will be to help the family understand the dying process they recently experienced. We will explore the ups and downs of the process, the challenges faced and overcome and the emotions experienced throughout. If more sessions are needed they can be arranged. I will encourage the family to tell their story from their perspective in order to ultimately understand it, digest it, learn from it and to finally let go. This process will enable the living to continue their lives with purpose and joy.
Educational Workshops, Guest Speaker Events and Presentations
Please contact me to arrange details. I would be happy to speak at any event, large or small.
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Death Cleaning
In a nutshell, it means the process of continually decluttering your house before you die instead of leaving it up to your loved ones to do after you are gone. It’s not morbid at all, in fact it is probably one of the most loving things you can do.
Janet Clattenburg Death Doula
902-943-6263