鈥淓verybody has the right to die a good death.鈥�

When asked why she became a death doula, that was Janet O鈥橠ell鈥檚 鈥榠n a nutshell鈥� response.

O鈥橠ell, a longtime resident of Vancouver Island鈥檚 Comox Valley, traded in her dental assistant scrubs a few years ago, and returned to school, to pursue what she describes as a calling.

鈥淚t started with a little company (discovered online) called Doula Givers out of the USA and immediately thought 鈥榓h, that鈥檚 my calling - let鈥檚 see what Canada needs for requirements,鈥欌�� said O鈥橠ell. 鈥淪o I took my course through Douglas College (in Vancouver). That was when I realized that I had been doing this for a whole long time - before I even knew what a death doula was.鈥�

She recalls the death of a friend as being a catalyst for this career change.

鈥淚 had a friend that passed away from cancer about nine years ago, and I witnessed her not-so-good death. She wanted to stay at home to die, which was her choice. But her family was very little and she didn鈥檛 have much support, and it was quite a gruesome death. I never want to see that for another person. So that鈥檚 where my passion came out.

鈥淭here is such a thing as a good death - if you plan for it.鈥�

O鈥橠ell describes a death doula as 鈥渘on-medical practitioners, who are trained and knowledgeable in supporting the dying, and their families, before, during and after death.鈥�

Death doulas offer everything from advanced care planning, and end-of-life guidance, to grief support and home death/funeral arrangements.

鈥淲e meet with our clients and discuss everything, all the planning,鈥� said O鈥橠ell. 鈥淲hat are your wishes? What do you want (to be) done with your body? We talk about creating legacies鈥� for families and loved ones left behind.鈥�

In addition to preparation, death doulas offer emotional support for the dying.

鈥淲e will sit, support, listen. We are confidants,鈥� said O鈥橠ell. 鈥淚 will meet them, joke with them, keep life in light, in a sense. We are companions. We are guiders. We will help families grieve, even at the time of the diagnosis - anticipatory grief.鈥�

O鈥橠ell acknowledges death is not an easy subject for many people. She wants to change that.

鈥淢y mission is to 鈥榝lip the script鈥� and transform how we think and talk about death,鈥� O鈥橠ell said. 鈥淭o encourage and empower others to speak about death. Being a death doula is an honour, it is fulfilling, it is my passion.

鈥淵ou鈥檙e going to die鈥� so plan for it.鈥�

O鈥橠ell鈥檚 company, Dynamic Journey, has been operating since May of this year. It is non-denominational.

鈥淢y philosophy is, as a death doula, I do not judge your choices, your actions, your desires, or your experience. I am here to support you in figuring out what makes sense for you; that may include decision-making, healing, processing, and more,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e can meet in public, at a park, or outside. We do Zoom meetings, phone calls, text messages - we are virtually everywhere.鈥�

O鈥橠ell said there has been a general surge in death doulas, and the pandemic is a major factor.

鈥淲hat we are seeing, is the medical industry is stressed,鈥� she said. 鈥淗ealth care workers, so many are taking leaves, or are burned out, or just retiring. We are in a crisis, and death doulas are filling in a void.鈥�

O鈥橠ell can be reached at her company鈥檚 website , or by phone at 250-792-3978.

terry.farrell@comoxvalleyrecord.com
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