My story of becoming an end of life doula was deeply painful, life altering and profound. My first memory of being with death is 1987 when my grandma Jeanne was dying at home in the living room. I would go sit on her hospital bed stroke her thinning hair and sing to her… I was 3 years old. This was a foreshadowing of a much harder time to come in 2016 when I lost 2 brothers, my father, grandfather and a pregnancy. I believe significant loss in your 20’s – 30’s in unique and I am here to guide you through that.
I have a gift of arranging space, transmuting and clearing energy, and an intuitive knowing of what’s needed in the final days. I consider it an honor to be in and hold this space for families. It is such an emotional time and often once their is diagnosis we don’t take the time to really understand and create a space for our loved ones to leave this world.
I offer end of life doula services which can include life review and meaning interviews, planning and sitting vigil for your final days, the creation of legacy projects and early grief re-processing. I believe grief belongs in community and for this I offer on-going monthly grief circles, grief cafes and in-person gatherings. Head over to my website for current offerings.
I am trained by the International End of Life Doula Association. I’m certified Reiki II and have completed several other trainings for my own personal development that round out my offerings….studying loving kindness meditation with monks, Landmark Worldwide curriculum for living, mediumship and empowered wisdom, outlaw yoga, essential oils, oracle and tarot cards and crystal use. Last but not least, I’m a LGBTQIA+ ally and advocate.
Interesting facts about me: I have visited 53 countries on 6 continents, lived in China, Australia, France and Germany. I’ve sang in many bands, taught skiing in Vail, guided white water in the Glenwood Canyon, and now own a home in Englewood, CO named Walter that I am gently healing over time using permaculture principles. I offer this space on airbnb.
Speakers Bureau
I offer free 30-45 minute presentations to hospice and hospital staff on what an end of life doula is and can provide in partnership with the medical team.
I am trained by the International End of Life Doula Association. I’m certified Reiki II and have completed several other trainings for my own personal development that round out my offerings….studying loving kindness meditation with monks, Landmark Worldwide curriculum for living, mediumship and empowered wisdom, outlaw yoga, essential oils, oracle and tarot cards and crystal use. Last but not least, I’m a LGBTQIA+ ally and advocate.
As people go from home health care, to nursing homes to hospice, advanced care planning documentation completions increase. In 2020, Advanced Directive completions among black patients increased by 41 percent, yet this number is still less than non-persons of color. My speaking addresses this disparity and works to align end-of-life care preferences and documentation for all people.
I have had the honor to be a featured presenter at The Center for African American Health Annual Collaborative Health Fair and for the Colorado Black Heath Collaborative Annual Family Black Party. As an advisory board member of the Mental Health Center of Denver Dahlia Campus, I have had the privilege to speak on several issues related to health and wellness. I have run several online programs. The most successful is named, Incarceration to Transformation, where the incarceration is by a person’s own self-inflicted limitations. My public speaking style is more conversational and less like a presentation.
End-of-Life Doula, Yoga Teacher, Meditation Guide & OfficiantZenful Life Living, LLCEnergy Worker, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach
Location:Denver Metro/south through ParkerDenverColorado80224homePhone:720-593-9361homeEmail:mrashyfbyhgvbaf@tznvy.pbzmoc.liamg@snoituloslufnezINTERNETWebsite:Zenful Life
Categories: Advance Care Planning, Aromatherapy/Essential Oils, Client Advocacy, Companioning for Dying Person, End-of-Life Doula Services, Legacy Projects, Life Review, Living Funerals, Meditation/Visualization, Guided, Memorial Services, Notary Public, Officiant/Minister, Reiki/Energy Work, Respite for Caregivers, Sitting Vigil, Support for Caregivers, Urns and/or Caskets, Vigil Planning, Yoga, Restorative/Supportive
It is simple… what do you do to live YOUR best life? Regardless of any condition or diagnoses, are you living the fullness of your true authentic self? As an EOLD, I provide an Advocate to allow an individual to transition consciously with dignity. My duty is to provide choices and non-medical support to create plans and actions to provide inner peace in the eye of a storm. It is a remarkably interesting dichotomy to be happy or content, until the very last breath.
There is not a person on the planet that does not have some sort of individual struggle. I’m a divorcee, single parent, Gen-Xer, who survived a stroke in my 40’s. I had to rehabilitate and reinvent myself and figure out how I was going to utilize the additional time that was provided to me. We are not given a playbook that guarantees our paths in life, and we will not escape our own passing, death or homegoing. When given the chance though, we are allowed choices before and in our time of transition.
I am Sara E. Stewart, an End-of-Life Doula, Notary, Insurance Agent, Certified Yoga Teacher and Meditation Guide, Officiant, Health Coach and Energy Worker. I am not a particularly religious person. I am a person of faith and I have woven the Buddhist principles of the Four Nobles Truths and the Eightfold Path into my life. I am here to help you tackle the topics that make life and death challenging and advocate for you. Allow me to hold space for your questions, joy, sadness, confusion, peace, grief, mourning, contentment, etc. I welcome your conversation.
My philosophy is to, “Define your NO to get to your YES.” If you can get all your “NO” out of the way, you will allow space for the “YES”. I feel that ultimately, getting to “YES” is how we live our best lives… despite our situations.
What brought me to Doula work:
In retrospect, there were several events in my life that directed me to end-of-life care. My undergraduate degree is in Speech and Debate. In the late 1990’s, I was a hospice volunteer. In 2001, I completed a post-baccalaureate program in Legal Studies and became Ordained. My fitness business was destroyed during the 2020 pandemic and I paid close attention to the devastating tolls inflicted on families. Greater conversations were had about the inequality and inequity in health care. My family members and I updated our advance planning documents, including Wills. I started researching the number of people that do not prepare written documents for their end-of-life and decided to combine planning and advocacy with direct care to start a new, next step in my life. I selected the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine End-of-Life Doula Professional program. I considered the heart-centered and practical work combined with the medical knowledge gained with the completion.
Services offered:
Advanced Planning
Notary Public
Restorative or Supportive Yoga
Chair Fitness
Meditation
Energy Work
Officiant
Accompaniment to medical appointments
Organization
Light house cleaning
Making a Memory Book/ Life Reflection/ Legacy Projects
Complete errands
Living Wake/Celebration of Life/Living Funeral/Memorial Service
Prepare meals
Companionship and/or conversation
Aromatherapy
Cannabis Advocacy
Non-medical Advocacy
Emotional and Spiritual Care/Support
Urns
Non-Denominational Weddings
Sitting Vigil
Education, Training, Certifications, Professional Experience, etc:
University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine End-of-Life Doula Professional Certificate
Breathe for Change Yoga/Meditation Teacher Yoga Alliance approves Certificate
Institute of Integrative Nutrition Health Coach Certificate
Hospice Volunteer Training
Roosevelt University Post-Baccalaureate Legal Studies Certificate
Northeastern Illinois University B.A. Speech and Debate
Kishwaukee College A.A. Business Administration
Speakers Bureau
As people go from home health care, to nursing homes to hospice, advanced care planning document completions increase. In 2020, Advanced Directive completions among black patients increased by 41 percent, yet this number is still less than non-persons of color. My speaking addresses this disparity and works to align end-of-life care preferences and documentation for all people. Allow me to tell you about the 5 Words That Make Some People Cringe.
I have had the honor to be a featured presenter at The Center for African American Health Annual Collaborative Health Fair and for the Colorado Black Heath Collaborative Annual Family Black Party. As an advisory board member of the Mental Health Center of Denver Dahlia Campus, I have had the privilege to speak on several issues related to health and wellness. I have run several online programs. The most successful being, Incarceration to Transformation, where the incarceration is by a person’s own self-inflicted limitations. My public speaking style is more conversational and less like a presentation.
I offer free 30-45 minute presentations to hospice and hospital staff on what an end of life doula is and can provide in partnership with the medical team.
I am trained by the International End of Life Doula Association. I’m certified Reiki II and have completed several other trainings for my own personal development that round out my offerings….studying loving kindness meditation with monks, Landmark Worldwide curriculum for living, mediumship and empowered wisdom, outlaw yoga, essential oils, oracle and tarot cards and crystal use. Last but not least, I’m a LGBTQIA+ ally and advocate.
End-of-Life Doula, CEOLC First Vice-President & Co-FounderGifts of Life CeremoniesINELDA-trained End-of-Life Doula; Certified Life-Cycle Celebrant
Location:Metro Denver and the Surrounding AreaColorado80033United StateshomePhone:(970) 682-4416homeEmail:Inyrevr@TvsgfbsYvsrPrerzbavrf.pbzmoc.seinomereCefiLfostfiG@eirelaVINTERNETWebsite:Gifts of Life Ceremonies
Categories: Advance Care Planning, Aromatherapy/Essential Oils, Celebration of Life, Ceremonies/Rituals, Companioning for Dying Person, End-of-Life Doula Services, Funerals, Grief and Bereavement Support, Home Funerals, Legacy Projects, Life Review, Living Funerals, MAiD Support, Meditation/Visualization, Guided, Memorial Services, Other Therapies, Reiki/Energy Work, Sitting Vigil, Spiritual Guidance, Support for Caregivers, Vigil Planning, VSED Support
My professional “calling” is to create End of Life Tributes/ Celebrations for the dying. Also known as “Living Funerals”. Living funerals offer a unique opportunity for not only the guest of honor to share life stories, but for others to share stories, thoughts, quotes, poems about how the guest of honor has impacted their life. Tributes can be intimate or large and held at any type of venue.
I interview the guest of honor and any family/ friends they desire to be present. I compile my notes into a professionally crafted ceremony to include wonderful stories, poems, quotes, music, etc. The guest of honor has the final approval of the celebration. I then officiate the celebration and provide a beautiful ceremony keepsake.
Other examples of legacy projects include: audio/ video interviews, letters, memory boxes/books, mementos, seasonal: holidays, ornaments, memorial gardens, anniversaries etc.