Carey M. Palmquist, MSM
​End-of-Life Doula, Mentor, Speaker, Educator (she/her/hers)
I am an end-of-life/death doula who believes that through the intimacy and vulnerability of discussions about death, we can hold a special and sacred space to accept death as another phase of our magnificent humanity. As an end-of-life doula, I hope that together, we can create a beautiful space for your loved one that will carry you through the inevitable grief that comes from profound loss.
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My Story
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As a young girl, my experiences of death were mysterious and macabre. Those dying were placed “over there” in a separate, quiet, dark room where, upon entering, we respectfully whispered and spoke over, through, about, and around the dying. Never to them. Never.
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How tragically sad for us all.
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Through my personal life (and death) experiences, I have come to hold a profoundly different perspective on death, and I believe that even as our beloveds transition, they are to be celebrated, respected, and heard.
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I became an EOL doula after several significant people in my life died. The first was my closest friend, who died in her early 40s from a brutally aggressive cancer. She left behind two young children and her husband. As her death neared, she shut herself off from everyone who loved her and died alone in her room with the door locked. I believe that had an end-of-life doula been present, the experience of my friend’s death would have been different, not only for her but for those who loved her, especially her children.
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Conversely, I have had the honor and privilege to be present with several friends and family members in transition who had a circle of care that prioritized the autonomy of the dying. While there is no escaping the incomprehensible grief of loss, peace and acceptance can exist.
Being present at death opened in me a desire to better understand and support those navigating end-of-life choices, planning, and emotional support.
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With a lifelong propensity to overthink, the writing and work of Ram Dass changed me significantly after the death of a loved one. When confronted with his spiritual philosophy while navigating my grief, the idea of “be here now” changed me. And that is why I hope to be here for you.
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