EVEN MORE about this episode!

Julie Lazar-Reskakis, a former audiologist turned certified end-of-life doula, shares her profound journey in providing emotional and practical support to families during their most challenging times. She emphasizes compassion and meaningful remembrance through personalized tributes and legacy work. Julie discusses overcoming her initial fears of hospice work, the importance of respecting diverse cultural practices, and the need for open conversations about end-of-life care to reduce fear and promote compassion.

Julie also recounts her experience with a late miscarriage and the development of a perinatal bereavement program, highlighting the importance of peer support and resources for grieving families. This episode is a call to action for more empathetic and supportive end-of-life and bereavement care.

Guest Biography:

Julie Lazar-Reskakis worked as an audiologist in New York City for 35 years, much of it in nursing homes, where she recognized the need for more end-of-life support. Upon retirement, she became a Certified End-Of-Life Doula and started volunteering at a hospice eight years ago, a role she continues today.

Her interest in supporting families after the loss of loved ones led her to enroll in David Kessler's inaugural grief training program, becoming a Certified Grief Educator and co-leading bereavement groups at the hospice. Inspired by an episode of Irene Weinberg's Grief and Rebirth Podcast featuring Sherokee Ilse, and reflecting on her own history of pregnancy loss, she became a Certified Perinatal Bereavement Specialist. She now serves as the Perinatal Bereavement Specialist at a hospital in NJ and is involved with two non-profit boards that promote research, education, and support for women and their families through pregnancy and infant loss.

Episode Chapters:

(0:00:01) - End-of-Life Doula Role

(0:09:10) - Navigating End-of-Life Care Challenges

(0:17:20) - Facing End-of-Life Conversations Bravely

(0:26:40) - Creating Memories in Perinatal Bereavement

(0:42:17) - Healing and Communication in Pregnancy Loss

(0:58:41) - Creating Lasting Memories in Grief

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