Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula

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In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli speaks with estate planning attorney Jeannette Marsala about probate, why it is so common, and how families can best avoid it with thoughtful planning. 

Together, they discuss what probate is, how people often end up in court even when they believe they planned ahead, and why a will alone is often not enough. Jeannette explains how living trusts work, the small details that frequently cause estate plans to fail, and the practical steps families can take to keep their loved ones out of probate court. 

The conversation also addresses the emotional side of estate planning. Traci and Jeannette talk openly about the fear that keeps many people from starting, the stress families face after a death, and how planning ahead can reduce confusion and conflict during grief. 

Topics covered include: 

• What probate is and why it can take months or longer 
• The difference between a will and a trust 
• How living trusts help families avoid probate 
• Common mistakes that send families to court 
• What to look for when choosing an estate attorney 
• Why planning early matters, especially before illness or loss of capacity 

This episode is intended for both professionals and everyday listeners. It normalizes conversations about aging, death, and planning, while offering clear and compassionate guidance that families can use in real life. 

Links and Resources
Guest: Jeannette Marsala, Estate Planning Attorney - https://sanjoselivingtrust.com 

Host: Traci Arieli - https://www.comfortingclosure.com 

 
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In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli continues her conversation with returning guests Ashley Meyveci, Co-founder and President of Luke’s Purpose, and Danielle Cristofano-Schwartz, Founder of Love From Lydia. Together, they explore the long road of parenting after child loss: the complex emotions, evolving identities, and how grief shows up every day. 

Ashley shares how her daughter continues to grieve her younger brother, Luke, and how moments of joy are often mixed with guilt. Danielle reflects on parenting after the birth of her second child and the challenges of keeping Lydia’s memory present while still moving forward. The episode touches on co-parenting dynamics, milestones, and what grieving parents need most, not just in the early days, but over time. 

This is part 2 of a 2-part series focused on parenting through grief. 

Links/Resources 

• Guest: Ashley Meyveci – https://www.lukespurpose.org 
• Guest: Danielle Cristofano-Schwartz – https://www.lovefromlydia.com 
• Host: Traci Arieli's Website – https://www.comfortingclosure.com 

 
 Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes! 

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In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli speaks with returning guests Ashley Meyveci, Co-founder and President of Luke’s Purpose, and Danielle Cristefano-Schwartz, Founder of Love From Lydia, about what it means to keep parenting after the unimaginable: the death of a child. 

Ashley shares how life shifted after the loss of her son Luke, and what it was like to continue raising his older sister amid deep grief. Danielle reflects on how her identity as a parent changed after the death of her daughter Lydia, especially as she navigated pregnancy again and the awkwardness of being asked, “Is this your first?” Together, they talk about parenting through emotional exhaustion, how grief affects couples differently, and what helps them stay connected to the children they’ve lost and the ones still here. 

This is part 1 of a 2-part series that honors the strength and honesty it takes to keep showing up as a parent after loss. 

Links/Resources 

• Guest: Ashley Meyveci – https://www.lukespurpose.org 
• Guest: Danielle Cristefano-Schwartz – https://www.lovefromlydia.com
• Host: Traci Arieli – https://www.comfortingclosure.com 

 
 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes. If this conversation touched you or you know someone who might need to hear it, please pass it along. 

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In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli sits down with Marica Hofer, President of A Better Exit, to talk about a devastating and often overlooked fact: many people with diseases like ALS and dementia are locked out of Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD). 

Together, they discuss what’s broken in the law, what it means for people who are suffering, and why the ability to plan your own death is a form of dignity. 

Marica shares her own story, the experiences of the families she’s supported, and the painful choices some are forced to make too early, just to retain autonomy. She offers advice on how advance directives work (and where they fall short), what families can do early in the diagnosis process, and how legislation needs to change to honor people’s wishes. 

This episode aims to challenge assumptions, advocate for expanded access, and spark necessary conversations about equity and ethics in end-of-life care. 

Links/Resources 

• Guest: Marica Hofer, President of A Better Exit – https://abetterexit.org 
• Host: Traci Arieli – https://www.comfortingclosure.com 
• A Better Exit Advance Planning Resources – https://abetterexit.org/resources 
• End-of-life planning toolkit – https://compassionandchoices.org 

 
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In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli sits down with Gary Kisela, founder of Murial, to explore how storytelling, especially before death, can transform legacy, connection, and grief. 

Together, they discuss how Murial is helping families create collaborative, living legacies through stories, photos, and memories shared before a person passes. From life review to digital obituaries, this conversation invites listeners to consider what it means to honor someone while they’re still here to feel it. 

Key takeaways include: 

• Why the traditional obituary may no longer be enough 
• How legacy storytelling can begin before death 
• The emotional impact of reading your own life stories while still alive 
• What digital tools like Murial offer for end-of-life doulas, families, and care teams 
• How community storytelling can support grief, connection, and healing 

This episode gently challenges the idea that we should wait until someone is gone to reflect on their life. It’s a conversation for anyone navigating aging, illness, or simply seeking more intentional ways to preserve meaning and memory. 

Murial actively gives demonstrations for EOL communities (INELDA, New Mexico Deathcare Network, and others) and runs pilot projects with hospices and their patients. All are by invitation and done at no cost. If that’s something of interest to you, email Gary for a chat at [email protected]. 

Links/Resources 

• Guest: Gary Kisela, Founder of Murial – https://murial.life
• Host: Traci Arieli’s Website – https://www.comfortingclosure.com 

 
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In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli speaks with archaeologist and museum lecturer Ellen Marie Næss from the Museum of the Viking Age in Oslo. Together, they discuss how Norse communities approached death, burial, grief, and legacy. 

From funeral rituals and fate-driven beliefs to the poetry of grief and the legacy of honor, this conversation reveals how the Norse faced death and what we can learn from them today. 

Key topics include:
- Norse views on death, destiny, and the afterlife
- What Viking funerals actually looked like (hint: not always burning ships)
- Gender, status, and symbolism in burial practices
- The emotional power of Sonatorrek and skaldic poetry 
- How grief and memory shaped Norse culture 

This episode connects ancient practices with the ways we continue to honor and remember the dead today, reminding us that death has always been part of the human story. 

Links/Resources 

• Guest: Ellen Marie Næss – Museum of the Viking Age, Oslo
   https://www.vikingtidsmuseet.no/english 
• Host: Traci Arieli – https://www.comfortingclosure.com
• Sonatorrek (Translation): https://lyricstranslate.com/en/sonatorrek-loss-son.html
• The Hávamál Quotes: https://www.thenarratologist.com/best-havamal-quotes-about-death
  – Wardruna’s musical rendition of Sonatorrek: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRQBxwzB2S0 

 
 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes and to help normalize meaningful conversations about death, dying, and grief. 

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In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli speaks with Ruby Cohen Love, founder of Cafe Mortel, about reimagining what a funeral can be. Ruby shares her journey from struggling with fear of death and bipolar disorder to creating deeply personal and artistic memorials that reflect the true essence of a life. 

Together, they explore how funerals and memorials can move beyond tradition, why planning ahead is a gift to loved ones, and how art, food, music, and personal storytelling transform grief into legacy. Ruby also opens up about envisioning her own funeral as a fashion exhibition, hosting “funeral rehearsals,” and her mission to design ceremonies that are authentic, beautiful, and sustainable. 

Key takeaways: 

• How fear of death can evolve into creative meaning-making 
• The role of art, design, and ritual in end-of-life planning 
• What it means to create a funeral that truly reflects a person’s life 
• Why pre-planning is an act of love and service to family 
• How Cafe Mortel helps people design unforgettable memorials 

This episode will inspire you to think differently about funerals, death, and the legacies we leave behind. 

Links/Resources 

• Guest: Ruby Cohen Love – Cafe Mortel: https://www.cafemortel.world 
• Host: Traci Arieli – Comforting Closure: https://www.comfortingclosure.com 

 
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In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli explores pediatric palliative and hospice care with Shekinah Eliassen, CEO of George Mark Children’s House. 

They talk about what makes George Mark one of the few places in the country offering whole-person care for seriously ill children and their families at no cost. This episode covers: 

• The difference between pediatric palliative care and hospice care 
• What support looks like for the whole family 
• Why most families do not learn about this kind of care until they are in crisis 
• What it would take to build more homes like George Mark across the United States 

This conversation is for anyone who wants to understand how to better support children and families living with serious illness. 

Links/Resources 

• Guest: Shekinah Eliassen, CEO of George Mark Children’s House – https://www.georgemark.org 
• Host: Traci Arieli's Website – https://www.comfortingclosure.com 

 
Please like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with new episodes. Your support helps bring these conversations to more families and professionals. 

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In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli sits down with music-thanatologist Catharine DeLong to talk about the powerful role of music at the end of life. With decades of experience bringing harp and voice to the bedside of those who are dying, Catharine offers a moving perspective on how music can provide comfort, connection, and peace during life’s final chapter. 

Together, they discuss what music-thanatology is, how it differs from simply playing music in the background, and why silence is often just as meaningful as sound. Catharine shares personal stories from her work in hospice and offers guidance for families and caregivers who want to bring music into end-of-life care, even without formal training. 

Whether you're a professional in the field or simply someone supporting a loved one, this conversation offers gentle insight into how music can help hold space when words are no longer enough. 

Links/Resources 

• Guest: Catharine DeLong – https://www.delongharp.com 
• Host: Traci Arieli – https://www.comfortingclosure.com 
• Learn more about Music-Thanatology – https://www.mtai.org 

 
 If this conversation resonated with you, please like, share, and subscribe to help normalize honest discussions about aging, dying, and grieving. 

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In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli sits down with Dr. Chrissy Salley, pediatric psychologist and Director of Clinician Engagement and Outreach at Courageous Parents Network, and Blair Young, a Parent Champion with the organization and mother to Bubba, who died in 2024. 

Together, they discuss what it’s like to raise a child with complex medical needs, and to do so in a system that often delays palliative care and overlooks emotional support. Blair shares her family's powerful story: from the shock of her son’s diagnosis to the grief and clarity that followed his death. Chrissy explains how Courageous Parents Network helps bridge the gap between clinical care and the lived experience of parenting through uncertainty, loss, and love. 

According to a 2023 Kaiser Family Foundation report, an estimated 19 million children, 26% of all U.S. children under 18, have special health care needs (KFF, accessed 8/4/25). This episode highlights how Courageous Parents Network offers guidance, community, and practical tools for the families behind that number. 

Topics covered include: 

• The emotional and logistical impact of delayed pediatric palliative care 
• Why peer-to-peer connection is essential 
• The role of Parent Champions in transforming family care 
• How clinicians and parents can walk this path together 

This conversation is for clinicians, caregivers, and anyone supporting a family with a seriously ill child. It's about listening deeply, showing up, and remembering that no parent should have to face this journey alone. 

Links/Resources 

Please consider donating to the Courageous Parents Network at https://courageousparentsnetwork.org/about/donate

• Guests:
   Dr. Chrissy Salley & Blair Young – https://www.drchrissysalley.com
  Courageous Parents Network – https://www.courageousparentsnetwork.org 
• Host:
   Traci Arieli – https://www.comfortingclosure.com 
• Additional Resources:
   NeuroJourney Tool – https://www.neurojourney.org 
• KFF Report – https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/5-key-facts-about-children-with-special-health-care-needs-and-medicaid