In this episode of Halva for the Heart, I talk through a question I’m asked all the time: What exactly does a death doula do?

I share how death work isn’t only for people at the very end of life, it’s for anyone navigating mortality, grief, fear, or the desire to meet death with more intention and clarity. I walk through the many roles a death doula can hold: educator, advocate, companion, household support, vigil-sitter, home funeral guide, advance directive facilitator, and someone who brings ancestral, community-rooted care back to the bedside. I also speak about the long history of this work, how it existed for millennia before the medical system claimed the dying process, and why reclaiming these roles matters.

Throughout the conversation, I keep returning to one truth: death doulas are an ancient role with a modern title.

In this episode, I cover:

• What a death doula is and the many roles we hold
• Why death care is for everyone, not just the actively dying
• The ancient history of community death care
• How death doulas can advocate for your wishes at the end of life
• Options like home funerals, body care, and spending time with loved ones after death

If you'd like to share what this episode brought up for you...

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Learn more about my work at my website www.hafezdeathcare.com
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🎵 Theme song: 'Lullaby' by Iranian oud player Negâr Boubân