End-Of-Life Doula, Coach and Educator

Service Area:
Portland, OR
Vancouver, WA
Virtually via Zoom

Billie Jo was called to this work through an intention of finding her place in service to her community, and through the knowledge that her current career was not where she was meant to be. She began to notice that there was a very real need for us to recognize death and its place in our lives. Her experience was the same as many others… We are in essence a death-less society – we refuse to notice it, to witness it in our lives and to hold and honor it with sacred and gentle esteem.

For many of us, if we imagine our End-of-Life journey at all, we probably hope it will take place in our home, with our people close by, our comforts within reach and our fears and anxieties lessened by the familiar;but in reality, it is most often experienced in a medical setting without the hoped-for comforts of being in our own space, making our own choices and attending to the sacred journey that is taking place. When we reach that inevitable hour of our life’s journey and discover we have chosen to “hope for the best”, or rely upon chance rather than our own wisdom and knowledge of our wishes, we may find our decisions are constrained or influenced by misguided best intentions that are not our own.
In this work, she is an advocate for her clients so that they may make informed and thoughtful decisions, and take actions that will empower them throughout their end-of-life journey. She partners with medical care support teams and other chosen caregivers to provide non-medical support so her clients may center their mind and energy where it is most meaningful for them. And she offers her time and her presence. She is a witness, holding dignity and sacredness in this space for death to unfold as it’s intended.

She is also a wife, step-mom, daughter, sister and friend;and it is her love for and connection to her family, friends and community, and her recognition of our collective need to talk about death with less fear and more lovingkindness and grace, that she has opened her heart to be of service in this space.

Services Offered:

End-Of-Life Care: Planning & Coaching
Life Review & Legacy Project Creation
Bedside Vigil
After-Death Attendance
Group End-Of-Life Education / Coaching

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Our Graduates and End-of-Life Doulas

Billie Jo Vonhoff, End-Of-Life Doula, Coach and Educator