Our first breath gives us life, but our last one honors a lifetime. – Audrey Parker

My name is Nina Guertin and welcome to Tending the Spirit End-of-Life Doula Care. I have been trained through the International End-of-Life Doula Association (INELDA), and hold a National End of Life Doula Alliance (NEDA) Proficiency Badge.

My areas of practice include: Advance Care Planning, Community Care Coordination, Child Loss, Death Cafes, Death Doula, Death Education, End of Life Doula, End of Life Planning, Green Burial Referrals, Grief Support, Healing through Ritual, Health Care Advocate / Navigator, Hospice Support, Legacy / Remembrance Projects, Medical Aid in Dying, Memorials and Celebrations, Mentorship, Newborn Loss, Obituary and Eulogy Writing, Parent Loss, Patient Advocacy, Perinatal Loss, Pet Loss, Post-Death Care Education, Public Speaking, Resource Referrals, Ritual Support, Sibling Loss, Spiritual Direction, Stillbirth, Unexpected Death, Vigil Planning and Support, and VSED / Voluntary Stopping Eating and Drinking.

My intention as an End-of-Life Doula is to assist the dying and their loved ones to experience death as a natural aspect of life – sometimes beautiful, sometimes messy – meeting all where they’re at and how they come. I see my role as one where I can ease fear and anxiety around death by supporting through emotional, spiritual, and practical service.

I bring practical, emotional, and spiritual assistance through my experience as an Interfaith Spiritual Director, Grief Support Specialist, and Hospice Vigil Volunteer. I also bring the experience of the loss of my parents, a brother, and three stillborn daughters, dear friends; as such, I have felt the visceral reaction to death from various perspectives. Love is my greatest motivation; patients and families have said that I bring calm and compassion during times of fear and anxiety. I feel that I have been called to offer my life in end-of-life service; as such, I ask you: How can I be of service to you?

Whether post-diagnosis / pre-hospice, during hospice, vigil, grief work, or post-death bereavement, or through ritualizing, commemorating, or memorializing, I am here and ready to be of service. I look forward to supporting, educating, listening, being still, and holding space for you.

To begin the conversation, follow your nudge, go to the Contact page, and tell me how I can be present for you and those you love.