Preparing Your Exit Strategy
Death. Face it. We know this thing called “Life” will end. We may not always know how or when. The question is if you could plan today how you would like to be comforted, remembered, and cared for when you die, would you do it?

If you knew your long-term illness was going to be the cause of your death, would you want to be supported by someone who would be caring, empathetic – yet objective - to help you or your family create a memory, a memorial project, or even a ceremony before you die?

Are there things yet left unsaid to loved ones, friends, or even “frenemies,” that you would like to convey before or after your death?

In most cases, family members and close relatives will want to be your primary care partner when you are at the end stages of your life - and that’s fine if it is what you wish. However, you may want your family to be of comfort to you and not worry about providing your physical care.

You may want to spend quality time with your children, spouse, family, and friends to say goodbye on your terms and not have them feel responsible for placing you somewhere that may not allow you the end-of-life peace you seek.

What is a Death Doula?
To some, a Death Doula is an end-of-life angel of care. To others, it is the buffer they need between loved ones and the active dying process.

At But Before I Go…, we help you plan your best exit strategy and provide you with person-centered end-of-life preparation and care. We also can help you with preparing or ensuring that you have, for example, the following:

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• Last Will and Testament

• Marriage/Divorce License

• Healthcare Power of Attorney

• Living Will

• Advance Directives

• HIPPA Releases

• DNR /DNI Directives

• POLST/MOLST (Physician/Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment)

• Organ/Tissue/Body Donations

The Active Dying Process
At But Before I Go, our goal is to help you and your family deal with the inevitable. Watching death is hard. It is unrelenting. However, it is the path we walk alone. If we are lucky, we will be surrounded by loved ones when we begin that path. Having a Death Doula at the end-of-life can help you and your
loved ones understand the active dying process and provide a sacred, loving environment that supports and honors a life lived.

On your behalf, we prepare to hold vigils and will work with hospice care, your physician, your religious beliefs, and your healthcare power of attorney, if you have one, to ensure your wishes are carried out.

We help families understand your process and desires, even when they think they know what’s best for your end-of-life.

When the time comes, we will help your family with body preparation, washing, oiling, and disposition.

Funeral Celebrant and Officiant.

But Before I Go … expresses your wishes with your family or with those you appoint responsible for your funeral, cremation, green burials (state permitting), and whether you want to be embalmed or buried naturally.

As a funeral celebrant, our work continues to support you to the very end. We help plan services according to your plans, religious beliefs, and other options available.

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