Gentle Ending Support Services
End-of-Life Comfort and Care
Rev. Jackie Szabunia, End-of-Life Doula
(905) 259-1706
Gentle Ending Support Services
End-of-Life Comfort and Care
Rev. Jackie Szabunia, End-of-Life Doula
(905) 259-1706
All About a Doula
Did you know that not only is death the opposite of life, but it is also a teacher? It teaches us how quickly life passes. It teaches us to appreciate life and provides an experience for the most profound love as we experience loss.
The role of an end-of-life doula is to provide comfort and solace during life’s most tender moments. Like a birth doula, who supports the family during the birthing process, an end-of-life doula (or death doula), with knowledge of the death process, supports a person and their family at the end of life’s journey focusing on ones needs, beliefs, and desires.
An end-of-life doula will aid in helping not only planning one’s death, but also ensuring their final days are spent in accordance with their wishes. We enhance care at the end of life, and during the grieving process by providing a consistent presence during a very chaotic time. Within our scope of practice, we provide up to date information about end-of-life care services and engage families in legacy projects and funeral preparations. We empower people through education, unwavering support and gentle guidance, ensuring a meaningful and dignified end-of-life experience.
More people are becoming familiar with the importance of a doula for birth and death events. The experience of these events are just as much emotional matters as they are medical. Families are often left struggling through their feelings and lack the knowledge to medically advocate for themselves and their loved ones, and many medical practitioners are unable to provide the added support needed. This is where the services of an end-of-life doula can be invaluable to families, whether your loved one is at home, in the hospital, or in hospice.
"You matter because you are you. You matter to the last moment of your life, and we will do all we can, not only to help you die peacefully, but to live until you die."
Dame Cecily Saunders
1918-2005
My Services
End-of-Life Conversations
End-of-Life Conversations
Within a safe and supportive space, helping individuals, couples, and families with difficult conversations about death, dying, and how we move on afterwards.
Advanced Care Plans
End-of-Life Conversations
Collaborating with clients to make informed decisions regarding their end-of-life plans. Then create a plan to ensure that, when the time comes, your wishes are fulfilled.
Legacy Projects
Help with creating legacy projects for your loved ones as your personal memoir. I encourage individuals to process what their life meant to others and remember a well-lived life. Legacy work is very personal and varies by individual, religion, and culture. Some examples could include video messages, scrapbooks, letter writing to loved ones, the options are endless.
Self Advocacy
Self Advocacy
Offering guidance to ensure respect and dignity for your end-of-life. Helping to identify wishes, needs and beliefs, and to ensure that these are heard. Can also be an advocate and provide details regarding MAiD.
Grief Work
Self Advocacy
Vigil Support
Supporting clients by walking with them through their loss. Whether grief is current, anticipatory, cumulative or disenfranchised. Meeting one on one with you to let you know that you are not alone in your grief.
Vigil Support
Self Advocacy
Vigil Support
Offering a supportive presence by the bedside for the client and offering non-medical, holistic pain and symptom management. Helping loved ones and friends with the emotional, spiritual, and practical challenges during the active dying phase by creating a serene and comforting environment.
Senior/Respite Care
Animal Companion Ceremony
Pain/Symptom Management
Seniors often experience loneliness and isolation. I can provide visits and offer social, spiritual, and emotional support by engaging in meaningful conversation. Respite care is temporary relief to give caregivers a much-needed break as becoming a primary caregiver for a loved one can easily become overwhelming and exhausting. I visit with your loved one, for a few hours, so you can have time for yourself.
Pain/Symptom Management
Animal Companion Ceremony
Pain/Symptom Management
We all fear pain, especially when we're nearing the end of life. That’s one of our biggest fears as we transition towards the end. Through terminal illnesses or the natural decline of our health as we age, we want to ensure that our loved ones, and even ourselves, are comfortable and without pain. I offer various holistic healing methods to enhance medical pain/symptom management. Holistic energy healing includes Mindfulness Touch Therapy, Guided Visualization/Meditation Imagery.
Animal Companion Ceremony
Animal Companion Ceremony
Animal Companion Ceremony
Saying goodbye to a beloved companion is never easy. These cherished souls are more than animals—they are family, confidants, and faithful friends. I offer heartfelt End-of-Life Ceremonies designed to honor their memory and the profound bond you shared.
Each ceremony provides a sacred space for remembrance, reflection, and healing. Whether held at home, in nature, or another meaningful setting, we create a personalized experience that celebrates the unique spirit and life of your companion. With great care and compassion, I help you say farewell in a way that feels true, loving, and deeply honoring. A beautiful goodbye for a soul who will always be part of your heart.
Pricing
Everyone deserves the right to a life of quality and a death that meets their wishes. I offer services to make this possible at any place along the life and death journey. I will work with every client and family to provide care at a price that they can afford.
End-of-Life Doula services, and pain management are non-medical, elective and not covered or reimbursed by insurance. Some end-of-life services are paid by the hour, and some can be purchased as a one-time package fee. Every situation, client and family are different, and all needs will be discussed, and services agreed upon on a case-by-case basis. This can be determined during a free 30 minute, no obligation, initial consultation, virtual or in-person.
About Me
Rev. Jacquelin received her:
- Contemplative End-of-Life Care certification from the Institute of Traditional Medicine
- The Fundamentals of Hospice Palliative Care from St. Joseph's Health Care London
- Death, Dying and Bereavement certification from Laurier University
- Reiki Level II Practitioner certification from Lisa Hoskin Reiki Master/Teacher
- Energy Healing certification specializing in Colour Therapy, Aura and Chakra Healing and Crystal Healing from The School of Natural Health Sciences
- Currently completing the Mindfulness End-of-Life Care certification from the University of Toronto
- Became a Reverend through the Canadian International Metaphysical Ministry
She lives in the Durham Region with her husband and their cat, Reno. They have one daughter, Samantha, and two beautiful granddaughters, Emalee and Charlotte. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, gardening, travelling, meditating, practicing yoga, and spending time with family and friends.
Rev. Jackie has a passion for spiritual and emotional healing, and for supporting those who are at end-of-life and their loved ones. She found this calling after being at the bedside of both her parents as their journey’s ended.
Her volunteer work includes:
- VON as palliative support sitting with seniors providing them with emotional and social support, and as grief/bereavement support coach helping with those who have suffered a loss
- Local hospital Palliative Care floor.
She also co-facilitates a women's healing circle that meets once a month.
To ensure she stays up to date with knowledge, she is an active member of:
- End-of-Life Doula Association of Canada,
- Death Doula Ontario Network,
- The Centre for Sacred Deathcare
- International End-of-Life Doula Association
Both Death Doula Ontario Network and the End-of-Life Doula Association of Canada strive to increase death and grief literacy and enable Ontario death doulas to keep up to date on new legislation, enhance their end-of-life care knowledge and skills, and offer public information about end-of-life care in Ontario.
Greetings to you, my name is Rev. Jackie and as an End-of-Life Doula serving the Greater Toronto Area, I believe in providing my clients, and their loved ones, with emotional, practical, and spiritual support before, during and after the dying process. My belief is that everyone has the ability to create a fulfilling and meaningful life, which is no less true when nearing the end of their journey, and I am here to help you achieve that. I will strive to help you navigate this transition with as much ease, clarity, and guidance as possible. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss my services with you in more detail, and how best I can support you through a most challenging time.
Blessings, Rev. Jackie
"Honest listening is one of the best medicines we can offer the dying and the bereaved."
Jean Cameron