Understanding Grief and The Role Of Death Doulas
“Grief is a journey we all take, but few of us are prepared for. What happens when loss shakes the foundation of our relationships?”
On this week’s episode of Marriage Beyond The Breach, we explore grief, loss, and the role of death doulas. We are honored to have with us a certified death doula and a grief recovery specialist to uncover how these compassionate guides help individuals and families navigate one of life’s most challenging transitions.
We’ll discuss how grief impacts us, the misconceptions around loss, and how couples can find connection and healing amid sorrow. Whether you’re experiencing loss or supporting someone who is, this episode will provide comfort, insight, and tools to honor the process.
Because even in grief, there’s space for growth.
Guest Bios:
Carey Palmquist
Palmquist_deathdoula@outlook.com
Carey Palmquist is an end-of-life/death doula in her private practice, Chesapeake Bay Death Doula. Carey became an end-of-life doula because she believes that through the intimacy and vulnerability of discussions about death, we can hold a special and sacred space to accept death as another phase of our magnificent humanity.
Carey says, “As a young girl, my experiences of death were mysterious and macabre. Those dying were placed ‘over there’ in a separate, quiet, dark room where, upon entering, we respectfully whispered and spoke over, through, about, and around the dying. Never to them. Never.
I decided to become an EOL doula after several significant people in my life passed away. The first was my closest friend, who died in her early 40s from a staggeringly aggressive cancer. She left behind two teenagers (a girl and a boy) and her husband. As her death neared, she closed herself off from everyone who loved her, and she died alone in her room with the door locked. I believe that with an end-of-life doula present, the experience of my friend’s death would have been different, not only for her but for those of us who loved her, especially her children.”
As an end-of-life doula, Carey is passionate about helping friends and families create sacred and personal rituals in celebration of life, not only at the time of death but also as death anniversaries sneak up and the anxiety from the milestone takes over our fragile memories. She facilitates conversations about grief and opens dialogue about what comes after loss. Carey hosts Death Cafes to ignite intimate conversations about our perceptions of death, highlighting the importance of living every day to the fullest. – “Be here now.”
Carey’s hope is that together, she and her clients can create beautiful spaces for transitioning loved ones that will carry them through the grief that comes from profound loss.
Georganna Lewis
Belovedletstalk@gmail.com Belovedletstalk.net
Georganna W. Lewis is a Certified Advanced Grief Recovery Method Specialist, having obtained her certification from the prestigious Grief Recovery Institute. She further honed her expertise when she became a licensed ordained minister after completing a rigorous curriculum at Change College, a program designed and developed by leaders at Change Church in Ewing New Jersey. Georgiana has completed facilitator training at Imagine, a Center for coping with loss in Mountainside NJ. The comprehensive training, tools, invaluable life lessons, and seasons of adversities profoundly altered Georgiana’s life and career trajectory, catapulting her into her Divine purpose. Now, with a heart filled with empathy and compassion for the broken hearted, viewing the world through a new lens, and driven by the teachings of the Bible in Matthew chapter 9 verses 36 to 38, Georganna changed her line of work from Business Administration and Information Technology to transformational coaching, ministry, and speaking. She effectively facilitates seminars and leads online women and cancer support groups by leveraging her extensive skill sets.
Georgina also conducts impactful grief recovery workshops, engaging public speaking events, and inspiring book signings. Georgiana hosts an inspirational and motivational Beloved Let’s Talk: Speaking from the Heart podcast. She is a successful blogger and author of Journaling For Intentionality for MY BELOVED, Grief Is No longer The Boss Of Me, and the co-author of Reach Your Greatness with Nick and Megan Unsworth, James Malinchak (ABC’s Secret Millionaire, and big money speaker) and other leading entrepreneurs and professionals
Georganna finds fulfillment and pleasure in volunteering at her local church, assisting with community fundraising and outreach efforts for the Westfield Neighborhood Council, Westfield Community Center, WallynZavy’s Autistic Kids Can Do! Inc., and Auto Shows 4 Autism. Georganna looks forward to serving many other organizations and individuals.
