Collaboration in death work requires a willingness to release ego, and a desire to work intentionally, with compassion, trust, and generosity. In this scenario, Jane, Nina, Carolyn, and Cheryl worked together, each using their gifts and talents to bring about a supportive, nurturing, and rich experience for the Retzler Family. Hear from them, along with Joey Retzler, on how this collaboration unfolded.

Speakers:

Cheryl Larson is certified as an End-of-Life Doula from International End-of-Life Doula Association (INELDA) since 2018, certified Feng Shui specialist/consultant for over twenty-five years, professional organizer/project manager and owner of Peace by Piece Transitions. Specializing in the transitions of life; downsizing, intentional life review decluttering, bereavement clear out, creating legacy imprint projects, and respected for her compassionate approach, deep listening skills, and ability to hold sacred space during life’s transitions. Currently volunteering at Crescent Cove with Sarah-Shima, her therapy Golden Retriever in Brooklyn Park, a respite & hospice home for children.She lives in Maple Grove with her husband and balances the “bookends of life” as the sun sets for her clients, by cherishing her four granddaughters, knowing the sun rises again. 

Nina Guertin is a trained End-of-Life / Death Doula, a trained and certified Interfaith Spiritual Director, a certified Grief Support Specialist, an End-of-Life-Doula Mentor, a Ritualist / Celebrant, Aromatherapist, and an Angel Artist / Ceramicist. Nina also serves as a Chaplain and Spiritual Support Team Member with Sholom-Johnson Hospice.Nina has been practicing death, grief, and bereavement work since 2017. She lives in NE Minneapolis with her spouse, Patty,  and their Great Dane, Frances.

Jane Whitlock is a certified nurses aide, a trained end of life doula, tedx speaker, death educator and is currently on the board for End In Mind. For the past three and a half years she has been a doula in a skilled nursing facility is S Mpls in a program she co founded entitled Full Circle Care. Jane lives in St Paul with her two adult children who are poised in a giant slingshot on their way to being launched.  When she isn’t thinking or talking about death she is paddling the backwaters of the Mississippi in her kayak or drifting along in her houseboat with her partner Eric.

Carolyn Vinup has been offering customized Sound Bath Ceremonies in the Twin Cities for over 20 years. She created Sound Baths Anywhere to support clients in their Homes, Hospitals, Hospice, and End of Life Ceremonies, as well as producing Celebrations of Life events. Carolyn is dedicated to creating sacred, peaceful environments during life's transitions, bringing heart, sensitivity, and deep love to her work. “Carolyn’s end of life ceremony is beautiful, bringing positive energy, comfort and peacefulness through crystal singing bowls, bedside singing, chakra energy work and light emanations. The overall experience was just intimate and beautiful.” - Leslie Botko, Trinity Hospice Care of Georgia.

Joey Retzler is a very lucky person. She met Jane Whitlock at a new year’s gathering two years before life—and death—exclaimed to her, “get your ducks and doulas in a row.”  She and her family are eternally grateful for MNDC and its true collaborative focus on life’s major transitions. Joey is a retired, but not expired, psychotherapist and editor. She recently moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan to be closer to family, and to be “Yia-yia” to her inquisitive and vivacious granddaughter.

Death professionals, end-of-life doulas, and hospice workers know how valuable funerals and rituals are when we grieve. As a result of our pandemic experience, more and more families realize that every moment we have with the dead is precious and profound. In this session, Angela Woosley shares techniques and ideas to bring ceremony to the bedside by including family and facility staff in the initial transfer. Facilitating these moments of ceremony helps families create healing memories and honors the sacred next steps in the deceased’s journey.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Understand the benefits of bedside ceremonies 

2. Confidently include family in initial transfers 

3. Use inclusive and inviting language at initial transfers 

4. Create non-denominational mini-ceremonies for use during initial transfers

5. Shroud a body

Speaker: Angela Woosley, M.A. (she/they) is a Minnesota-licensed mortician who taught in the UMN Program of Mortuary Science for over ten years before founding Inspired Journeys LLC. She provides celebrant services across the state, invites folks into caring for their dead, and arranges for natural disposition through her funeral home. Angela currently serves on the board of directors for the National Home Funeral Alliance. She lives in St. Paul with her spouse, his vintage car, and her dog and cat.

End-of-life practitioners often find themselves helping families navigate questions and decisions that are outside their area of expertise.  Similarly, moving from providing support and care during an end-if-life transition to offering guidance regarding legal and financial may feel out of end-of-life practitioner's comfort zone. This seminar aims to educate practitioners about how to issue-spot common estate planning and elder law issues that arise at end-of-life. Attendees will also receive training on how to provide guidance and support regarding legal issues in a compassionate, ethical and productive manner.

Speaker: Rachel Schromen is an estate planning and elder law attorney, and owner of Schromen Law, LLC. Schromen Law has been named Best in Estate Law by readers of the Star Tribune in 2021, 2022, and 2023, and Ms. Schromen has been honored as a Super Lawyer Rising Star annually since 2020. In addition to her work as an attorney, Ms. Schromen is a professional member of the MN Death Collaborative and a volunteer end-of-life doula.

Explore the paradoxes of your work in end-of-life care and discover how it extends beyond EOL. Gain insights on reframing medical experiences into holistic journeys for your clients, and learn strategies for building meaningful relationships within the medical community.

Speaker: Dr. Greg Kutcher

After his medical training at the University of Minnesota, Greg practiced family medicine in Mankato for 35 years––soaking up wisdom from patients and the community. He was the CEO of the Mayo Clinic Health System in Southwest Minnesota for nine years and continued his journey as their Hospice Medical Director. His passion now: given the biological underpinnings of our chronic disease burden, our traditional priorities––diagnosing, treating, and curing––are incomplete, and just as important should be nurturing personal transformation and grieving loss throughout the entire illness journey. He can be found, working with collaborators at:journeyguideproject.com.

We are honored to invite end-of-life doula Jane Whitlock as a keynote speaker for this event.

Jane Whitlock is a certified nurses aide, a trained end of life doula, tedx speaker, death educator and is currently on the board for End In Mind. For the past three and a half years she has been a doula in a skilled nursing facility is S Mpls in a program she co founded entitled Full Circle Care. Jane lives in St Paul with her two adult children who are poised in a giant slingshot on their way to being launched.  When she isn’t thinking or talking about death she is paddling the backwaters of the Mississippi in her kayak or drifting along in her houseboat with her partner Eric.

Join us for an onsite vendor fair and connect with speakers and MNDC Representatives. This is a great opportunity to build your collaborative network of deathcare workers.