Death is a natural part of life. Everything, from the smallest cell or tiniest flower to the mightiest tree, has a beginning and an end. Grieving is a natural, necessary process that helps us cope with loss. It’s messy, emotional, and deeply personal—a journey filled with all kinds of feelings and experiences.
What’s always intrigued me, though, is how much we try to avoid talking about death, especially in Western culture. It’s almost like a taboo. People often say things like, “Don’t be so morbid,” or “Oh, you’ll be around for ages!” And sometimes, in an attempt to comfort, we make promises we simply can’t keep, like telling our kids or loved ones, “I’ll never leave you.” While well-meaning, this avoidance leaves so many of us unprepared when death touches our lives, whether it’s losing someone we love or facing our own mortality. That’s when the “what ifs,” regrets, and self-blame creep in.
On top of that, many people aren’t sure how to support someone who’s grieving. They don’t know what to say or how to act, which can unintentionally leave the grieving person feeling even more isolated and alone. It’s heartbreaking, really, because grief is something we all go through at some point. It’s something we should feel more comfortable talking about.
My interest in end-of-life care and the grief process took on a whole new meaning when my husband, John, passed away in 2019. We had been together for 38 beautiful years, and he was 81. I thought I was prepared. It wasn’t a shock. He was at the end of a well-lived life, but I was still blindsided by how deeply grief hit me. It came in waves, totally unpredictable, crashing into me at the most unexpected times. There was no guidebook, no manual to tell me what to expect. Looking back now, I realize those intense feelings were all part of the grief journey. It took me nearly three years to truly process it.
Grief is an inevitable part of life. Something we’ll all face at some point. Two and a half years after John passed, I lost my mum. Her passing was so different; she struggled to let go for over a year, and it was absolutely heartbreaking to witness her wanting to move on but for some reason unable to.
These personal experiences, coupled with a little nudge from the Universe, led me to become a certified Death Doula with Sacred Dying SA. Now, I offer support to those navigating grief and to individuals or families facing the end-of-life journey of a loved one.
Through this work, I’ve created a unique offering where I hold a compassionate, non-judgmental space for people to process their grief, make sense of their loss, and move toward acceptance. I also focus on supporting the physical body, which carries so much of the emotional weight and trauma we experience during loss, with distant energy realignment sessions to soothe and support the nervous system and release the heavy emotions held in the body.
I host Journey of Loss Retreats, Grief Workshops and Grief Immersions, both in-person and online, for individuals, small groups and corporates.
My Walking the Path of Grief 6-week program supports employees struggling to manage their grief while showing up every day at work expected to be productive and focussed. I recently started up Workplace Bereavement South Africa, a division of the UK company. Our mission is to create compassionate and supportive work places for employees who return to work after suffering a bereavement. It can be daunting to try and manage a job and grief, especially as grief can’t be left at home when you head for the office!
These spaces are designed to help you explore and understand grief, no matter where you are on the journey. Grief isn’t something we “get over.” It becomes a part of us, and we learn to live alongside it. My mission is to provide a loving, safe space for you to navigate the many stages of grief, whenever they arise, and help you find your way toward healing and acceptance as you navigate the new life narrative that grief brings us.
A healthy grieving process is so important for finding a way to move forward. Grief isn’t something we’re meant to stay stuck in. It needs to be worked through. The truth is, the only way to navigate grief is to feel it fully, to lean into the rawness of those emotions. There’s no shortcut, no way to avoid or ignore it. The only way out is through. But you don’t have to do it alone. I’m here to walk that path with you, offering support and comfort so you don’t feel so isolated.
