Instructors and experienced death doulas from University of Vermont’s End-of-Life Doula Certificate share insights from their published books featuring experiences as doulas, supporting the dying and their families while also teaching aspiring doulas. The end-of-life books featured below can help you through the process of death and dying. They offer guidance, support, and advice from experts who devote their time to helping others cope with death.
Death is hard. Though it’s a natural process we will all go through eventually, it can be difficult to know what to do or say when a loved one dies, especially when children have questions about death. On top of that, it can be hard to cope with our own mortality.
All of the authors are End-of-Life Doulas including current instructors, Diane Button, Matilda Garrido, Virginia Chang, and Angela Shook; former students and graduates of UVM’s End-of-Life Doula program Gabby Jimenez and Hemali V. Vora, as well as the former lead instructor at UVM, Francesca Arnoldy. UVM’s End-of-Life Doula program now has graduated over 3,000 students.
Listings Updated: May 28, 2026
The Growing Role of End-of-Life Doulas in Changing Perspectives on Death
End-of-Life Doulas, also known as death doulas, are becoming more well known as a cultural shift occurs in the way people think about death. Instead of avoiding talking about or preparing for death there is a desire to be more open, proactive, and trusting of the process.
“People who are not necessarily terminally ill or have a serious medical condition might reach out to an end-of-life doula for preparation because we are all mortal, and this is the one thing we all have in common. So many of us will begin to prepare for our end of life in advance, perhaps even in good health.”
Diane Button, UVM Instructor and End-of-Life Doula
Button says the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the movement significantly, as people have had to face the risk of death associated with the disease. As a result, people are seeking out the kind of holistic, person-centered care that doulas provide.
Collection of Books Written By UVM Instructors and Death Doulas
Reading these books may help you come to terms with death and give you, and those you care for, including children, the necessary tools to cope with death and say goodbye to a loved one.
Preparing For End of Life For Dummies by Virginia Chang
UVM End-of-Life Doula Instructor Dr. Virginia Chang offers a compassionate roadmap for navigating one of life’s most profound transitions in her new book, Preparing For End of Life For Dummies. This practical guide transforms the often-daunting task of end-of-life planning into a meaningful opportunity to clarify your wishes and ease the burden on those you love. By walking readers through essential decisions—from selecting a healthcare team to organizing funeral options—Dr. Chang ensures you have the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual support needed for the journey. Her approach empowers individuals to face the future with confidence, allowing them to focus on making the most of the time they have together.
“Planning for the end of life isn’t just about logistics; it is an act of love that grants peace of mind to both you and your family. By addressing these difficult decisions now, we create space for more meaningful connection and presence when it matters most. My hope is that this book serves as a gentle companion, turning a fearful process into one of clarity and deep personal empowerment.”
— Dr. Virginia Chang, Ph.D., Author and UVM End-of-Life Doula Instructor
What Matters Most: A Guide to Living a More Meaningful Life by Diane Button
In her heartfelt book, What Matters Most, UVM Instructor and End-of-Life Doula Diane Button shares a collection of deeply personal stories and powerful insights learned from those who are dying. These reflections are not just gentle reminders but unavoidable truths that encourage readers to laugh, cry, and ultimately reconsider their own lives. Each chapter introduces us to unforgettable individuals whose stories illustrate life’s profound beauty and fragility, from the small acts of kindness that create lasting impact to the joy of celebrating each day. Through these poignant narratives, the book serves as an urgent and beautiful call to reassess priorities, deepen connections, and pursue passions with a renewed sense of appreciation.
“The stories in this book come from ordinary people who, when facing the end of their lives, shared extraordinary wisdom. My role was simply to listen and learn what truly matters when all else is stripped away. I hope these lessons inspire readers to live more fully and intentionally now, so they can look back with fewer regrets and a heart full of peace.”
— Diane Button, Author and UVM End-of-Life Doula Instructor
The Doula Tool Kit: The Complete Practical Guide for End-of-Life Doulas & Caregivers by Diane Button, Angela Shook, and Gabby Jimenez
Written by two UVM End-of-Life Doula program instructors, Diane Button and Angela Shook, with support from Gabby Jimenez, this Doula Tool Kit helps readers discover practical end-of-life tips and tools that will help to bring peace, understanding, and even purpose to the process of dying. It is filled with proven methods and templates that the authors have developed over the years. Their goal is to share these personal techniques to help you confidently guide and support others in their final months, days, and hours.
“By sharing our hearts, our compassion, and profound end-of-life experiences, we hope to comfort and inspire you as you do this work. Please take what we’ve shared and make it your own. We are a community, and we are here to lift one another up and support each other always. As you explore our many experiences, tips, tools, and secrets, remember that we do not do this work alone.”
The Doula Tool Kit includes:
- Powerful and practical doula tools and tips.
- Detailed intake methods, questions and forms.
- Stories and prompts for meaningful life reviews.
- Proven and creative ideas for legacy work.
- Comprehensive vigil planning checklist and forms.
- Sample agreements and forms for MAID clients.
- How to be a successful companion animal doula.
- Important keys to ritual and ceremony in your work.
- Key stories, lessons & reflections from the authors.
- Doula bag supply lists, tips and must-have items.
Simon’s Journey by Matilda Garrido
Simon’s Journey is written by another UVM End-of-Life Doula instructor, Matilda Garrido. Garrido is a certified thanatologist (through the Association for Death Education and Counseling) and holds masters degrees in Thanatology and Bioethics. She wrote the book to explore what happens to beloved pets when they die. Simon’s Journey tells the story of a little dog called Simon as he embarks on a great journey through an afterlife and rebirth. As Simon confronts his fears, he learns to appreciate his own strength and courage. When he is called upon to share his life and loving nature with the world, his story culminates with a surprising and heartfelt ending.
“I originally wrote this little book for my final project for the Foundations in Contemplative Care program I took at the New York Zen Center in 2018-2019. It was inspired by a classmate named Betty who lost her dog during our class and spoke about praying for him on his journey through the Bardo and her hopes that he would be reincarnated as a little boy. I really consider this book as divine inspiration as I’d never thought of writing a children’s book ever before, and it all came together perfectly.”
— Matilda Garrido, Author and UVM End-of-Life Doula Instructor
Map of Memory Lane by Francesca Arnoldy
An invitation for children and their adults to explore and share memories as a coping mechanism for enduring loss, Map of Memory Lane helps readers lean on the special times as a balm of sorts. We each have a “Memory Lane” we can visit simply by pausing, closing our eyes, and reminiscing.
“Sometimes I take a trip down Memory Lane when I’m missing someone,” explained Nana. “It doesn’t take away all the sadness, but remembering makes me smile. Then, my heart aches a little less.” – Map of Memory Lane, Francesca Arnoldy
“My goal with this project was to gently introduce a difficult topic while making it as accessible as possible,” Arnoldy said. “The main character, Lee, is depicted as gender-ambiguous and multiracial. The messaging is secular and leaves room for readers to discuss their beliefs. The memories included are sweet and simple, not extravagant. These intentional efforts aim to enable all kids to see themselves within in the story.”
— Francesca Arnoldy, Author and UVM End-of-Life Doula Instructor
A companion workbook for children and their caregivers is also available to reinforce the healing power of heartfelt memories.
“We need to include children in conversations and experiences based on the child’s developmental stage, desire for information/inclusion, and each family’s preferences and norms. Far too many adults carry wounds from their past as a result of not being allowed to say goodbye or not having their questions answered.”
— Francesca Arnoldy, Author and UVM End-of-Life Doula Instructor
To help people heal, Arnoldy says doulas utilize silence, curiosity, and courage to draw near to those facing the hardest things, including the youngest among us.
Dear Death: Finding Meaning in Life, Peace in Death, and Joy in an Ordinary Day by Diane Button
Both practical and inspirational, Dear Death explores what ultimately brings us joy in life and peace in death. It asks, how can we heal, change, forgive, and grow, even until the very last hours of life?
“I have always been fascinated by those people who seem to live everyday life with joy, and those who face terminal illness and their end-of-life with a sense of peace,” Button said. “Through research and interviews, I found some wonderful similarities amongst people who were entering into the last stages of life with a calmness and appreciation for a life well-lived. But, it wasn’t until I began working as an end-of-life doula that I clearly recognized the need for Dear Death, the book.”
Button worked with fellow UVM instructor and End-of-Life Doula, Dr. Virginia Chang, as the editor of the book.
“Having an editor who is also a doula meant the book stayed focused on our heartfelt work. Virginia understood my intention, my desire for inclusivity, and the message of each section, which was an exploration of the doula heart in action.”
— Diane Button, Author and UVM End-of-Life Doula Instructor
Dear Death is different from other books about end-of-life in that it focuses primarily on how to live your life so that when the end nears, Buttons says you’ll more easily find a sense of peace.
“With Dear Death, I wanted to write something that offered some general guideposts for end-of-life planning but focused mostly on how to live well from today until the end-of-life because of this knowledge, awareness, and information about what matters most.”
Books Featuring UVM Program Instructors
Well-Being at the End of Life
Reimagining Palliative Care edited by Julian Abel and Allan Kellehear
A new book from Columbia University Press asks a bold question: Has palliative care lost sight of what it was meant to be? Edited by Julian Abel and Allan Kellehear—both professors of end-of-life care at Northumbria University and cofounders of Compassionate Communities UK—Well-Being at the End of Life: Reimagining Palliative Care brings together leading international scholars and practitioners to examine where the field stands today and where it needs to go.
If you work in end-of-life care, study it, or simply care about how we support the dying, this book offers a clear-eyed look at a system that has drifted—and a compelling vision for what can replace it.
The book also features scholarship from closer to home. UVM instructor Matilda Garrido co-authored a paper titled “Palliative Care Research Reimagined,” which will appear in this volume. Garrido’s contribution reflects the kind of forward-thinking engagement with end-of-life care that defines UVM’s work in this space, and pushes the field to ask harder questions and imagine more humane answers.
Her inclusion alongside leading international voices signals something important: the conversation about reimagining palliative care is one that UVM faculty and instructors are actively shaping, not just observing.
“Palliative care is about more than easing physical pain; it’s about honoring the whole person,” Matilda said. “By rethinking our approaches, we can create care systems that truly support patients and their families during life’s most vulnerable moments.”
— Matilda Garrido, Contributor and UVM End-of-Life Doula Instructor
How to Not Know: The Value of Uncertainty in a World that Demands Answers by Simone Stolzoff
What if not having all the answers wasn’t a weakness—but a skill worth developing? That’s the central challenge Simone Stolzoff takes on in his new book, How to Not Know: The Value of Uncertainty in a World that Demands Answers.
Published in May 2026, the book arrives at a moment when uncertainty feels less like an occasional inconvenience and more like a permanent condition—in our careers, our relationships, and the world at large. Stolzoff’s argument is both timely and disarming: our capacity to tolerate the unknown is shrinking, and that’s a problem we can actually do something about.
Stolzoff, an author, journalist, and TED speaker, brings his background as a former design lead at IDEO to bear on one of the most universal human experiences. Rather than offering a self-help checklist, he takes readers into the lives of real people wrestling with genuinely difficult questions—an economist trying to predict the next market crash, an island nation confronting the existential weight of climate change.
How to Not Know also features a perspective that will resonate with UVM’s end-of-life doula community. Sarah Hill, instructor for UVM’s End-of-Life Doula Business Foundations Certificate, was interviewed and included in the book. This is a recognition of both her expertise and the relevance of her work to the book’s broader themes.
Sarah is the founder of East Bay Doula for the Dying LLC and a partner at the Bay Area End of Life Doula Alliance (ELDA). She holds an M.S. in Organization Development from the University of San Francisco, and she brings a systems-informed, deeply human lens to end-of-life care. A graduate of UVM’s End-of-Life Doula Certificate program herself, Sarah developed the Business Foundations course she now teaches—supporting aspiring, new, and experienced doulas in building sustainable, meaningful practices.
“What I find so meaningful about this work is that it asks everyone in the room—clients, family, and doulas alike—to be present without all the answers,” Sarah said. “My clients often tell me they appreciate that I can meet them emotionally and am attuned to what’s unspoken. But I also make sure the practical things are handled, because that matters too. What I treasure most are the bonds that form. The end of life strips away the surface and leaves something real. It’s tender, but it’s also full of possibility. That’s not something you can plan for. You have to be willing to not know.”
— Sarah Hill, Contributor and UVM End-of-Life Doula Instructor
Sacred Death: 25 Tools for Caregivers by Hemali V. Vora
Hemali V. Vora, MPT, an end-of-life doula and a sole owner and practitioner of Hemali Vora, Health and Wellness, LLC. has written a new book called Sacred Death: 25 Tools for Caregivers in part to guide people on the path to feeling good about their legacy. It began after the experience she had with her own father’s death in 2010.
“I had that existential crisis of ‘who am I?’ When I saw his legacy, I went on that path of ‘what is my legacy? What am I here for? What is my purpose and intention?’” Vora said. “The more I opened up to death and opened up to the sacredness of it, I started accepting life. How beautiful and magical life is. Really living my life. And I wanted to share that with the world.”
Sacred Death includes chapters written by 25 end-of-life experts, coaches, healers, therapists, and practitioners, including Vora. It is aimed at helping healthcare workers, caregivers, and anyone concerned with their mortality to have a better relationship with death. Another graduate from UVM’s doula program, Sherry Burns, also contributed a chapter to the book.
Some of the topics touched upon are: transforming from caregiving to self-caring; listening and watching for messages from the other side; ways forgiveness leads to self-love and inner peace; creating rituals to say goodbye; and practicing conscious dying to stay present and connected.
Vora’s chapter about legacy work fulfills her lifelong desire to talk deeply about death.
“As a young person, I used to say, ‘there is something about death in me.’ And I just didn’t know what that meant,” Vora said. Before they [a loved one] passed away I felt their spirit around me, moving or struggling, trying to figure out what’s going on…and me calming them down.”
UVM Instructors In The News
New York Times: “How to Prepare for a Longer Life”
Published April 28, 2026
UVM Instructor: Matilda Garrido, MS, MSB, FT
National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): “Before the Loss: Understanding Anticipatory Grief”
Published March 25, 2026
UVM Instructor: Carla Archuletta, NCC, BC-TMH, LPC/MHSP, FT
Ready Living Podcast: “How an Animal Death Doula Helps Families Let Go With Love”
Published March 17, 2026
UVM Instructor: Ken Gorczyca, DVM
My Veterinary Life Podcast: “The Journey to Becoming a Veterinary Death Doula”
Published November 6, 2025
UVM Instructor: Ken Gorczyca, DVM
Learn more about the End-of-Life Doula Certificate program and UVM and read stories from program graduates.
Editor’s note: This story was originally published in December 2021 and has since been updated.
