End-of-life doula in Orlando and Central Florida
No one should have to navigate goodbye alone.
Whether someone you love is facing the end of life, or you simply want your own wishes in place, I’m here for you now, not only at the very end. I’m Judy Willemsen, an end-of-life doula. Like a birth doula at the beginning of life, I’m a non-medical companion at its end, from the first hard news to the last goodbye.
At your own pace: 5 gentle questions worth asking yourself today.
Whenever you feel ready, I’m here to listen. If I can’t answer, I’m likely with a family. Leave a message and I’ll call you back today. Our first conversation, about 30 minutes, is complimentary, with nothing expected of you afterward. If writing feels easier, send me a message.
- Works alongside hospice
- At home, in hospice, in the hospital, or wherever your loved one is
- Every faith, or none
- Se habla español
Is the time near? If your loved one’s final days have come and you’d like someone with you, call or text me at (407) 989-5949. I’ll tell you right away whether I can be there.
We plan for weddings. We plan for retirement. Very few families talk about the end of life.
Talking about it doesn’t make it happen sooner. It helps everyone feel more peaceful, connected, and supported when the time comes. Preparing ahead isn’t giving up hope; it’s a gift to the people you’ll leave behind.
Preparing ahead is also an act of love.
How I help
An end-of-life doula is a trained, non-medical companion who walks beside someone nearing the end of life, and beside the people who love them. Doctors, nurses, and hospice centers care for the body; I care for your loved one’s heart and spirit, and for the family around them.
Emotional and spiritual support
A steady, calm presence for your loved one and for the whole family. Listening, comfort, prayer, or silence, whatever brings peace.
Guidance and preparation
Help with the conversations and decisions that feel too heavy to begin, so your loved one’s wishes are known and honored.
Presence at the bedside
Sitting vigil in the final hours and days, so your loved one is held in company and your family can rest.
Families usually reach out when
- Your oncologist has told you there is no cure, and you don’t know where to begin.
- You want your own wishes clear now, so your children never have to guess.
- You still have things to say, and you want to say them before the final days.
- Mom or Dad has just started hospice, and nobody has told you what comes next.
- You live out of town and want someone steady at their side near the end, when you can’t be.
- You’re the one holding everything together through these last months, and you’re running on empty.
- Your loved one wants to talk about dying, and the family doesn’t know how.
- You’ve been told it may be only days, and you don’t want your loved one to be alone.
Does any of this sound familiar? You don’t have to carry it alone. Our first conversation, about 30 minutes, is complimentary.
How it works
Reach out
Call, text, or write to me, whichever feels easiest. You don’t need the right words; just tell me what’s happening. If I can’t answer right away, I’ll get back to you the same day.
A complimentary conversation
About 30 minutes, by phone, video, or in person. We talk about what is happening and what would help. Nothing is expected of you afterward.
A plan for your family
Together, we shape the support around what your family truly needs. Before anything begins, I put it all in writing, including the cost, so you can decide with peace of mind.
I’m there
In-person visits and phone, video, and text support, as well as presence at the bedside when the time comes, for as long as you need me.
Where would you like to begin?
Clear prices, written down before we begin
Planning sessions start at $395. There is support for every budget, from a few hours at the bedside to care through the whole journey.
See the options
About Judy
Why I became an end-of-life doula
Meet Judy Free plannerA gentle place to start
5 questions worth asking yourself today, and a free Mini End-of-Life Planner that walks you through them.
Get the plannerSupport in English and in Spanish.
Near the end of life, many people find the most comfort in their mother tongue. I can sit with your loved one, talk, read, and pray in your own language, and explain everything to each member of the family in the language they understand best.
¿Prefiere hablar en español? Judy acompaña a cada familia en su propio idioma, con el corazón.
There is a time to speak, and a time for silence.
Peacefully held at the Radiant Threshold.
In the final days, there will come a moment when your loved one wants no more talking, only peace and silence. Please don’t wait to say what needs to be said.
I learned this at my best friend’s side. In her last days, she no longer wished to speak with anyone and asked for no visitors. I gently explained this to her sister and asked the hospice center to honor her request. The hospice director told me that, at that point, most people only want peace.
Families love deeply, and it is natural to want one more conversation. I will always honor the wishes of your loved one, and I help each of you say what matters while there is still time, so no one is left carrying words that were never spoken.