End of Life Doulas
Our Center’s End of Life Doula Collaborative
Walking beside you with compassion, presence, and care.
Our End of Life Doula Collaborative is a community of trained doulas who provide non-medical, holistic support to individuals and families navigating dying, death, and grief. Our doulas offer guidance, comfort, and companionship—helping to ease fear, honor wishes, and create meaningful moments during life’s most tender transitions.
We believe that no one should face the end of life alone. By collaborating as a team, our doulas bring diverse skills, experiences, and compassionate presence to support:
- Individuals as they prepare for end-of-life in ways that align with their values and wishes.
- Families and loved ones with emotional support, practical assistance, and respite during times of stress.
- Communities by fostering conversations, education, and resources that make death and dying less isolating and more compassionate.
Together, we create a circle of care that extends beyond the individual—offering safe, sacred spaces where people can be seen, heard, and supported.
Our Doulas
Our doulas are compassionate guides, here to support individuals and families through the experiences of dying, death, and grief. Each brings unique skills, life experiences, and heartfelt presence, yet they all share one mission: to provide comfort, connection, and support when it matters most.
WALKING BESIDE YOU.
Meet Our Doulas
Eva Adamson
caregivingcooperative507@yahoo.com
I received my End of Life Doula certification through The Dying Year and have been practicing personalized healthcare in the Mankato area for several years. I am a compassionate caregiver dedicated to offering holistic support to individuals and families during life’s most tender and vulnerable transitions. Drawing on many years of experience in elder and hospice care, I bring a calm, nurturingpresence into every home. I specialize in grief support and dementia care, helping families feel grounded and supported through every phase of care. I provide continuity that bridges the needs of the living—offering practical and emotional support at home—with the peace and dignity of dying well. My work is rooted in compassion, respect, and the belief that no one should face these moments alone.
Physical area able to provide care: Open to opportunities
Skills/areas of interest: Companionship, Emotional and Spiritual Support, Facilitate Conversations around terminal diagnosis, Support services before and throughout end of life journey. Planning for end of life.
Karyn Block
karyn@storydoulamn.com
The Story Doula is an end-of-life doula service founded by Karyn Block, dedicated to helping individuals find meaning, comfort, and connection in their final chapter. With compassion and care, Karyn supports clients in telling their story their way—preserving memories, honoring legacies, and creating space for reflection and peace. The Story Doula offers personalized guidance through the emotional, spiritual, and narrative aspects of the end-of-life journey.
Physical area able to provide care: Mankato area, including North Mankato, Eagle Lake, St Clair, Janesville
Skills/areas of interest: Companion care, including music, singing, and aromatherapy. Lasting legacy projects, including letter writing, family recipe book creation, photography sessions, and creative expression.
COLLEEN HOKENSON
507-276-0202
colleenmhokenson@gmail.com
Death comes, and we’re never quite ready. The end of life is one of the most difficult realities we face, often filled with uncertainty, grief, and unanswered questions. As an End of Life Doula, I offer compassionate support during this sacred time, ensuring that no one walks this path alone. I am trained to hold vigil, to be a calm and steady presence, and to help navigate the emotional, spiritual, andpractical aspects of the dying process. I provide guidance and resources for families, serve as a listening witness to their journey, and help honor the unique wishes of each individual. My goal is to support a transition that is as peaceful and meaningful as possible—for both the person nearing the end of life and their loved ones.
Physical area able to provide care: New Ulm and Mankato area
Skills/areas of interest: Companionship, Resources, EOL Vigil
Darla Makela
507-995-7923
extendedloveco@yahoo.com
As a companion caregiver and compassionate end-of-life doula, I am devoted to supporting individuals and their families through life’s most profound transitions. I offer emotional, spiritual, and practical care, ensuring each person’s journey is met with dignity, respect, and grace. My mission is to create a peaceful and meaningful experience that honors each individual’s wishes while providing gentle guidance and presence through the end-of-life process. With deep reverence for this sacred time, I walk alongside those in my care, offering comfort, clarity, and heartfelt support.
Physical area able to provide care: Open to opportunities and virtual
Skills/Areas of Interest: Legacy planning, Faith-based support, Companion Care, Planning for end of life, Vigil at end of life, and Family Support
Dena Pagel
507-304-8341
denaepagel@gmail.com
I am a registered nurse by trade with experience supporting hospice patients at the end of life, and I now offer a compassionate, listening presence to help individuals explore their wishes, fears, and goals for end-of-life care. Through Best Three Months Coaching and Care Planning, I assist those who are ready to reflect on what matters most and create a meaningful, personalized path forward. I also provide comfort care for both the individual and their family—including respite care, holding space in silence, light massage, and healing touch—to bring peace, connection, and support during life’s most tender moments.
Physical area able to provide care: 50 Mile radius around Mankato
Skills/areas of interest: End of Life Vigil, light massage, emotional support
Heidi Rimstad
507-304-3224
rimstad.lfw@gmail.com
www.heidirimstad.com
Available to support individuals and their loved ones through end of life transitions by providing emotional, spiritual, energetic and practical support. Willing to help organize and reconcile details of the heart, mind, and Soul through conversations, projects, organizing, Reiki, and advocating for your needs and wishes. Heidi uses humor, compassion, and creativity in all she does. She is open minded, curious, and not afraid of hard conversations (even if she tears up a bit). International End of Life Doula Association (INELDA) trained, Master Reiki Practitioner, Interfaith Minister and licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT).
Physical area able to provide care: Southern Minnesota and beyond
Skills/areas of interest: Companionship, Emotional and Spiritual Support, Reiki, Facilitate Conversations and Unfinished Business
Marie Schutter
507-848-0973
marie.schutter@icloud.com
I became an end-of-life doula because I believe the closing chapter of life holds as much significance as its beginning. Just as we prepare for and honor birth with care and intention, I believe ourdeaths deserve the same mindful attention. As a doula, I listen deeply to what matters most to each individual, offering advocacy, presence, and support throughout this sacred time. By holding spacewith compassion and without judgment, I aim to create an environment where the dying feel seen, heard, and emotionally supported. It is both an honor and a privilege to companion someone at the end of life—a moment where shared humanity and open hearts reveal our deep interconnectedness. Together, we explore concerns, wishes, and the spiritual reflections that shape each person’s unique journey.
Tina Thomas
tinamarie@hopeatlastdoula.com
www.hopeatlastdoula.com
I’ve been a Hospice RN for over 11 years, providing end-of-life care to individuals of all ages, including children. My journey has taken me to places like Crescent Cove, a hospice and respite home for children with chronic and terminal illnesses in Minneapolis—a place that holds a special place in my heart. For several years, I was also a licensed foster care parent, offering a home to children living with serious and life-limiting conditions. These experiences have deepened my belief that every person—regardless of age—deserves to be supported, comforted, and honored as they near the end of life. My calling is to walk alongside individuals and families during this sacred time, offering peace, guidance, and compassionate presence. It’s my hope to bring a sense of calm and the sweetfragrance of hope to those who need it most.
Physical area able to provide care: Southern Minnesota and beyond
Mary Beth Trembley
507-387-4747
mbtrembley@gmail.com
I am a psychiatric RN now offering nonmedical end-of-life companionship, bringing a compassionate and grounded presence to those facing the dying process. By exploring your hopes and fears around death, I can help you prepare for meaningful conversations with yourself, your loved ones, and your health care team. You don’t have to face this journey alone—I am your neighbor, here to walk alongside you with empathy and care as you prepare for your sacred transition. Dying is not just another medical event. It’s a social, emotional andspiritual event. Let’s talk!
Physical area able to provide care: Mankato area, St. Peter, New Ulm
Skills/areas of interest: Coffee Conversations, Pickleball, Walks in Nature.
Echo Yeoman
605-545-0916
echomae@hotmail.com
www.yeodragonwellness.com
I hold an Advanced Course Death Doula Certification from The Dying Year and have had the honor of guiding several friends and their loved ones through the final weeks of life, including legacy projects that celebrate meaning and memory. With over 15 years of experience in long-term care and a deep sense of the limitations often present in that setting, I now offer holistic, individualized support that truly honors the end-of-life journey. I advocate for completing advance directives and bring a broad skill set rooted in both clinical and complementary care—including a diploma in Practical Nursing, an Associate in Arts from North Iowa Area Community College, and a Specialized Herbal Medicine and Aromatherapy CAM degree from the American College of Healthcare Sciences. I invite presence, dignity, and connection through comforting moments in Nature, in Spirit, in oneself, and in community. Supporting individuals, their loved ones, and their environmentsthrough wellness and loss is my soul’s calling, and I am committed to continuously growing—personally and professionally—to meet each journey with compassion, respect, and grace.
Physical area able to provide care: Southern Minnesota and beyond and Virtual
Skills/areas of interest: Education, Pre-planning, legacy projects, vigil and memorial support, grief support