What I Offer
Dedicated End-of-Life Support to Guide Your Family
Years of Caregiving Experience
Colorado Communities Served
Commitment to Honest Guidance
Certified End-of-Life Doula
About A Sacred Death
A Path Changed by Loss. A Life Dedicated to Yours.
Shawnah McDermott didn't plan to become an end-of-life doula. Her path began in her own home, caring for adults with developmental disabilities who faced complex medical challenges — work that taught her that how we show up for people in their most vulnerable moments matters more than almost anything else.
Everything changed when her sister Debbie was diagnosed with a terminal illness. As Debbie's primary caregiver, Shawnah managed medications, coordinated appointments, and worked closely with hospice and palliative care teams. She was at her sister's bedside when she passed. That experience revealed both the beauty and the profound gaps of end-of-life care — and it set her on a new course.
Shawnah is now a Certified End-of-Life Doula and proud member of the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance, serving families in the greater Denver and Centennial area. She founded A Sacred Death to be the guide she wished her own family had — someone who tells you the truth, walks beside you, and helps death be less frightening than you feared.
Our Mission
Bridging the Gap Between the Medical World and Your Family
Too many families arrive at the end of a loved one’s life unprepared — not because they didn’t care, but because no one translated what was coming. Families are often left managing the logistics of dying while the privilege of just being present slips away.
A Sacred Death exists to bridge that gap. My mission is to guide individuals and families through the end-of-life journey with radical honesty, deep compassion, and unwavering presence — so that every family can experience this passage with dignity, clarity, and the space to simply love.
Our Vision
A World Where Death Is Not Something We Fear — But Something We Face Together
Death is not the enemy. Fear of the unknown is.
My vision is a community where conversations about dying are as natural as conversations about living — where families feel equipped rather than blindsided, and where every person’s final chapter is met with the same care and intention as every chapter before it.
Whether you are planning ahead, walking alongside a loved one today, or processing a loss you never fully recovered from — you deserve a companion who has faced this work honestly, in her own life and in the lives of families she has served.
What I Offer
End-of-Life Doula Services for Every Stage of the Journey
End-of-Life Planning
Advance directives, care planning, and peace-of-mind preparation — long before a crisis arrives.
Family Education & Guidance
Clear, honest conversations about what the dying process actually looks like — physically, emotionally, and practically.
Vigil & Bedside Support
Compassionate presence during active dying — for the individual and the family members keeping watch.
Legacy Projects
Letters, recordings, memory books, and life review sessions that become priceless gifts for generations.
Grief & Bereavement Support
One-on-one and family processing support — before and after a loved one's death.
Caregiver Respite
Relief for family caregivers who are exhausted, overwhelmed, and need someone trustworthy to step in.
Invest in Support
End-of-Life Doula Services & Your Investment
Peace of Mind Package
Ideal for families beginning end-of-life planning
$350
- One 90-minute consultation
- Advance care planning guidance
- End-of-life wishes discussion
- Legacy project brainstorming
- Resource referrals
- Follow-up email with personalized recommendations
Compassionate Support Package
Ongoing support for families navigating active illness or hospice
$950
- Initial 2-hour assessment and planning session
- Up to 8 hours of support (virtual or in-person)
- Family meeting facilitation
- Advance care planning assistance
- Vigil planning
- Weekly check-ins via phone, text, or email
- Resource coordination and referrals
Sacred Journey Package
Comprehensive end-of-life companionship
$2,500
- Initial 2-hour consultation
- Up to 25 hours of in-person and virtual support
- Ongoing emotional and spiritual companionship
- Family education and guidance
- Legacy projects
- Vigil planning and bedside support
- Unlimited text and email support during active care
A limited number of reduced-fee services are available based on financial need. Please ask during your discovery call.
“My therapist has been professional, empathetic, and genuinely invested in my growth. From our very first session, I felt heard in a way I’ve rarely experienced in other settings. We use a combination of video sessions and messaging, which I love because if I’m having a particularly stressful day I can send a message and get thoughtful feedback without needing to schedule a full session. That flexibility has been a huge advantage.”
Labeau Myers
“I’ve definitely noticed real improvements in my mindset and coping skills. For example, I’ve learned techniques that help me reframe negative thoughts, manage panic symptoms, and communicate more assertively with people in my life. My therapist has also helped me identify patterns in my behavior that I wasn’t fully aware of before, and that has made all the difference in how I handle difficult conversations and stressful situations.”
Ainslee Star
“My therapist has been professional, empathetic, and genuinely invested in my growth. From our very first session, I felt heard in a way I’ve rarely experienced in other settings. We use a combination of video sessions and messaging, which I love because if I’m having a particularly stressful day I can send a message and get thoughtful feedback without needing to schedule a full session. That flexibility has been a huge advantage.”
Labeau Myers
“I’ve definitely noticed real improvements in my mindset and coping skills. For example, I’ve learned techniques that help me reframe negative thoughts, manage panic symptoms, and communicate more assertively with people in my life. My therapist has also helped me identify patterns in my behavior that I wasn’t fully aware of before, and that has made all the difference in how I handle difficult conversations and stressful situations.”
Ainslee Star
Learn & Explore
Mind, Heart, and End-of-Life Insights
Insights in Psychology
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What exactly is an end-of-life doula?
An end-of-life doula is a non-medical companion and guide who supports individuals and their families through serious illness, the dying process, and grief. Think of it this way — just as a birth doula supports a family welcoming a new life, a death doula supports a family through life’s final passage. My role is to be the steady, honest, knowledgeable presence that helps you understand what’s happening, advocate for your loved one’s wishes, and make sure no one has to walk this path alone.
Q: Do you have to be actively dying to work with a death doula?
Absolutely not — and this is one of the most important things I want families to know. Many of my most meaningful conversations happen long before a medical crisis. Planning ahead, talking through your fears, completing advance directives, or simply starting an honest conversation about death can bring enormous peace of mind. The earlier we connect, the more I can do for you and your family.
Q: How is a death doula different from hospice?
Hospice is a vital medical service and I encourage every family facing terminal illness to contact their local hospice as soon as possible. What I offer is different and complementary — not a replacement. Hospice teams are bound by Medicare guidelines that limit their time and availability. I offer something they simply cannot: more time, more personalized attention, continuous bedside presence, ongoing family education, and a consistent relationship built over the course of your journey. I work alongside your hospice team, not instead of them.
Q: What does it actually look like to work with you?
Every family’s experience is different, but in general we start with a free 30-minute discovery call to talk through where you are and what you need. From there, we might work together on advance care planning and paperwork, family education and meetings, vigil preparation, legacy projects, or simply being a steady, honest presence at the bedside. Some families need a few hours of support. Others walk the entire journey with me. I meet you where you are.
Q: Why do families say they wish they'd called sooner?
Because the end of life comes with a learning curve that nobody warns you about. Families are often blindsided by the physical realities of dying — changes in breathing, skin, medication needs, and the emotional weight of watching someone they love go through it all. Many feel they should have been more prepared, or wish someone had told them honestly what to expect. That is exactly what I’m here for. The sooner we connect, the more time we have to make this experience less frightening and more meaningful.
Q: What are legacy projects, and do I need one?
Legacy projects are one of the most meaningful things I help families create — and they don’t need to be elaborate to be priceless. A recorded conversation. A handwritten letter to a grandchild. A collection of family recipes with the stories behind them. A video message for a future wedding or graduation. These become the gifts that outlast everything else. If your loved one has stories worth saving — and they do — we can help you capture them before the moment passes.
Q: Is this only for the person who is dying, or for the whole family?
Both. End-of-life doula support is as much for the family as it is for the individual. Caregivers, adult children, spouses, and close friends often carry an invisible weight — managing logistics, making hard decisions, and trying to be present all at once. I help the whole family understand what’s happening, feel less alone, and find moments of genuine connection in the middle of the hardest season of their lives.
Q: What does it cost, and is there financial assistance available?
My services range from a complimentary 30-minute discovery call to comprehensive packages designed for every stage of the journey. Package pricing starts at $350, and hourly support is also available. Because I believe compassionate end-of-life support should be accessible to everyone, a limited number of reduced-fee services are available based on financial need. I encourage you to ask — it’s always an honest conversation.
Q: Where do you serve?
I am based in Centennial, Colorado and serve the greater Denver metro area. Virtual support is also available for families who are navigating this journey from a distance. If you’re unsure whether I can support your family’s location, please reach out — I’ll always tell you honestly what I can offer.
Q: I'm not sure I'm ready for this conversation. Is that okay?
It’s more than okay — it’s completely human. Most people come to me carrying some version of that feeling. You don’t need to have the right words or know exactly what you need. You just need to take one step. A discovery call is a gentle, no-obligation place to start. I promise to meet you exactly where you are.
Ready to Feel Less Alone in This?
Whether you're planning ahead or need support right now — I'm here. End-of-life doula services in Centennial, Colorado and surrounding areas.
Book a Free Discovery Call