Maggie Compernolle

end-of-life coach, consultant, and educator

I am a Registered Nurse (BSN, RN, CHPN, 500-RYT) with a background in oncology nursing, palliative care, hospice, mindfulness research, yoga instruction, and a curiosity in contemplative practices.

I currently hold a clinical role in palliative care and serve in the end-of-life space as an educator, coach, and doula, promoting curiosity, self-awareness, and compassion.

I provide deep, supportive, non-judgmental listening to others to guide them towards what is important to them both in life and the end-of-life realm. I provide education about the end of life, empowering people during a time that can leave them feeling overwhelmed and lost.

I am currently pursuing a graduate degree in Thanatology, the study of death, dying, and bereavement to better understand the context of my work from an academic standpoint and enhance my support of others.

Board-Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse

National End-of-Life Doula Alliance Member

Hi, I’m Maggie

About Life at Sunset

Workshops and courses

We will meet in a focused group setting for a dynamic combination of didactic sharing, discussion, and inquiry.

In-person and online programs are available.

Workshops range from a focus on practical issues like completing an advance directive to philosophical musings of implications of beliefs in the afterlife.

join now

End-of-Life Coaching

You are invited to dive deeply into topics that are relevant to your best life and your best death.

We will work one-on-one to clarify your ideal vision together and establish manageable goals to move towards that vision from your current reality. We will address the practical, physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual realms of life and death.

LEARN MORE

Featured on…

KGNU Broadcast: On Death & Dying: Wanted Dead and Alive

LISTEN

FAQs

  • There is some overlap in all of these roles, but each has its own scope of practice. An end-of-life coach works with you one-on-one or in a group to determine your ideal vision for the end of your life and identify how to take reasonable steps to move closer to this vision from your current reality. Spiritual realms and practical realms and everything in between are addressed.

    A death doula's role can take many shapes. The death doula might help you plan your funeral, help you create a Legacy Project, initiate difficult conversations with your loved ones to facilitate meaningful dialogue, or tend to you physically through ritual during the dying process. Some death doulas also help with things like housework and bathing. A coach and doula do not provide medical services. (Here you can find the end-of-life doula's Code of Ethics: http://www.nedalliance.org/code-of-ethics.html)

    A hospice nurse tends to your clinical and medical needs, such as caring for wounds, managing symptoms, communicating with the hospice healthcare team, educating you and your family about pain medications, and making sure home oxygen is delivered and available when needed.

  • If you are interested in emotional, mental, and spirit support as you sift through concepts surrounding death and dying, an end-of-life coach might be for you. They work with you to bring clarity and comfort to the dying process, whether you have a terminal illness or are preparing for the sake of your loved ones. Individuals who are dying or healthy, 97 or 23, well-supported or in need of greater support have benefitted from working with an end-of-life coach. A coach can help you recognize your values and desires and how these shape your end of life decisions. A coach will not give you answers, but will listen and guide and ask questions to lead you to your own answers.

  • Yes! An end-of-life coach can work with you to identify your values and desires and establish a plan to ensure as best as possible these are honored before you die and during the dying process. You might be neutral about elements of the end of life process or post-death time period, but your loved ones may not be. A coach can help your loved ones make necessary decisions.

  • An end-of-life coach can direct you towards resources for legal and financial guidance. They might ask you questions to help you find your own answers, but otherwise, giving advice in these realms is outside of the scope of practice for both a coach and doula.