Bridging the Gap Between End-Of-Life Doulas and Death Care
End-of-Life Doula Brings Synergy to CANA’s Convention this August 12-14, 2026
WHEELING, IL—The use of end-of-life doulas may seem like a new idea, but the practice of these caregivers is as old as death itself. How can funeral service professionals and doulas, united in their care for the dead and those who love them, work together? From her position as both end-of-life doula and funeral professional, Ashley Johnson takes the stage at the Cremation Association of North America’s (CANA) 108th Annual Cremation Innovation Convention with innovative ways to deliver more personalized, meaningful, and culturally sensitive care by Bridging the Gap between funeral professionals and doulas.
The relationship between end-of-life doulas, funeral directors, and crematory professionals presents an extraordinary opportunity to deliver a seamless and compassionate continuum of care. By aligning the personalized, non-clinical care of end-of-life doulas with the logistical expertise and family-centered service of funeral professionals, Ashley Johnson will show how we can enhance client support, improve communication, and simplify transitions during emotionally complex times.
“Many people are surprised when they hear I walk in two very different worlds of care,” said Ashley Johnson. “As an end-of-life doula, I guide individuals and families through the tender journey of dying—holding space, offering emotional support, and ensuring wishes are honored. As a direct disposer, I step in after death to handle the logistical side of final arrangements with respect and efficiency. Though these roles do not comingle, both are rooted in the same foundation: dignity, compassion, and honoring life’s sacred transitions. My mission is to meet people where they are—whether in the quiet moments before goodbye, or in the careful steps that follow.” Her session will inspire attendees to embrace interdisciplinary collaboration as a tool to enhance their offerings and elevate the care they provide to families navigating loss.
Ashley Johnson, President of the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance, is a passionate advocate for compassionate and informed end-of-life care. Ashley’s journey began in a low-income neighborhood, inspiring her to address obvious disparities in death care between the affluent and the underprivileged. With over a decade of experience in fields like forensic anthropology and whole-body donation, she founded Loyal Hands, an end-of-life doula consulting agency offering education, resources, and support. Through real-life examples, case studies, and actionable strategies, attendees will gain strategies on Bridging the Gap: Synergizing End-of-Life Doulas with Funeral Directors and Crematories.
Be inspired with more ways you can respond to today’s challenges and ready for tomorrow’s opportunities:
- Tom Anderson, President of Funeral Director Daily, examines Fads, Trends, Traditions… and the Future of Death Care, reflecting on industry insights and real-world observations with perspective on which changes are fleeting and which are likely to leave a lasting impact.
- Drawing on two vastly different early-career experiences, Allison Craft, General Manager of Cremation Society Minnesota, and Allison Henz, Community Engagement Lead of Foundation Partners Group, explore how intentional mentorship directly impacts long-term success with From Mortuary School to Service: Why Mentorship Matters.
- Two industry experts share the stage with updates, because Information is Power. First, Howard Sankel, President of Options for Ashes, addresses The Growing “What Can Be Done With Cremated Remains” Aftercare Market. Then, Sarah Tepe, President of Crowne Vault, assists in Creating a New Approach: A Unified Voice for Cemetery Placement After Cremation.
- What Does Gathering Look Like For You? Brent Patterson, Funeral Director at Primrose Funeral Service, and Glenda Stansbury, the Director of Training for Insight Books, bring a new perspective to the power of words as we paint the picture of gathering for our families.
- Honnalora Hubbard, Regional Sales for Coldspring USA, will show us how to change the conversation around Abandoned Urns: A Crisis in America, offering practical conversation tools to shift from transactions to legacies.
- Artificial intelligence is shaping how we write, organize, communicate, and serve families. With AI in Funeral Service: Ethics, Compassion, and Professional Judgment, Martha Thayer, Founder & President of Mortuary Training, explores the responsibilities that come with AI use in funeral service.
- Look backward and forward with this year’s research session, Learning from History: History of CANA Statistics. CANA Historian Jason Engler honors cremation’s transformation from a radical fringe experiment into the gold standard of deathcare.
- Plus, if you’re curious to see Flame and Water Cremation in Two Settings: A Tour of Two Businesses, you can get your add-on ticket to examine a Bio-Response Solutions machine at Metro First Call and a Resomation machine in use at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation.
Lacy Robinson leads a special pre-convention offering, CANA’s new Certified Hospice Relations Specialist (CHRS) training workshop. This one‑day certification is designed to help funeral home owners, managers, licensed funeral directors, preneed specialists, and outreach or family care staff build structured, respectful partnerships with hospice organizations. Registration is available separately from the Convention or as an add-on!
Could collaboration with doulas be your most overlooked competitive advantage? Join Ashley Johnson in Minneapolis this August for ways to establish partnerships and align communication practices to better serve families. Register for CANA’s 108th Annual Cremation Innovation Convention this August 12-14, 2026, at the Minneapolis Marriott City Center: cremationassociation.org/CANA26
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About CANA
Founded in 1913, the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) is an international organization of over 3,700 members, composed of funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, industry suppliers, and consultants. CANA members believe that cremation is preparation for memorialization.
