Everyone Dies.
OC Deathworkers are here for you.
The OC Deathworkers Alliance is a collective of clinicians, caregivers, consultants, doulas, creatives, and other helpers who help plan for and ease the end-of-life experience.
If you are in Southern California and need help with the multitude of tasks involved in an impending or recent death, we can assist you, connect you to resources, or just hear you out as you make your way through the journey.
“What breaks your heart? The warrior knows that her heartbreak is her map. It will lead her toward her purpose, her tribe”
-Glennon Doyle
What could happen if things were different?
We’re not afraid of death. We’re afraid of people doing it alone.
That’s why we built this Alliance—to make it easier to get the support you need when you need it most. No fluff. No woo unless you want it. Just real people, ready to walk beside you.
The heart of the alliance
We’re a constellation of caregivers, doulas, artists, doctors, writers, and organizers—each bringing our lived experience and heart to this work.
Scroll through to learn more about who we are, what we offer, and why we do this.
-
![Smiling woman with short blonde hair in a black turtleneck sweater, outdoor background.]()
Barbara McMurray
END-OF-LIFE CONSULTANT
-
![A man in glasses wearing a white coat with a name tag labeled "Anesthesiology."]()
Nick Schiavoni, M.D.
PALLIATIVE CARE CONSULTANT
-
![Smiling woman with long gray hair in a floral dress, leaning on a stone surface outdoors, surrounded by trees.]()
Andrea Deerheart
THE HEART WAY
-
![Smiling person with long hair in a beige shirt against a plain background.]()
Jackie Jou Kim
AREA DIRECTOR, AROSA OC CAREGIVING
-
![Smiling man in light blue shirt with green foliage in the background.]()
Dr. Donald Moore
MAID AND END OF LIFE CARE
-
![A smiling woman with long dark hair and red lipstick, wearing a black top in a softly blurred indoor setting.]()
Rickie Redman
THE ARTFUL END
-
![A person leaning against a tree trunk outdoors, wearing a colorful patterned top, smiling, and with short curly hair.]()
Judy Lannaccone
SPIRITED CROSSINGS
-
![Smiling woman with long brown hair and a necklace, wearing a black blazer.]()
Julie Brennan
PEACE OF MINDER
-
![Person with long gray hair standing in front of a rocky outdoor scenery.]()
Christina Shook
PHOTOGRAPHER - DIGITAL ARCHIVING
-
![Smiling woman with curly hair, glasses, and a black hat, posing outside on a staircase.]()
Nicole Simon
GRIEF SUPPORT - REIKI - SOUND BATHS
-
![Smiling woman with earrings and a patterned dress in front of a green background.]()
Christina Lerchen
ONLINE LEGACY ARTIST
OUR COMMUNITY
We are here to help.
This group of caregivers, MDs, doulas, photographers, writers, and artists has come together because we understand how painful and confusing the end of life can be.
Whether you're confronting your own mortality or that of a loved one, we are here to provide resources, experience, and tools to help you navigate the path.
With our diverse backgrounds, we emphasize the importance of emotional support and connection during this challenging time. Our alliance is dedicated to fostering a compassionate environment where individuals can share their stories, find solace, and navigate their feelings with understanding and empathy.
SUPPORT
Explore offerings from members of our Alliance—everything from death doulas and vigils to legacy projects, grief support, and photography.
RESOURCES
Helpful articles, guides, checklists, and downloads for when your brain is in a fog and you just need someone to spell it out.
CONNECTION
We host meetups, share stories, and offer community care—for those in the thick of it, and those doing the work too.
VOICES FROM THE FIELD
“I don’t know what I’m doing,
but I know I don’t want to do this alone.”
We hear that a lot. Grief, dying, caregiving—it’s all big, it’s all hard, and most of us were never taught how to deal with it. You deserve clear support, are kind, and don’t dance around the truth.
We’re a group of real people who believe in showing up. Our members span professions—doctors, doulas, artists, organizers—and each of us knows firsthand how painful and confusing death can be. We're here to offer support that makes it less scary, less complicated, and a little more human.