Honouring the Passage: A Cultural and Spiritual End-of-Life Reference Guide for Death Doulas

Death doulas are asked to walk into some of the most intimate moments in a family's life - often across a cultural or spiritual tradition that isn't their own. Honouring the Passage is a practical field guide built for exactly that moment.Twelve traditions - Islam, Judaism, Christianity (Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant), Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Bahá'í, Indigenous approaches, African & Caribbean traditions, Chinese/East Asian traditions, nonreligious and humanist families, and LGBTQ+ & chosen-family considerations - each covered in the same five-part quick-reference structure: Before Death, At the Moment of Death, Care of the Body, Funeral and Disposition, and Supporting the Family.Also included: a one-page cultural assessment form, a "questions to ask, not assumptions to make" sheet, a bedside checklist for anticipated deaths, an immediately-after-death checklist, guidance for working with hospitals, hospices, and funeral homes, and a shared glossary of terms used across traditions.Written for death doulas and other end-of-life professionals who want to walk into unfamiliar territory prepared to ask good questions - not with a script.