Jaylnn Lassic

Hailing from Grand Rapids, Michigan, and currently based in the Ann Arbor/Detroit area, Jalynn Lassic is a dedicated licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer with a deep commitment to both her profession and her community.

With a compassionate spirit and a steady hand, she has built a respected career in funeral service, offering guidance and support to families during some of their most difficult moments. Jalynn currently serves as the Program Coordinator for the University of Michigan-Anatomical Donations Program, focusing on donor and funeral home relations. She also is a Funeral Director on staff for a Metro Detroit funeral home.

Beyond her professional role, Lassic is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Michigan Donor Family Council, The Junior League of Ann Arbor, Six Feet Over, and the Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital Junior Guild, further demonstrating her dedication to community empowerment and health advocacy. With strong ties to both her hometown and her current community, Jalynn embodies a balance of professionalism, empathy, and civic engagement—consistently striving to uplift those around her through both her work and her service.

We all know we should do our Advance Directive, and many of us have, but what are the chances our wishes will be followed? What can we do to increase those chances? Merilynne will present the most common pitfalls and misunderstandings of Advance Care Planning and give us real-world suggestions to complete this important task, which all adults (anyone over 18) should do.
Please note: we will NOT be completing paperwork at this presentation.

Merilynne Rush

Natural, inexpensive, and quite simple, caring for the body of your loved one at home, like we used to do generations ago, is legal in all fifty states. But it requires quite a bit of preparation. Through pictures and stories, we will discuss the beauty of this ancient art and share resources to learn more.

Merilynne Rush

Merilynne Rush, MSHP, BSN, has been working with families in transition since 1980, first as a home birth midwife, then as a labor and delivery and hospice nurse, and since 2010 as an end-of-life care specialist.

Through her business, The Dying Year, she offers End-of-life Doula and Advance Care Planning Facilitator training and family consultations for home funeral and green burial. She also hosts the monthly Ann Arbor Death Cafe. Merilynne holds an MS in Hospice and Palliative Studies. She co-founded and served as the first president of the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance (NEDA) and served on the boards of the National Home Funeral Alliance and the Green Burial Council. In 2020, she co-authored the first international EOL doula research article.

Contact Merilynne at [email protected].

Advance Directives are important for everyone to have but they are especially important for the LGBTQIA+ community. During the workshop, folks will learn what an advance directive is, what it isn’t and have an opportunity to start their very own. Attendees will receive forms to offer support to Queer folks as they make their end of life medical care decisions.

Grey Allen

Grey Allen (he/him) is a dedicated End-of-Life Doula, passionate about providing individuals with the tools and support needed to make informed decisions about life’s final journey. Having experienced numerous sudden and traumatic losses throughout his early life, Grey felt a deep calling to help others navigate the complexities of death and dying.

Grey is particularly committed to supporting members of the queer community, ensuring they have access to the resources and emotional support they need during end of life transitions. He is the facilitator of a monthly Queer Death Cafe, a space where LGBTQIA+ folks can openly discuss death, dying, mortality and related topics in an inclusive environment. Grey is a graduate of The Dying Year’s End-of-Life Doula training program.

When We Die First addresses a question many people who share their lives with pets think about: What will happen to my pet when I am gone? This workshop focuses on the experience of the animal when their primary person dies or becomes unable to care for them. Grounded in grief-informed care and an understanding of the human–animal bond, this session moves beyond paperwork to explore both the emotional realities and the practical responsibilities of planning for a pet’s future. Participants will leave with clearer insight and concrete next steps to support smoother transitions for the animals who depend on them.

Cōlleen O’Brien

Cōlleen O’Brien, LMSW, is a licensed clinical social worker, educator, and founder of Blue Dog Counseling. Her work centers grief-informed and trauma-informed care within the human–animal bond, with particular focus on pet loss and supporting animal-care professionals. Cōlleen teaches at Eastern Michigan University’s School of Social Work and provides consultation, training, and clinical services for individuals and organizations navigating animal-related loss. She shares her life with her 18-year-old chihuahua, Sis, who continues to shape both her work and her heart.

This workshop is designed for adults who are aging on their own- whether single, divorced, widowed, or living apart from family and want to shift from reacting to crises to planning proactively. We’ll explore the key areas of solo aging: managing healthcare and decision-making, creating a safe and supportive home environment, building strong social and professional networks, and planning your estate and legacy. Participants will leave with practical tools, including a “Solo Ager Audit” checklist, and guidance on building a trusted team to support their independence, safety, and well-being as they age.

Sarah Russman

Sarah Russman is the WISE Aging Services Care Manager at Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County. With a life journey that has spanned a variety of environments and populations, Sarah has developed a deep, comprehensive expertise in supporting older adults. This dedication led her to become a certified End-of-Life Doula and an Advance Care Planning Facilitator. As a facilitator for Decisions for Dignity, Sarah is passionate about empowering individuals to navigate aging and end-of-life transitions with agency and grace.

The deathcare industry is dominated by imported caskets and urns made of plastic, steel, and exotic woods. But there are local, sustainable, and affordable alternatives. In this workshop, we’ll discuss “the Funeral Rule”—a federal regulation which (among many things!) gives people the right to purchase or create their own end-of-life vessels. We’ll discuss the strong community of funerary artisans here in Michigan, as well as Michael’s own work weaving willow caskets and dyeing natural shrouds with local plants. This workshop is applicable for anyone, whether you desire a conventional burial, cremation, or natural burial. Natural burial in particular is significantly easier to pursue when it has been pre-planned. For those interested in natural burial, we will discuss practical steps for planning ahead, including exploring cemeteries, discussing your wishes with your family, documenting your preferences, and seeking out supportive providers

Michael Marie Schofield

Michael Marie is a Michigan-based fiber and funerary artisan at Hickory Nut Farmstead. She weaves caskets, burial trays, and urns with local woody plants. She also dyes natural fiber burial shrouds with local leaves and flowers. She keeps completed vessels on hand for families with immediate needs but also creates personalized pieces for individuals that are pre-planning. She also offers individuals and their loved ones the opportunity to weave or dye their own end-of-life vessels.

If you’ve ever thought, “Can’t I just write my Will myself?” — you’re not alone. In fact, in Michigan, you technically can. This workshop walks you through exactly how a handwritten Will works, including the legal requirements that can make it valid on paper. But more importantly, we’ll explore why those same Wills so often create confusion, conflict, and costly problems after death.

Using real-life examples and practical scenarios, you’ll learn:

• What a handwritten (holographic) Will actually controls and what it doesn’t
• Why beneficiary designations, titling, and state law can override your Will
• The most common mistakes people make when trying to “keep it simple”
• How seemingly clear instructions can become ambiguous or contested in probate
• Why DIY planning often shifts the burden (and cost) to the people you love

We’ll also walk through a basic example of what a legally valid handwritten Will might look like so you understand both how it works and where it breaks down. The goal is to help you understand the difference between a document that exists and a plan that actually works.

Jill Mastroianni

Jill Mastroianni is an estate planning attorney with more than a decade of experience helping families navigate the legal and practical realities of wills, trusts, probate, and estate administration. Through her work, she’s seen firsthand that estate planning isn’t just about documents; it’s about decisions, relationships, and the ripple effects those decisions have over time.

Jill is also the host of The Death Readiness Podcast: Not your dad’s estate planning podcast, where she translates complex legal concepts into real-life conversations about preparation, family dynamics, and legacy so people can make informed decisions before a crisis.

She is the creator of The Death Readiness Playbook, a practical, real-world guide built on legal experience designed to help you organize your life, your information, and your intentions so the people you love aren’t left guessing.

Grief is one of the most universal human experiences and one of the most misunderstood. In this compassionate and educational workshop, we will explore what grief truly is, what it is not, and how we can move with it rather than against it.

Together, we will:

• Learn foundational grief education, including common emotional, physical, and cognitive responses
• Explore the stages of grief and why they are not linear
• Gently challenge the myth of a timeline for healing
• Affirm that grief is not a sign of brokenness, but a reflection of love and attachment
• Discuss how we can carry both pain and love as we continue living

We’ll also walk through a basic example of what a legally valid handwritten Will might look like so you understand both how it works and where it breaks down. The goal is to help you understand the difference between a document that exists and a plan that actually works.

Ashley Inclima

Ashley is a birth and bereavement doula and Certified Grief Educator who specializes in supporting individuals and families navigating profound loss. With a background in clinical settings and extensive bereavement training, she has spent years walking alongside those experiencing pregnancy and infant loss, and other life-altering grief.

Her work centers on grief education, helping people understand the emotional, physical, and relational impacts of loss while dispelling harmful myths about how grief should look. Ashley believes grief is not something to fix, rush, or resolve, but something to carry with compassion and understanding. Through workshops, community spaces, and one-on-one support, she creates environments where grief is normalized, validated, and honored as an expression of deep love.

Contact Info/Title: (248)242-5185, tidesoflifedoula.com, [email protected]; Ashley Inclima, Owner/Doula of Tides of Life Doula & Perinatal Bereavement Services LLC

In this keynote presentation co-founder of Jeremiah Commons, Tony Mayotte, will discuss natural burial in Michigan with a particular focus on how conservation burial grounds entwine life, death, grief, healing, and the land in a way that restores the land and our relationship with it. He will also share about Jeremiah Commons’ efforts to acquire land and start a conservation burial ground in the area.

Tony Mayotte

Tony Mayotte is the Co-Founder of Jeremiah Commons, a non-profit formed to create, operate, and steward a conservation burial ground and land commons in Southern Michigan. Tony has a background in faith, food, and environmental justice with a Master of Divinity degree from Duke Divinity school. He will graduate from The University of Michigan Law School this spring and work as an attorney in SE Michigan (after taking the bar!). He has training as a Green Burial Cemetery operator from professionals through Redesigning the End. Tony currently lives in Jackson, MI with his wife Shari and their two (soon to be three!) children.

For many of us, our companion animals are family. And yet, too often, we’re left making hard decisions quickly and in moments of great emotional stress and grief. How can you be more aware and prepared for your pet’s death or support those of your family and friends? What about after your death? How will your companion animal be cared for?

During this workshop, Angela and Tracey will walk you through creating a Companion Animal Advanced Care Plan.  Making a care plan for your pet while they are still well is a gift — to yourself, your family, and most of all, to the animal who trusts you completely. 
We will discuss the many options available, share resources, learn how to assess your pet’s quality of life, identify common symptoms of decline, and review Advance Care Plans and Trusts. 

Having these plans in place brings comfort, reduces uncertainty, and allows you to be more fully present with them when the time comes. These decisions can be emotional, but they can also be empowering and comforting. Bring your questions and be prepared for an engaging and interactive session!

Angela Shook

Angela Shook is an end-of-life doula, companion animal doula and the Past President of the National End-of-Life-Doula Alliance (NEDA). She is an instructor for the doula programs at the University of Vermont and offers multiple end-of-life educational workshops and grief support groups. She is a veterinary doula with Pet Well Mobile Vet where she assists with euthanasia and the end-of-life care and support of companion animals.

Angela has received the Animal Hospice Advocate Certificate from the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (IAAHPC). She is a certified Pet Loss Grief Specialist through the Association of Pet Loss and Bereavement. She is also the owner of Dragonfly End-of-Life Services where she provides guidance and support to the dying and those who love them across the globe.

Angela and her doula work have been featured in Time Magazine, The New York Times, Well + Good Magazine and several podcasts including End-of-Life University, Best Life Best Death and Wolfie’s Wish. She is the co-author of The Doula Tool Kit: The Complete Practical Guide for End-of-Life Doulas and Caregivers.

Tracey Walker

Tracey Walker is an experienced death doula, educator, and activist dedicated to deathcare as an act of community care. Specializing in palliative, hospice, and end-of-life care for companion animals, funeral service undertaking, and Queer end-of-life support, she brings over 30 years of experience in both animal and human medicine.

She serves as an Adjunct Professor and Subject Matter Expert at the University of New England, where she teaches in the Companion Animal Death Doula, End-of-Life Doula, Building a Deathcare Practice, and Dementia-Informed Deathcare courses. Her compassionate approach and commitment to reshaping conversations around death inspire meaningful, transformative community-centered engagement.

Tracey holds deep respect for the constellation of care that surrounds each person, those we love, who love us back, and the companion animals who are part of that circle. She believes in working together within the deathcare community, lifting one another up, and creating inclusive, supportive spaces that honor all kinds of end-of-life experiences with compassion and dignity.

Tracey is also the owner of Let it Be – End of Life Planning.

In this guided workshop, participants will explore the meaningful practice of writing a legacy letter—a heartfelt reflection that captures personal values, memories, life lessons, and the essence of who they are, creating something that can be shared with others or preserved as a lasting record of their story. Through gentle prompts and reflection, attendees will craft their own letter with frameworks to help spark ideas. These may include reflecting on the neighborhood you grew up in, schools and early life experiences, living through major historical moments, or recounting meaningful milestones like travel, personal achievements, or once-in-a-lifetime experiences. No writing experience is needed—just a willingness to reflect, remember, and connect.

Sher Ganz

Sher Ganz is an Interdisciplinary Studies major enrolled at Oakland University with a focus on communication and health sciences, as well as a trained end-of-life doula through Alua Arthur’s Going with Grace program. She has also completed advance care facilitator training with Respecting Choices and currently volunteers with Angela’s Hospice and the Michigan Deathcare Collaborative. Her work is grounded in community, conversation, and the belief that engaging with death can deepen how we live. Sher hosts Last Chapter Collective, a death-focused book club through Ypsi Death Café, where participants explore grief, mortality, and meaning through literature. She was drawn to this work after witnessing her father serve as power of attorney for multiple family members, an experience that highlighted both the emotional weight and practical realities of end-of-life care. Her interests include grief literacy, legacy storytelling, and helping individuals and families reflect on and reshape the patterns they carry forward.

Most people know they should have something in place. They just don’t know what that something actually is or what happens to their family when it isn’t right.

Andrew Potere has sat across from families who had a plan that worked and families who thought they did. He knows the difference intimately, not just professionally. In this workshop he’s going to give you the straight answer nobody else does: what a will actually is, why it guarantees probate, what a trust does that a will simply can’t, and how to know which one fits your situation.

He’ll do it through real stories. A family who accidentally built a plan that would have stripped their disabled son of his benefits. A same sex couple raising a child together with no legal protection for the parent the law didn’t recognize. A man who figured out how to take care of his wife and support the cause he believed in at the same time. A woman ensuring her pets were cared for after she was gone in the same way she would care for them without overburdening her best friend.

No jargon. No scare tactics. Just honest answers from someone who has seen what both sides of the story look like.

Come with your questions. Leave with clarity.

Andrew Potere

Andrew Potere came to estate planning the hard way. His father-in-law lived thirty years after a terminal diagnosis but never put a plan in place. When he was finally dying, the family had to pursue guardianship through the courts just to help him. It was slow, expensive, and emotionally brutal. Years later when his mother-in-law was diagnosed with dementia, Andrew had already put a plan in place and his wife could step in immediately, without a courtroom, and without delay. He’s spent his career making sure other families get that second outcome instead of the first. He explains everything in plain English, he’s seen both sides of what planning does and doesn’t do, and he’s the person you want in your corner when it matters most. Member of the State Bar of Michigan, Probate and Estate Planning and Elder Law sections, and holds a Probate and Estate Planning Certificate through ICLE.

Estate Planning & Elder Law Services, P.C., [email protected] 
www.formyplan.com – (888)PLAN-050

Dain Evans

As a queer person and an end-of-life doula, I believe in creating a safe and inclusive space where individuals can openly express their unique identities and experiences. I strive to honor and respect the diverse needs and desires of each person I work with, ensuring that their wishes are heard and respected throughout the process. My role involves offering emotional and spiritual guidance, assisting with practical matters, and providing a comforting presence during this vulnerable time. It is an honor to walk alongside individuals and their loved ones, offering support, advocacy, and a listening ear as they navigate this sacred transition.

Dr. Kimberly Wamba

Dr. Kimberly Wamba is an End-of-Life Doula and the President and CEO of Sacred Life Care Initiative. She brings to her community a passion for life and human connection that she believes develops a unique presence in times of uncertainty. Inspired by her grandmother and a familial line of strong women who were also caregivers, she carries forward a heart for people and the uniting spark they house within.

Toula Saratsis

Bereaved Parent, Pediatric Death Midwife, End-of-Life Doula, Home Funeral Guide, and Community Deathcare Educator.

Toula is an experienced death worker specializing in perinatal and pediatric support for serious illness, end-of-life and after death care. Her work and advocacy emphasizes the power of education, community and collaboration. Toula is committed to raising awareness of intuitive presence and its impact on cultural change in the tapestry of innovation for creating brave spaces and equitable access to services.

Stephanie J. Olson, LMT CYT 

Life can sometimes be messy and exhausting – it’s okay if you’re tired. Stephanie is here to be beside you through the many seasons of being human. 

As a holistic practitioner, she weaves therapeutic massage and bodywork with gentle movement and mindfulness to help folks navigate pain, trauma, grief, and transitions. 

In addition to offering bodywork, they handcraft eco-conscious creations including organic balms and bespoke aromatherapy blends, and enjoy curating tools and resources for self care and community care. Find these and more by following @sjowellness on Instagram. 

Folks can connect directly with Stephanie to schedule sessions, ask questions, and find support in cultivating care through upcoming wellness workshops. Discover more information about their bodywork practice where Ypsilanti meets Ann Arbor, at www.sjowellness.com. 

Stephanie J. Olson, LMT CYT
Holistic Massage and Bodywork Therapist 
www.sjowellness.com, 605-314-5531