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

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].

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.

Jill Mastroianni

Former estate planning attorney and host of The Death Readiness Podcast.

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.

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.

Andrew Potere

Andrew Potere is an attorney at The TGQ Law Firm.

Sher Ganz

Michael Schofield Kaufman

Co-founder of Michigan Deathcare Collaborative and Founder of Hickory Nut Farmstead

Tony Mayotte

Founder of Jeremiah Commons

Ashley Inclima

Birth/bereavement doula and founder of Tides of Life Doula and Perinatal Bereavement Services.