About Passing Seasons & Jill Waterman: Compassionate End-of-Life Care in Columbus
Why I Became a Death Doula
A Profession in Nursing & Hospice Care:
A friend once asked me “What is something you can do that others can’t or won’t do?” There are only a few things in my life that I could identify to answer this question. One of those things is my passion to work with individuals and their families at the end of life.
I’ve been a nurse for over four decades and have worked in the fields of Oncology, OB/Gyn, and in Hospice care for 15 years — experiencing death at both the beginning and end of life. I have gained expertise and a level of comfort in supporting people as they seek to understand, plan for, talk through, and process what becomes most important during this season of life.
As a Hospice Nurse, people often reach out to me for guidance when navigating care for aging parents or loved ones. I help clarify hospice eligibility and provide education and support through the phases of dying — from the months and weeks leading up to the final days and hours.
A Passion for Providing End-of-Life Care:
While talking one day, another friend said to me, “You should become a death doula” — and so this new path began.
At the time, I was familiar with the term doula in relation to birth, but not death. I had already been offering this kind of end-of-life support informally to friends and family for years — I just didn’t know it had it’s own dedicated profession.
That curiosity led me to explore the field more deeply, where I was introduced to the International End of Life Doula Association (INELDA) and their certification program. I began my formal training in the spring of 2021, received my certification in 2023, and officially began this new professional journey as an end-of-life doula.
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I graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1984 and have spent the past 14 years working in hospice nursing. In 2023, I became a Certified INDELA-trained End-of-Life Doula and End-of-Life Specialist. In addition to one-on-one support, I facilitate a Death Café and a Caregiver Support Group, and participate in media and speaking engagements to help educate the public about hospice care and the role of end-of-life doulas.
I am currently in my sixth decade of life — a season I am truly enjoying. I even threw myself a 60th birthday party, which offers a small glimpse into my personality and approach to life. I have been married almost 40 years and am the mother of three grown, married sons. My husband and I love to travel, both near and far, and we especially enjoy visiting our military sons, daughters-in-law, and their families.
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I chose the name Passing Seasons because our lives often reflect the changing seasons we go through. The excitement of spring and new birth as well as the laughter of childhood; The hot summer days with the challenges of teen years while navigating into the adult years. The fall comfort of marriage and blustery winds of parenting as well as caregiving, and the winter season of aging and preparation for death.
Granted these seasons don’t always proceed in the way we hope for. Sometimes we have flash floods of a terminal cancer diagnosis, hurricanes of a death by suicide, the blizzards of a ravaging disease such as dementia, Alzheimer’s and ALS. The droughts of a chronic illness and caregiver exhaustion that knock us off our feet while we struggle to regain our bearings. It is yet another passing season in our lives to navigate.
Certifications & Credentials:
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I attended Ohio State University and graduated with my Bachelor’s of Science from the College of Nursing in 1984.
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I have been a registered nurse for over four decades, working in the fields of Oncology, OB/Gyn and, most recently, Hospice since 2009.
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INELDA - International End of Life Doula Association
Looking for in-person and online End of Life Training, www.indela.org
PODCAST INTERVIEW Hope for Every Season: Finding Hope in Death with Hospice Nurse Jill Waterman
Join Dr. Pamela Prince Pyles, The Good Death Doctor, and Jill Waterman as they share sources of hope and encouragement, even in our final season of life. In a season that often feels full of despair, Jill shares helpful resources to bring hope to death.
Get in touch
If you’re navigating death, dying, or loss — or have questions about how a death doula can help — I invite you to reach out. Conversations are held with care, confidentiality, and compassion.
Phone: 614 • 439 • 5509
Email: jillwaterman.passingseasons@gmail.com