
What we’re about
We are a collective of end-of-life guides and death educators. Like birth, death can be loud, messy, and unexpected—yet in our culture, we embrace one but not the other. End-of-life guides, also known as death doulas, can help you craft an authentic end-of-life plan that reflects your core values and personality.
Along with guiding people through end-of-life, we are also deeply engaged in our community. Educational workshops are one of our favorite offerings, and we host free gatherings every month to lift the taboo around talking about death. Our Grief Garden Club, Queer Death Network, and Death Café discussion groups are always in the monthly rotation.
Questions? email hello@dodeathdifferent.com
Hope to see you soon!
Penny, Selena, Tara & Kara
@thedeathnetwork
www.thedeathnetwork.com
Upcoming events
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The Death Network Discussion Group
Sweetwater Zen Center, 2727 Highland Ave., National City, CA, USThe Death Network Discussion Group is a guided (but not rigid) space for deeper, topic-driven conversations around death, dying, and the many ways we relate to them. Each month, our host team of experienced death workers bring thought-provoking prompts to help spark meaningful discussion. We’re here to explore real talk, in real time, with curious and open-hearted people.
What to expect:
⏳ A welcoming space to explore death through a different lens
⏳ Discussions hosted by a team of experienced death workers
⏳ Each month features thought-provoking prompts to spark deeper conversation (see below)
⏳ Not a workshop, not a class—just honest conversation
⏳ Come curious, leave connected
December's Topic: Stepping into the New Year with Intention
There’s something quietly powerful about standing at the edge of a new year with the echoes of what we’ve loved and lost still humming in us. The experiences that cracked us open—grief, tenderness, unexpected endings—also clarify what matters moving forward. When we pause to notice how these moments have shaped us, intention-setting becomes less about resolutions and more about truth-telling. December feels like a natural doorway for that kind of reflection, a time to ask how the lessons of love and loss might guide the way we move into whatever comes next.
This group is ideal for people who:
- Think about death and dying as part of life
- Want to connect with others in conversation that’s real, respectful, and human
- Aren’t seeking support or therapy, but want a space to talk
We’ll continue to host Death Cafes for those who enjoy open-format dialogue. This group simply offers something a little different for those ready to go deeper into the conversation.
Want to know more? Visit The Death Network @thedeathnetwork
We hope to see you soon!
Penny, Tara & Kara
PS - We meet in the yurt at Sweetwater Zen Center, which is towards the back of the property. There is a map in the photo section of this invite - please take a look and get familiar with the space.
There is some visitor parking at Sweetwater Zen Center, we recommend giving yourself some time just in case you need to find street parking. Please do not park in spaces labeled Resident Parking 🙏12 attendees
•OnlineDeath Education Series: What is Green Burial?
OnlineJoin us for a guided conversation on how burial in the United States drifted from our ancestral roots - and how green burial and conservation cemeteries can reconnect us with what’s natural, human, and quite literally in our DNA. Science doesn't lie... our bodies are designed to decompose and return to the earth, but green burial is limited in the US.
Hosted by Penny Waugh of The Death Network, with panel guests Ed Bixby of The Global Green Burial Alliance and Jamie Phillips of Spirit Sanctuary Conservation Cemetery. Together, we’ll unpack how we got here and why restoring time-honored burial practices matters for both our bodies and the planet.
This is a space to bring your questions - we honor open, honest dialogue. With transparency and knowledge, our hope is to help everyone understand their full range of options so end-of-life choices can be made with clarity and intention.
@thedeathnetwork19 attendees
Past events
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