About Caroline Derksen

Caroline grew up in the close‑knit community of Port Hardy, BC, where she learned early the power of communal care during life’s most sacred moments. Watching neighbours gather in grief and practical support taught her that dying is not only a personal passage but a shared experience that calls for aligned presence, hands‑on help, and collective healing.

After 25 years supporting children and families in education, Caroline took a yearlong sabbatical to reflect on her purpose. There she discovered the role of the death doula, which led her to formal training in holistic end‑of‑life care and grief support and to certification as a memorial celebrant. Combining that training with decades of relationship‑centred experience, she offers deep listening, steady bedside presence, and culturally sensitive, non‑medical care in Vancouver.

Caroline provides emotional, spiritual, and practical support to ensure each person’s wishes are honoured. Known for her calm, attentive manner, she helps clients and families navigate the end‑of‑life journey with dignity and peace-of-mind, offering clear practical guidance and companionship through transitions. Her services include legacy projects, guided conversations, comfort‑focused rituals, and other practices that foster clarity, acceptance, and moments of grace. She also supports educators, parents, caregivers, and professionals in building grief literacy, practical skills, and effective bereavement response plans. 

Caroline’s work seeks to strengthen compassionate end‑of‑life care and normalize open conversations about death—honouring the same spirit of community support she witnessed growing up. To foster community, she launched the Vancouver Death Doula Collective to promote learning, resource‑sharing, and collaboration among local practitioners. She also organizes Last Call: informal, approachable gatherings to talk about death over drinks, with practical and creative conversation topics to ease discomfort around the subject.