Help me serve the dying and grieving!
Project Description
THE SHORT OF IT ALL
Ordained in 2006, my ministry has taken many forms over the years.
In 2015 I entered a coach training program called “End-of-Life Coaching” and there discovered where my true passion lay. I took the best parts of my ministry and personal experiences with end-of-life care and support, combined them with all I had learned from this training and founded CoachRev @the CrossRoads in September, 2016 with a focus on life’s transitions of weddings and funerals.
After losing my full-time pastorate in June, 2019, I took the opportunity to further refined my niche and now focus on dying, death, and grief.
My mission as an ordained minister, trained coach, and professional officiant is to help others navigate and honor life’s transitions and milestones. I will help guide a person’s journey to discover what is most meaningful for them and those they love.
Reviews I have received from clients, venues, and other vendors affirm that I am indeed an expert in this field. However, my marketing skills are far from successful!
I am seeking funding primarily for marketing of all types, and secondarily for tools that would improve processes and efficiency so that my time is spent where it matters most - serving those in need. This resource would be a significant factor in bringing CoachRev @the CrossRoads from a part-time endeavor to reaching its highest potential.
What I Offer
- End of Life Coaching
- Professional Officiant for funerals, memorial services, and life celebrations
- Grief Support Groups
- Grief Coaching
- 12 Issues of Stepping Stones, Grief Support Newsletter
- Email Subscription to “365 Days of Grief Support”, a daily quote and short encouragement or affirmation
- Funeral Director Coaching and Support
- “My Values. My Wishes. My Dignity.” – A workshop addressing important choices to make before a serious illness (based on The Five Wishes©)
- Retreats
- Professional Officiant for Weddings
- Prepare*Enrich Couples’ Assessment and Workshops
THE FULL STORY
Since being ordained in 2006, my ministry has found me serving as parish minister (pastor at a local church), hospice chaplain, emergency pastoral care and Sunday worship coverage, life coaching, professional officiating (weddings and funerals), retreat and workshop leadership, and volunteer work with first responders. In 2015 I entered a coach training program called “Coaching at End-of-Life” and there discovered where my true passion lay. I took the best parts of my ministry and personal experiences with end of life care and support, combined them with all I had learned from this training and founded CoachRev @the CrossRoads in September, 2016.
After losing my full-time pastorate in June, 2019, I took the opportunity to further refine my niche to focus only on dying, death, and grief.
My Mission and Passion
My mission as an ordained minister, trained coach, and professional officiant is to help others navigate and honor life’s transitions and milestones. I will help guide a person’s journey to discover what is most meaningful for them and those they love.
My passion and commitment are to create highly personalized services that honor and celebrate each person’s individuality. When coaching the dying my goal is to bring a sense of hope and peace as together we discover what is meaningful and important for them to accomplish as they are living their dying.
When I am asked to officiate a funeral, memorial service, or life celebration, I will meet with his or her loved ones. Through compassionate and empathetic listening, I capture the unique stories of a person’s life with the goal that his or her family and friends feel I’ve known the honored person for years; and that we end with guests feeling they have just participated in a powerful and meaningful experience.
Grief doesn’t end at that final goodbye service. The first 13 months after a loved one has died has been described as the “most intense roller coaster ride ever!” And so my support continues with individual coaching, monthly newsletters, daily support emails, and periodic phone calls and visits to check in.
It is truly an honor to be with people during what is often the most difficult time of life, and I do so with grace and compassion for all. I am best known for my ability to bring comfort, peace, professionalism, a sense of humor, and high personalization to the process of coaching and officiating. I have been privileged to walk the journey with people of many faith traditions and those with no tradition while honoring each person’s beliefs, understandings, and values.
CoachRev @the CrossRoads includes my certified service dog Shadow. Not only is he my best buddy; he’s also a big part of the CoachRev team helping the folks I’m serving. We are currently training to be Crisis Response Team.
My Campaign Purpose
Reviews I have received from clients, venues, and other vendors affirm that I am indeed an expert in this field. However, my marketing skills are far from successful! I am seeking funding primarily for marketing of all types, and secondarily for tools that would improve processes and efficiency so that my time is spent where it matters most - serving those in need. This resource would be a significant factor in bringing CoachRev @the CrossRoads from a part-time endeavor to reaching its highest potential. With the right tools, I envision this business to be fully self-supporting within three years. This would include cost of living, cost of running the business, continuing education, and significant time to my volunteer work with first responders and community crisis.
When I’m not doing the work I love, I volunteer as a chaplain for my local fire department and other first responders. I’m adventurous and always have Shadow by my side whether I’m gardening, out in nature, reading a good book, or relaxing with a glass of wine and my sweetheart. Oh – and my neighbors will tell you I love shoveling snow!
My Philosophy
In all I do, I am driven by faith perceived as Love, Justice, and Compassion. Although I am rooted in a Christian heritage that calls me to live my best and hope for that in each person I meet, I welcome all. As my denomination (UCC) motto states, “No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!” I am committed to the concept of something much more than what we can imagine or understand, and that Creator is a part of all I do.
It is my strong belief that all people are created equally, and as such have a fundamental right to all I offer. I affirm and celebrate those in the LGBTQ Community and right to be protected legally in marriage.
Education, Training, And Experience
- Andover Newton Theological School – Master of Divinity, 2003
- United Church of Christ - Ordained April 23, 2007
- Coaches Training Institute – Coaching Certificate
- Erickson College International – Coaching Certificate
- Coaching at End of Life - Currently working on Certification
- The Center for Leadership and Life Development – President, 2006 – 2017
- Hospice Chaplain - 2007 - 2019
Memberships
- Greater Lowell Critical Incident Stress Management Team, Response Coordinator
- International Critical Incident Stress Foundation
- Massachusetts Corps of Fire Chaplains, District Representative
- National Crisis Response Canines
- Corridor 9/495 Chamber of Commerce
- Business Owner’s Dialog Group
- International Association of Professional Wedding Officiants
- United Church of Christ
- International Coach Federation
- WiseHer, Expert
- UCC Specialized Clergy Group, Leader
Updates
The Campaign FAQs
What is end-of-life coaching?
Your coach will help you live your dying as fully and meaningfully as possible. He or she provides a safe place for you to
- explore possibilities and begin to answer the “tough questions”
- help you talk to your family and friends about your needs and wishes
- tell your story
- learn about normal grieving - even when it feels like a roller-coaster
- cry, laugh, be angry
- express your doubts and fears
- freely share with no judgment or self-censorship
Where do you see your coaching clients?
Coaching can happen over the telephone, through an online meeting room, and depending on where a person is located, in person.
What do you talk about with a person who is dying?
Topics often include how to talk to the people I love, hope, fear, peace, broken relationships, the dying process, faith and spirituality, and much more. Coaching is always client-centered, meaning the client defines what the conversation is about.
How do we plan a funeral for our loved one?
When someone we love dies, there are so many details that require your attention. Who should I call? When should we have the service? Should we have music? What will we do after the service? Who will lead the service? And much more. In perhaps one of the most difficult times in your life, you are also suddenly faced with the need to plan an End of Life Ceremony for someone you love. Family and friends will gather for a ritual that celebrates the life of your loved one yet does not deny the often-overwhelming sadness of the occasion. As part of my gold-standard of excellence, I will create a meaningful and personal service unique to your needs and wishes and honors who your loved one was in life.
Do I have to be religious to use your services?
No. Although I come from a Christian background, that is not the focus of my services. I will honor your faith tradition and spirituality. And if you have no faith tradition, that’s ok too. I am always open to diversity and will never make my personal beliefs the focus.
Do you offer support groups?
Yes, in addition to individual coaching I offer several groups as well. These groups may be short term, often 6-8 weeks with a focused topic for each gathering and strongly encourage a commitment to attend all sessions in the series. Others are on-going and often meet on a drop-in basis. Depending on current needs, groups are offered for children, for widows and widowers, adults whose mom or dad has died, pet grief, and more. All groups require pre-registration.
Do you have resources to help me and my family?
Yes, I have many pamphlets for times before death, at the funeral, and for those who are grieving. I offer a bibliography of self-help resources, explaining death to children, and daily meditation. I also offer a monthly newsletter called “Stepping Stones”, and a daily email with a quote and words of support called “Tossed Pebbles.”
Just Because I Care
In appreciation of your generous donation I will give you a 60-minute complimentary coaching session on the topic of your choice! This can be done via telephone, zoom, or if you are near central Massachusetts we can meet in person.
Webinars include Prepare/Enrich Group Coaching, "My Values. My Wishes. My Dignity.", "Transitions and Transformations: Thriving in the Midst of Change", "Self-Care in 2020", and others as planned.
Rewards
Just Because I Care
In appreciation of your generous donation I will give you a 60-minute complimentary coaching session on the topic of your choice! This can be done via telephone, zoom, or if you are near central Massachusetts we can meet in person.
Webinars include Prepare/Enrich Group Coaching, "My Values. My Wishes. My Dignity.", "Transitions and Transformations: Thriving in the Midst of Change", "Self-Care in 2020", and others as planned.