Hidden Gems: Meet Erin Merelli and Lauren Carroll of Deathwives

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Merelli and Lauren Carroll. They and their team shared their story with us below:

Erin was working as a birth doula, recovering from a lot of grief, and watching as her grandfather died when she realized that the skills of a birth doula would transfer so well to the dead space. She began searching for answers… and when she entered the phrase “progressive deathcare Colorado” she found Lauren Carroll. Lauren was a former funeral director who was so deterred by conventional funeral practices that she began educating her community on eco-friendly burial and home funerals.

They met and couldn’t believe their similarities and drive to change the narrative of death and dying in America, Years later in April of 2020 they founded Deathwives, a professional community of death workers that educate death doulas and others interested in studying and/or providing end of life care.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
We were surprised at the number of people who needed and wanted this education. When we first began teaching the response was profound. Everyone will die – and this truth resonated with so many. The challenge we have had is not in business operations or the like, but rather, it is in keeping up with the need that people have to process grief and talk about the end of life.

We have a cultural death aversion – counterposed with a world full of people who need to talk about death in their inevitable death or the loss they suffered. It’s incredible to see so many [people taking this education and then passing it on in their communities.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Deathwives?
The Deathwives uphold and share sacred death & dying practices ingrained into every culture around the world, integrate Mother Nature back into funeral traditions, and empower individuals and their loved ones to navigate end-of-life transitions with reverence, peace, and compassion.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
The Smell of Rain on Dust by Martin Prectel (book) The Little Prince (book)
The Wheel of Life by EKR
Being Mortal (book)
The Prophet (book)

Contact Info:

• Website: deathwives.org
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/deathwives
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/thedeathwives

Image Credits
Katie Fletcher Photography