Explore THE
NM Deathcare
Network
Welcome
Welcome to the New Mexico Deathcare Network, a dedicated collective of holistic deathcare professionals committed to providing compassionate, integrative, and personalized end-of-life care. We are a diverse group of individuals united by a common goal: to serve our community through a variety of services that support those who are dying, their families, and their broader support network.
We aim to educate and inform both the public and professionals throughout the state of New Mexico, ensuring that everyone has access to the services and resources they need at this critical time.
As a nonprofit, we provide financial assistance for non-medical, holistic end-of-life care services, including death doulas, grief support, and spiritual advisement. Through donations, we help ensure that individuals in financial need have access to these compassionate resources, offering comfort, guidance, and community support during their journeys.
Our Mission
To provide access to holistic, non-medical, end-of-life support through a compassionate network of dedicated professionals and community connections.
dEATHCARE ROLES
-
End-of-Life DoulasEnd-of-Life Doulas offer non-medical, holistic support to individuals and families, providing emotional, spiritual, and practical care from diagnosis through bereavement. They guide end-of-life decisions, offer education, and ensure comfort during the dying process, helping loved ones navigate the transition with peace and understanding. National End of Life Doula Alliance
-
Home Funeral GuideHome funeral guides educate families on safe, legal home funerals, helping them to act as their own funeral directors. They provide education and guidance only on state and local laws, body care, disposition options, paperwork filing and other essential information to ensure a respectful, legally compliant home funeral process. Home Funeral Alliance
-
Funeral Celebrant/Memorial OfficiantA funeral celebrant or memorial officiant leads personalized ceremonies to honor the deceased, reflecting the individual’s life, values, and beliefs. They work with families to create meaningful rituals, providing culturally competent guidance and support while ensuring the service is respectful, inclusive, and aligned with the family’s wishes and traditions. While both "celebrant" and "officiant" refer to someone who leads a ceremony, "celebrant" often implies a focus on personalized, non-religious ceremonies, while "officiant" can be used more broadly for anyone who leads a service, including religious leaders. American Association of Certified Celebrants
-
Reiki PractitionerA Reiki practitioner is a healing professional who lightly places hands on or near a patient's body to facilitate healing. Combining the Japanese and Chinese characters for "rei" (spiritual energy) and "ki" (vital energy). Reiki promotes relaxation, reduces stress, alleviates pain, and supports emotional well-being, encouraging the body's natural healing abilities. International Association of Reiki Professionals
-
Death Educator/Public SpeakerA death educator honors both life and death by offering education on dying, death, and bereavement to enrich lives, inform individuals, and enhance communication about death-related topics. As ambassadors of the end-of-life movement, they create a safe space for discussing this "taboo" subject, fostering open dialogue and helping communities understand their end-of-life choices and options. Association of Death Education & Counseling
-
Palliative CarePalliative care is specialized medical care focused on providing relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of serious illness. It aims to improve the quality of life for both the patient and their family. Delivered by a team of doctors, nurses, and other specialists, palliative care can be provided alongside curative treatments. National Alliance for Care at Home - CaringInfo.org
-
Hospice CareHospice care is specialized medical care provided by a licensed hospice service, focusing on caring rather than curing. Care is typically delivered in the patient’s home by trained professionals, such as RNs, CNAs, social workers, chaplains, and other service providers. It is also available in hospice centers, hospitals, nursing homes, and long-term care facilities. Hospice services are accessible to patients of any age, religion, race, or illness, and are covered by Medicare, Medicaid, most private insurance plans, HMOs, and other managed care organizations. Hospice care is a type of palliative care. However, while palliative care can be provided at any stage of a serious illness and alongside curative treatments, hospice care is specifically for patients who are nearing the end of life, typically when curative treatments are no longer effective or desired. National Alliance for Care at Home - CaringInfo.org
-
Religious LeaderA religious leader guides and supports individuals in their affiliated faith community, offering spiritual direction, leading worship services, and providing counsel during life's significant moments, such as birth, marriage, illness, and death. They interpret religious teachings, foster a sense of community, and offer emotional and spiritual support in times of need. Examples are a Roman Catholic priest or nun, an Imam, rabbi, etc.
-
Spiritual Leader/GuideA trained practitioner who helps individuals deepen their spiritual awareness, guiding them to recognize the sacred in everyday life. Through contemplative practices, they support personal growth and a deeper relationship with the divine or the mysteries of life. Spiritual direction may be faith-based, interfaith-based, or non-faith-based, fostering a sense of community, and encouraging ethical and compassionate living.
-
Bereavement & Grief SupportBereavement and grief support helps individuals cope with the emotional, psychological, and physical challenges of loss. Trained professionals or support groups offer guidance, empathy, and practical tools for processing grief, encouraging healing and fostering resilience. Peer grief support involves individuals who have experienced similar losses sharing their emotions and coping strategies in a group setting. It focuses on mutual understanding and shared experiences. In contrast, counseling is provided by trained professionals who offer personalized guidance, coping techniques, and therapeutic interventions to help individuals process grief and heal.
Our network includes end-of-life educators and public speakers, death doulas, home funeral and vigil guides, celebrants, green burial advocates, energy and body workers, and more. Together, we work to offer integrative deathcare options that empower individuals and families to make informed decisions and experience a more peaceful, supported, and meaningful journey through the end-of-life process.
Learn more about the distinct services offered by these deathcare roles...
NMDN provides limited reimbursement for qualifying services but does not supervise, direct, or endorse any providers. All practitioners are independent and solely responsible for the services they provide.
Thank you to the incredible friends, supporters, and donors who make the work of NMDN possible. Your generous contributions—of time, money, expertise, and presence—fuel everything we do. This community is built on your passion, commitment, and belief in our mission. We are deeply grateful for each and every one of you.
Friends, Supporters & Donors
Leneta Venanzi
Friend/Supporter
Board of Directors
Fred Watson
Friend/Supporter
Philanthropic Contributor
Paul Mitchell
Board of Directors
Philanthropic Contributor
Julie Harmon
Friend/Supporter
Mary Gauer
Friend/Supporter
Steering Committee Member
Britt Densford
Friend/Supporter
Danielle
Slupesky
Executive Director
Philanthropic Contributor
Ramsey Lofton
Independent Service Provider
LOcal EVENTS
AlbuquerqueDeath Cafe host Gail Rubin also hosts a TV series called Mortality Movies as well as Mortality Movie Nights. Watch a film related to end-of-life issues and stick around for discussion afterwards.
First Unitarian ChurchEvery first Saturday at 2:00 p.m., join the conversation at this Albuquerque Death Cafe coordinated by end of life educator & advocate Jane Westbrook.
OUr Non Profit
Together, we can create a community of healing, understanding, and peace during life’s final chapter.
As a nonprofit, The New Mexico Deathcare Network provides financial assistance for non-medical, holistic end-of-life care services, including death doulas, grief support, and spiritual advisement. Through donations, we help ensure that individuals in financial need have access to these compassionate resources, offering comfort, guidance, and community support during their journeys.
Beyond serving underprivileged New Mexicans, we are also a professional membership organization that offers essential support and resources to deathcare professionals, ensuring they have the tools and connections necessary to provide quality end-of-life services.
We also strive to create a safe and compassionate space for community members to find local resources, share their emotions, and receive comfort and support during one of life’s most challenging times.
Join us in our mission to provide access to these vital resources with care, respect, and integrity.
NMDN provides limited reimbursement for qualifying services but does not supervise, direct, or endorse any providers. All practitioners are independent and solely responsible for the services they provide.