The Death Network

Directions Website

The Death Network A collective for the living, the dying and the grieving. San Diego, CA
lnk.bio/thedeathnetwork

10/12/2026

Death Doulas don’t punch a time clock or report to a manager. And, they have to build their own reliable death care network in order to serve their clients well.

You can’t be a Death Doula without having friends and colleagues in medical, hospice and funeral. And that takes putting yourself out there to build those meaningful and vital relationships. We call it knowing and trusting those who we work with, and it’s a game changer for our doula collective in San Diego.

if you’re curious about Death Doula life, join our Zoom tonight 6 PM Pacific time link in bio $5.

We 🩷 the San Diego death doula network
Penny Waugh Selena Jong Tara Novak Kara Hallett, M.Ed ꩜ Claudia Faerber Christa Folkers Sara Grace Thress lastactsoflove HENS 🐓

And our Known & Trusted professional colleagues who understand and appreciate death doula work Orchid Cremations White Rose Aqua Cremation Meadow Memorials
Autonomy Health with Donald Moore, MD Funeral Pre-Planning San Diego Your Digital Vault LightBridge Hospice & Palliative Care LightBridge Hospice Community Foundation topkare hospice

That’s how we

10/09/2026

We’re not saying death doula training and education aren’t important- but nobody seems to be talking about how you get your death doula practice off the ground once you’ve taken a training.
Well, we are!

And, while we don’t have all the answers… we invite you to join our Monday zoom Q&A with some seasoned and newer doulas of The Death Network.

What are some of the things we talk about?
📱marketing and social media
🏷️ how to price services, offer sliding scales, and how to invoice & take payments
🔎 identifying the type of work we want to offer and honing our craft
🧚 how to care for ourselves while doing death work
🕸️the importance of being able to connect clients with hospice & funeral resources that YOU know and trust.
💀how to engage the community in workshops and discussion groups.

📍Every 2nd Monday 6-7pm pst
🔗 $5 RSVP link in bio.
Bring all your questions!

Thanks Penny Waugh Selena Jong lastactsoflove for trying to help with marketing,
it’s a good thing y’all are fabulous death doulas… Not sure you have a career in social media marketing though. 🤣🤣🤣

10/08/2026

We’ve hosted a lot of events, and the one thing we’ve noticed is the crowd is a pretty even split of those who work in the death and grief care space - and people who are seeking open, honest, transparent answers to their questions about death, dying, and grief. But it was hard to tell who was who! 🤷🏻‍♀️

So, we put our thinking caps on and came up with this brilliant idea 😉💫

When you check into The Death Network After Hours, you’ll grab a colored lanyard that will identify who’s who so we can get those conversations started a lot quicker.

🩷 Death Doula
♥️ Hospice
💙 Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD)
💜 Funeral Directors & Coordinators
💚 Grief therapists & coaches
🧡 I’ve Got Questions
💛 All Others

Join us at Belching Beaver Tavern & Grill
302 E Broadway Vista CA
Tuesday October 20
6-8 pm
$5 Space is limited! Please RSVP Link in Bio or MeetUp / The Death Network

✨free appetizers and complimentary drink for the first 50 through the door ✨

Hosted by Penny Waugh Selena Jong lastactsoflove Sara Grace Thress

With special guests Orchid Cremations Autonomy Health with Donald Moore, MD LightBridge Hospice & Palliative Care Your Digital Vault

Grief changes our lives.It changes how we move through the world, how we see things, and sometimes even who we are. And ...
10/03/2026

Grief changes our lives.

It changes how we move through the world, how we see things, and sometimes even who we are. And while we can’t go back to the life we had before, we can begin to find ways to integrate grief into the life we’re living now.

That doesn’t have to be something we do alone.

Living with Grief is a time to come together, connect, and have honest, collaborative conversations about what grief looks and feels like in our lives.

A space to express what’s on your mind, listen to others who are navigating their own grief journey, share what you’re discovering, and maybe feel a little less alone along the way.

Bring your journal. Bring your questions. Bring whatever version of yourself is showing up that day.

There’s no right way to grieve. And there’s no timeline for figuring out how to live in this new world.

Come community with us. 💚

Hosted by Claudia Faerber, Grief Coach with The Death Network Claudia Faerber

📍 NEW LOCATION
Yellow Trellis Counseling
2991 Kalmia St
South Park San Diego

📅 Every 3rd Saturday
⏰ 4-5:30 pm
🔗 RSVP link in bio $10
🧩We hope to see you there!

10/01/2026

Fall is a season of transition—not just for the weather, but for ourselves.
There’s pumpkin spice-flavored everything, kids in costumes, and holiday gatherings.

And then there are the memories that seem to surface this time of year—memories of people we’ve lost, relationships that have ended, dreams that never came to fruition, and all the other “everyday” things we can grieve.

Come Gather & Honor with Penny Waugh and Tara Novak of The Death Network for a casual community gathering with cocoa, tea, snacks, and plenty of space to simply be among others who are grieving.

We’ll have a community altar where you’re invited to place a photo or keepsake, along with time to share stories and memories if you’d like.
No particular kind of grief is required. No need to have the right words. Just come as you are.

Join us Sunday, October 18 1:00 - 2:30pm for a moment to honor our grief, remember what—and who—matters to us, and be among others who recognize that grief isn’t a solo adventure.

🛖We meet in the yurt towards the back of the property. Street parking is free and some limited guest parking in the Sweetwater parking lot.

RSVP link in bio or MeetUp|TheDeathNetwork

That’s how we

Thanks Death & Dresses Sara Matzenbacher - Your Creative Funeral Expert for the incredible photo 💗

10/01/2026

We’ve really been feeling the weight of the world lately. And between our individual work, our clients, our families, and all the things that come with being in death care… we’ve been busy. Really busy.

So today, we carved out some time for ourselves!

Taking care of ourselves isn’t an extra when you work in death care—it’s part of the work. We can’t keep showing up for everyone else if we never make space to refill our own cups.

And when we need a little restoration, our go-to is always the people and the yoga at South Park Yoga🧘‍♀️ Brent Honnerlaw leads a soothing Yin class that finishes with a sound healing - it’s one of our favs!

Today was about putting down the work for a minute and remembering that we need care too. ❤️

Thank you South Park Yoga and Wellness for being an anchor in our community, for supporting the work that we do and cultivating such an awesome yoga community 💗

Namaste 💗💀🙏

08/27/2026

Doula work isn’t like anything else, and it’s definitely not something you see a Help Wanted sign for.

I’m new to this work, and UVM gave me enough knowledge to know that I liked what I saw. But I needed more than that to transition from a decades long career in online sales and marketing into death work.

Get certified wherever you feel is a good fit for you. That’s where you’ll start building the foundation for your work, after that it’s up to you to figure it out.

I often say Death Doulas fill the gaps… And I think we all recognize that the biggest gap right now is what happens after somebody becomes certified? Especially if that’s their only Doula experience. How do you get hands on experience?

My path included volunteering for TIP San Diego which taught me how to step into the unknown and fill the gap when sudden death means urgent decisions. I also worked as a funeral coordinator which helped me uncover that I love working with the families and guiding them after death occurs, whether it’s a home funeral or with a funeral home.

There is enough work for all of us, and since doula work isn’t regulated you get to decide how you show up in this space.

Keep in mind who you’re showing up for and, know what you’re comfortable with and what you’re not. That comes from spending time with the dying, dead and grieving 💗

Summer funerals don’t have to mean head-to-toe black, and thankfully, pantyhose are no longer a requirement! Yes, you ca...
08/25/2026

Summer funerals don’t have to mean head-to-toe black, and thankfully, pantyhose are no longer a requirement!

Yes, you can go a little more casual. A bit of color is perfectly appropriate - especially neutrals, muted tones, or deep, rich earth tones. Longer dresses are a great choice, and when it comes to shoes, keep them practical. You may be standing, walking, or spending time outdoors.

And before you go shopping, look in your own closet. You might be surprised what’s already there.

A simple black jumpsuit or dress + a kimono or lightweight sweater = funeral ready.

The goal isn’t to look fancy. It’s to look respectful, appropriate, and put together.

And when in doubt, dress up. If it feels appropriate, you can always ask about the dress code.



Do Death Different.

Layers are important, especially if you’ll be transitioning from the AC indoors to a graveside burial service.

A long flowy dress with a lightweight sweater is a great option. Pants with a lightweight blouse can help keep you comfortable indoors or out.

Wear practical shoes as the ground can be uneven in most cemeteries.

Who remembers the days of pantyhose? Thank goodness that’s in the past!

Knee length dresses are appropriate for a funeral, keep the style and pattern simple. Nothing too bold or eye-catching.

Be practical and check in your closet before going out to buy something to wear to a funeral Often times a basic jumpsuit or dress can be transformed into the ideal funeral outfit.

The addition of a shawl, kimono or lightweight sweater provides a flexibility to keep you comfort all day long whether you’re indoors or outdoors.

When in doubt - dress up!

A funeral is a time to pay respects to the person who died and those who are grieving. Even if you didn’t know the person well, dressing appropriately is the biggest sign of respect.

Someone dies at home. Now what?It’s a question most of us don’t think about until we’re suddenly living it.Penny Waugh o...
08/25/2026

Someone dies at home. Now what?

It’s a question most of us don’t think about until we’re suddenly living it.

Penny Waugh of The Death Network and Sophie Steilen from Meadow Memorials get right to it in this short, no-nonsense conversation about what happens when someone dies at home - including who to call, what happens next, and how hospice can make the process a little more straightforward.

And here’s something many people don’t know: you may have time to say goodbye before your person leaves home. In California, there are legal options for spending time with your person after death, including a vigil or home funeral. Death doulas are often well versed at guiding basic body care after death and helping to create an authentic send off.

Know your options before you need them. It can make an incredibly difficult moment feel a little less overwhelming.

🤍 Link in bio to watch this short and informative 2-minute video or The Death Network YouTube channel

Do you have a question about death or dying? Let us know!
Penny Waugh Meadow Memorials

That’s how we Do Death Different.

08/23/2026

The Death Network is still taking shape.

It’s growing organically within the community and honestly, I think that’s what makes it so interesting.

Two years ago, I never imagined the professional death-care community would rally around a handful of Death Doulas in San Diego the way they have.

But they did.

Hospice professionals. Funeral directors. Medical Aid in Dying advocates. Grief workers. Educators. End-of-life guides. And a whole lot of smart, passionate people who believe there’s another way to approach death and dying.

Nothing quite like this has existed here before - and it’s a game changer for the families we serve.

So what’s next?

Honestly… I don’t know.

And that’s the fun part.

We’re figuring it out together.
Doing Death Different.

I want to thank everyone who has supported TDN along the way 🔥💗 and much gratitude to those who have been 🪏the path alongside me, the TDN OGs Selena Jong Tara Novak Kara Hallett, M.Ed ꩜ End-of-Life Educator and Death Doula Orchid Cremations Savannah| The Pink Mortician 💖 LightBridge Hospice & Palliative Care Autonomy Health with Donald Moore, MD Christa Folkers

Address

San Diego, CA
92110

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Death Network posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Sponsored

Share

Category