Article Summary:
The article is about a “death doula” who works at the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C. A death doula is a person who provides support and guidance to individuals and families as they go through the end-of-life process. At the Congressional Cemetery, the death doula, named Rachel Zeldin, helps families plan and carry out the funerals of their loved ones. Zeldin’s work involves a lot of communication with the families she serves, helping them to make informed decisions about their loved one’s funeral, and helping them to create meaningful rituals that reflect their cultural and spiritual beliefs.
Zeldin’s role at the Congressional Cemetery is unique, as most death doulas work in hospices or private homes. However, the cemetery is a peaceful and picturesque location, and Zeldin believes that it provides a special setting for families to come together and say goodbye to their loved ones. She also notes that being located on Capitol Hill gives the cemetery a sense of history and significance, which adds to the atmosphere of reflection and reverence that she and the families she works with strive to create. Zeldin’s work at the Congressional Cemetery is an example of how death doulas are helping to change the way people think about death and dying, and providing much-needed support to families during a difficult time.