About
Madeline Christie is a compassionate Death Companion, guiding souls through the sacred end-of-life journey.
Her curiosity for deathwork began in 2015 and has since deepened into devoted study and practice. She completed CINDEA’s in-person “By My Own Heart and Hand” home funeral training in 2019 and the End of Life Doula program at Douglas College in 2020, continuing her exploration through death companioning, Thanabotany, and writing with the School of American Thanatology. Since 2022, she has served as a CINDEA teacher, helping develop and lead both the online weekend and expanded 90-day versions of “By My Own Heart and Hand.”
With a heart deeply rooted in reverence for the land, Madeline acknowledges her place as an uninvited guest on the Unceded Traditional Territory of the K’ómoks First Nation. She honours the sovereignty of the Indigenous peoples, the ocean, creatures, and ecosystems, and stands in solidarity with those working to protect and reclaim Turtle Island. Madeline is profoundly grateful for the privilege of participating in the stewardship of the land and waters that sustain life.
Mission & Vision
As a passionate death-positive advocate, her mission is to provide knowledge about end-of-life planning, home funerals, pet loss, grief rituals, eco-friendly disposition options, and much more.
By educating and empowering individuals to take control of their personal death journeys, her goal is to foster compassionate relationships in the community with the vision of creating a holistic deathcare network.
Above photos by Yellow Petal Photo
Terminology
What is a Death Companion? Popularized and defined by Cole Imperi here.
Death Positive - "People who are death positive believe that it is not morbid or taboo to speak openly about death. They see honest conversations about death & dying as the cornerstone of a healthy society." - The Order of the Good Death
Ritual and Ceremony as defined by Be Ceremonial ("the world's first ceremony creation platform, empowering you to choose your own rituals and create a ceremony that tells your unique story.")
Green or Natural Burial - Learn the five principles according to the Green Burial Society of Canada and explore Madeline’s natural burial journal entries here.
Thanabotany - Emerging field pioneered and defined by Cole Imperi here. Plant specimens in this field of research are referred to as thanabotanical.
Deathwork/Deathworker - Terms created and defined by Cole Imperi here.
Valued Partnerships
Proud Member and Teacher at CINDEA (Canadian Integrative Network for Death Education and Alternatives)
Proud Member of the End of Life Doula Association of Canada
Proud Student of The Centre for Sacred Deathcare
Proud Member of the Death & Dying Network International
Volunteer at Community Deathcare Canada
Proud Student of the School of American Thanatology
“I want to help people see the beauty in death and I do that by co-creating sacred space with nature.”
- Madeline