ABOUT MINNEAPOLIS DEATH DOULA BARBARA GATES

I specialize in helping GenX and the sandwich generation get end-of-life plans done

You may not have addressed your end of life YET... but with the right help you can determine what you want and create a plan that aligns with the good life you've spent decades building.

ABOUT MINNEAPOLIS DEATH DOULA BARBARA GATES

I specialize in helping GenX and the sandwich generation get end-of-life plans done

You may not have addressed your end of life YET... but with the right help you can determine what you want and create a plan that aligns with the good life you've spent decades building.

CERTIFIED DEATH DOULA + ADVANCE CARE PLANNER

Expert guidance, support, and personalized solutions for busy professionals and their families

I'm Barbara Gates, the first and only corporate marketer turned death doula with 25 years of professional experience in communications combined with over 20 years of personal experience in death and dying.

I began serving as a death doula in 2025, dedicated to helping people better advocate for themselves and be better prepared for their end of life. I offer the combination of the professional knowledge, lived experience, and communication skills that make it possible to help people talk about hard things and find their way.

My straightforward "meet people where they are" approach results in peace of mind, better conversations with family, and end-of-life planning that aligns with your values and the life you have worked hard to create.

Training

  • End-of-Life Doula

  • Advance Care Planner

  • Cancer Doula and Patient Advocate

Why I became a death doula

My sister was diagnosed with a fatal brain disorder as a teenager. Over the next 20 years, I watched her lose her abilities, her independence, and her life — while my mother and I navigated a complex healthcare system, largely alone.

We had no advocates, no roadmap, and no one translating what was happening into something a family could actually understand and act on. It was harder than it needed to be.

I got certified as a death doula and advance care planner to help other families have a better experience.

Create an end-of-life plan that
reflects your wishes in 3 simple steps

Create an end-of-life plan that reflects your wishes in 3 simple steps

01. Book a readiness review call

Book a FREE call to assess your family readiness (and potential next steps)

02. Strategy

I learn where you are and want to go—and personalize a plan to YOUR needs

03. Ongoing support

Get a personalized plan and an expert communicator to help execute it

Four fast (fun) facts

  • My grandpa was the official Santa Claus for American Greetings in the 1980s. Every year at Christmas his face would be on cards, wall hangings, and wrapping paper.

  • I've been adopting - and volunteering to help find homes for - retired racing greyhounds for over 20 years. My current pair, Pete and Rita, love to join Zoom meetings.

  • I am known for storytelling. Two favorites are people I met on the bus: The Terrorist Hunter (who 'owns' Dolly Parton's career and a love affair with Emmylou Harris), and the Prince of Darkness.

  • I credit my first real job (also my first job in architecture) to getting carjacked. I told the story to a table of strangers moments later... earned me a stiff drink and my first job. They were architects.

How to get started (and get answers) 

Ready to take your end-of-life planning to the next level?

Head over to my SERVICES page to explore how I can help.

Have more general end-of-life questions?

Head over to my FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS page to get answers.

Here's what people ask most

What exactly is a death doula?

A death doula (also called an end-of-life doula) is a non-medical professional trained to support dying individuals and their families through the end-of-life process — emotionally, practically, educationally, and sometimes spiritually. Think of me as a knowledgeable, experienced guide who helps everyone involved feel less lost and more supported. I'm not a nurse, an attorney, or a financial advisor — I'm the person who sits in the gap between all of those and makes sure you understand what's happening and what your options actually are.

How is a death doula different from hospice?

Hospice is an essential medical service — and if you or someone you love needs it, please contact them as soon as possible. But hospice has limits (thanks, Medicare). I complement hospice by providing more time, more individualized attention, more advocacy, and more availability. We're not either/or. We're better together.

What is advance care planning, and why does it matter?

Advance care planning is the process of documenting your healthcare wishes, naming the people who will make decisions on your behalf if you can't, and making sure everyone who needs to know actually knows. It's not just a legal form — done right, it's a values-based roadmap that protects your family from having to make impossible decisions without guidance. It's the most important thing most people have never done, and it's exactly where I start with almost every client.

Do I have to be facing a terminal illness to work with you?

Absolutely not. In fact, the most powerful thing you can do is plan before you need it. Advance care planning is for anyone who has people they love and wishes they'd like honored. The earlier you start, the better protected everyone is.

Is everything confidential?

100%. Everything shared in our work together stays private and confidential — full stop.

Do you only work with people in Minnesota?

Nope. I work both virtually and in-person, which means I can work with you from anywhere. No commutes, no scheduling gymnastics. Just real support when and where you need it.

Minneapolis, MN-based death doula and advance care planner. Personalized end-of-life solutions for busy GenX professionals and families.

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