J udy Holmes
A CALL TO LOVE
End of Life Doula Services
My Story
When I received a call that my father was nearing the end of his life, I immediately flew to his side. By the time I arrived, he was close to death. Although I wanted to ensure he had the best experience possible as he transitioned out of this world, he had never talked about his dying wishes and I didn’t know what to do.
Without his guidance, I had to decide what might comfort him. I knew he had a special song that reminded him of a son who had passed early in life and a song from his wedding that still had deep meaning for him. As I played the songs, I assured him that his son and late wife were waiting for him as he was deeply religious and believed in the afterlife.
Finally, I played and sang Amazing Grace while holding vigil by simply holding his hand. A few hours later he passed peacefully. Sharing that moment with him is a cherished memory—and I feel blessed to have been there.
That experience taught me two things. First, I learned the importance of knowing your loved one’s dying wishes. Second, I realized that I wanted to dedicate my life to helping other people and their families find peace at the end of life.
Judy Holmes, Founder and Certified Doula
Judy Holmes is a Certified End-of-Life Doula and A Call to Love founder working in the San Francisco Bay Area. Previously, Judy was director of family support for foster and adoptive families at Help One Child, a non-profit organization.
For the past 25 years, Judy has specialized in working with children who have experienced early childhood trauma and their families. Throughout her career at Help One Child, Judy has had to coordinate closely with families, county agencies, and other non-profit organizations to facilitate better outcomes for children and their families.
In addition to her role as founder and doula, Judy finds time to volunteer for a local hospice organization where she facilitates meetings about death and dying and provides emotional support for hospice patients.
