ABOUT

At Dying Your Way, we believe that preparing for the end of life is essential for everyone: healthy, ill, young, old, rich, poor, everyone. A quality end of life which leads to an easeful death is possible with basic tools of death literacy, which include the use of palliative care and the support of a strong, educated advocate. These non-medical skills can be learned by anyone. This is what we teach our clients and students to do:prepare for an empowered, easeful, natural death.

After all, we learn how to do every other important task in our lives, from tying our shoes to driving our car. Why not learn how to die well while we have the capacity to do so?

The focus of the Dying Your Way philosophy is to teach each individual how to plan and prepare for their own end of life scenario well before the need is there. In doing so, their wishes are anticipated, documented, honored, and enacted when the time comes. In turn, others are guided to do the same for themselves.

“Take responsibility. It’s where your power lives.”

                                                                   Will Craig

Dying Your Way – How It Works 

Dying Your Way provides an evergreen educational model, designed for individuals and organizations, that is always accessible, global, and not limited by date or time. Client consultations, live and online group trainings, personal client/customer support, and an extensive online Resource Center are all included.

The Dying Your Way End of Life Training is a proven curriculum with state-of-the-art materials that enhance the learning experience. This affordable curriculum includes 10 self-guided modules which culminates in each student creating an End-of-Life plan. The curriculum emphasizes pre-planning, appropriate documentation, and taking advantage of wholistic palliative care. We encourage and teach collaborative decision-making between patients, families, and professionals.

Introducing the Co-Founders of Dying Your Way

Claire O’Berry

In 2005, Claire took on the responsibility of caring for both of her parents as they neared the end of their lives. Because Claire was largely unprepared for such an all-consuming task, as are most of us, the whole process became an enormously valuable learning experience.

The culmination of this undertaking, which took place over a six-year period, was to have both her parents die in their own time, at home, surrounded by loving family and friends. It was a good death experience for all concerned.

Soon others sought Claire’s help to replicate her experience for themselves or their family members. Claire undertook formal study to turn an avocation into a vocation by becoming a certified End of Life Doula.  She has studied with Deanna Cochran, Suzanne O’Brien and Patty Burgess, all pioneers in the positive death movement.

Claire now speaks and teaches internationally on death literacy and preparing for the end-of-life journey. She is also the host of the Dying Your Way podcast, interviewing experts in the field of death and dying as well as those who bravely share their personal stories.

Degrees and Associations: MBA, Master of Business Administration, from Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA;B.S.Ed., Bachelor of Science in Education from University of North Texas, Denton, TX; ACPE, Advance Care Planning Educator from Institute on HealthCare Directives; CEOLD from Quality of Life Care; NEDA, the National End of Life Doula Alliance.

Terry Mepham

Co-founder, CFO,and hospice volunteer, Terry Mepham had his own experience confronting death while caring for his brother in New Zealand who was losing a long fight with cancer. During this time Terry became aware of the crippling fear of the unknown that those who are dying often face. Through his own spiritual understanding and research into the end-of-life process, he was inspired to help alleviate that fear in others.

Terry brings his leadership, financial skills, and his business acumen to many essential roles supporting Dying Your Way. For over 40 years he has studied yoga philosophy and meditation. He has also enjoyed decades of dedicated service mentoring young adults, cultivating gardens, and applying his considerable skills as a professional chef.

“We believe that death needs to be reclaimed as a sacred part of life’s journey. It is our shared vision that all peopleexperience a conscious and sacred passing, free from fear, pain, or anxiety.”

Terry Mepham

Claire and Terry realized while traveling abroad that much of the assistance given to support clients with life-threatening illness could be offered remotely online.

Live consultations via video conferencing became the Dying Your Way standard operating procedure by 2017.  Many speaking engagements and end of life trainings have also been adapted to an online format, greatly expanding the global audience.

Their shared inspiration, vision, and mission continues to grow, offering death literacy, understanding, and hope to thousands across the globe.  This is … Dying Your Way.

Claire and Terry would like to thank the solid and dedicated team of professionals that have made Dying Your Way a reality. Your diverse skills, compassion and commitment make this a joyful journey.