After death body care & funeral workshops

Carol Wales is an end-of-life doula and celebrant based in Bay of Plenty, Aotearoa. Her latest venture, alongside Jenny Hobbs, is offering DIY After-Death Body Care and Funerals Workshops. Together, they empower families with the knowledge and confidence to care for their loved ones after death, creating meaningful, personal farewells.

Carole's story

From an early age, I felt an innate curiosity and ease with the concept of death. One of my earliest memories is of my father receiving news that his mother had passed away in her sleep. A neighbour and friend of my grandparents came to tell him, and for the first time, I saw my dad express deep, raw emotion. I remember the moment vividly—the weight of his grief, the tenderness of his sorrow. In that instant, I not only felt for him, but I also glimpsed a side of him I had never known before.

Dying has a way of revealing truths, of peeling back the layers of who we are. The process carries an
intensity that can deepen our understanding—of ourselves, of those we love, of life itself. Death,
though often feared, offers unexpected gifts.

Caring for others has always been second nature to me; it’s a calling that has shaped my journey.
When my mum was in care, I witnessed firsthand the loneliness that can exist within those facilities.
Too often, people approached their final moments alone. My instinct was to step in—to sit with
them, hold their hands, offer comfort, listen, reassure.

When my own mother was dying, the experience opened my eyes further. I learned so much—not
just from her, but from the way death unfolded within the confines of a rest home. Questions arose:
Why aren’t more people able to die at home? What support and knowledge are needed to make this
possible?

These questions ignited something in me. I knew I wanted to walk alongside the dying, to offer
companionship in those sacred final moments. I sought training, volunteered, took on paid hospice
work, and helped people capture their life stories through memoir writing. Each experience
deepened my passion and sense of purpose.

And so, here I am—committed to being present for those at the end of life, offering after-death care,
and empowering families to reclaim the dying process through DIY funerals. This is my mission.
To add to my journey, I volunteered at NZ Hospice for five years and later took on a paid role for two
years. I also spent time volunteering at Amitabha Hospice, drawn to their compassionate, holistic
approach to end-of-life care.

During this period, I was often juggling full-time administrative roles while dedicating my evenings
and nights to being an End-of-Life Companion. Many nights, I sat vigil, offering comfort, presence,
and reassurance to those in their final hours, only to step into a different world by day. The contrast
was stark, yet my commitment never wavered. My energy to be with the dying was immense, fueled
by a deep calling to ensure that no one faced their final moments alone.