Alison Zimmerman’s path to becoming a death doula began with her father’s diagnosis of glioblastoma in 2020.
The medical team gave him a year to live.
Shortly after, the pandemic struck, which severely hampered her developing career as an event planner. Those two events led to a choice that would shape her life, as well as the lives of countless others.
“I had the easy decision of dropping everything and going back east to walk alongside my dad as he faced a terminal illness,” Zimmerman explained. “I learned more about life than I have ever learned before. It was a very raw time and it’s a very sacred experience getting to be with somebody as they transition.”
Courtesy Photo/Brooke Welsh Photography
Zimmerman supported her father in creating goals for living out the rest of his life. She also began to feel a passionate interest in the transition process itself. Combined with her training as a yoga instructor, it gave her the ability to deeply understand how to “be in her body” while also facing something that was scary.
“I was having these vulnerable conversations about what I was going through, what I was feeling, and what I was experiencing,” she said. “I felt really enlightened and inspired by getting to tell my story as it was unfolding.”
Her father would live almost two years, beating the prognosis at the time he was diagnosed. After her father passed, Zimmerman fell into a “deep grief” of sadness and shock for nine months. Even though she knew his passing was inevitable, nothing prepared her for what happened after.
A group hosted by a local hospice under Northwest Colorado Health supported her in processing her experience with grief. It also led her to join them as a volunteer.
It was around that time that she learned about the practice of death doulaship through a global leadership training group called Lightyear Leadership. There she met a cohort member who inspired her to become certified as a death doula.
Death doulas provide non-medical support through the process of death and dying.
“What really got me was the education that I received about death, about the process of death, and about the death industry,” she said. “I also want to be someone who could educate others so they can be more empowered as they enter into something like that.”
She noted that she sees it as an energy-based service of spiritual calling and not a business.
Zimmerman’s objective is to work with clients who are experiencing terminal illness by creating goals to fully live out the rest of their lives. Following the passing of an individual, she also coordinates celebrancy services to celebrate the life of the deceased.
Courtesy Photo/Alison Zimmerman
“There’s such a need for the support in the realm of death,” she said. “I would love to support people in creating out-of-the-box celebrations of life.”
Zimmerman works with people in all stages of life including those who are not terminal, have an interest in their own mortality, or have been impacted by the passing of a loved one. She also came to co-host a local “Death Cafe” in collaboration with Teresa Miller, who is another locally-based death doula. The group is a “consciously-curated container” that facilitates group-based conversations to openly discuss, and create community, around death and dying.
Death Cafes originated in Europe and have since evolved into an international movement. Zimmerman and Miller have tailored the concept to the Yampa Valley community that they work with.
The Death Cafe, which is hosted monthly at Dusky Grouse Coffee, seeks to address and overcome the stigma and “taboo” nature of death. Individuals between the ages of 17 and 92 have attended the steadily growing group. Following introductions, topics surrounding death are discussed either as a whole group or as breakout groups. The space, according to Zimmerman, is often “raw” while still being safe and supportive.
“Each month is so different,” said Zimmerman. “We have some regulars that will come time and time again and then we always have new faces walking into the room, which is really amazing.” People leave feeling this buzz of energy and uplift having gone to the dark corners of their mind and memory. It’s a very important practice.”
Through her work, Zimmerman has also come to face the reality of her own mortality in a different way, which in turn has empowered her to share and support others through the process of confronting, and going through, the process of passing away.
Follow Zimmerman’s companies, Wise Aspirations and Legacy Blueprint. Soon, the Alison Zimmerman will be hosting the Legacy Blueprint Podcast on the Steamboat Locals Media platform. Find it soon on our website or the Steamboat Locals App!
In September, Steamboat Locals’ writer John Camponeschi will be presenting you a four-part series of stories about mental health in Routt County and the people, organizations and educators that raise awareness and provide solutions for those in need.
Read Part 1 – Reaching Everyone Preventing Suicide (REPS)
This series of stories is proudly presented to you by Jon Wade and The Steamboat Group as a continuation of their commitment to “Keep Steamboat Special” by supporting non-profits and events that promote a healthy Steamboat lifestyle! You can also support their efforts simply by making a request on the Steamboat Locals Choice for Music. For every song request made in the month of September, The Steamboat Group will donate $2 to REPS, up to $500 total!