End-of-life
Companion &
Doula Care

Comprehensive, non-medical support for individuals and families navigating the final months of life. Emotional, spiritual, practical, and social care at home - delivered with respect, care, and compassion.

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First Session is complementary. Subsequent sessions are AU$70 per hour.

How a Doula can be of Service

  • Practical support

    Planning, paperwork, advance care directives, gentle coordination, and advocacy with your care team.

  • Emotional and Spiritual Care

    Vigils, bedside presence, compassionate listening, and meaningful rituals that reflect your values.

  • Family and after-death support

    Legacy projects, memory keeping, gentle guidance for loved ones, and options for home-based care.

  • "I cannot recommend Sandra and staff highly enough for their kind and caring support. Their premises feel more like home than a business"

    Maree

  • “I cannot thank Sandra enough for her compassion and extensive efforts to help us send off my beautiful mother. We are eternally grateful for her efforts and feel incredibly blessed to have met such a beautiful person with such a big heart.”

    Sean

  • "Mary Eleanor took care of everything, including helping us navigate the practicalities of hospitals, crematoriums and so on. Most of all, we appreciated the personal and empathetic approach they took towards everything, and all for a very very reasonable cost."

    Adam

  • "We would strongly recommend Mary Eleanor to anyone looking for someone to help you deal with the death of a loved one, in a sensitive and caring manner."

    Adam

  • "I am finding it hard to find the words to express the level of care, compassion, and warmth I received during a tough time of my life."

    Ruth

Our Doulas

Sandra Bamford is a pioneer in Australia’s Natural Death Care movement, known for her compassionate, family-centered approach. As founder of Mary Eleanor Natural Funeral Care, she blends legislative expertise with empathy to support meaningful, home-based end-of-life experiences in Tasmania.

Mimi Zenzmaier began her end-of-life work at 18 in palliative care during the AIDS crisis, shaping her lifelong commitment to conscious death care. Now a funeral director at Mary Eleanor, she brings deep experience as a celebrant and End of Life Doula to help others prepare emotionally and spiritually for death.

What Makes Us Different

  • Simple Pricing

    No hidden costs or lock-in contracts. Your first session is free, future sessions are AU$70 per hour.

  • Decades of Experience

    Our team has been walking alongside families for many years, combining deep professional knowledge with lived experience in end-of-life care.

  • Personalised and flexible

    Every journey is different. We take time to understand your values and wishes, offering support that adapts as your needs change.

  • Holistic care

    We focus on the practical, emotional, and spiritual so you, your family and medical team feel supported in every way.

  • Sustainability

    At Mary Eleanor we pride ourselves on making sustainable choices that honour both people and the planet.

  • Tasmanian Owned

    Locally owned and deeply connected to the Tasmanian community, with a focus on care that feels personal, not corporate.

  • Continuity of care

    Support that begins before death, carries through the final days, and continues with families afterwards.

  • Gentle Guidance

    We walk at your pace, offering steady support without pressure or agenda.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • A doula offers calm, compassionate support for individuals and families as they approach the end of life. This can include sitting at the bedside, helping with planning and paperwork, guiding rituals, creating space for conversation, and supporting loved ones before, during, and after death. The role is not medical. It is about presence, reassurance, and making sure you feel cared for and supported every step of the way.

  • Support can take place wherever you feel most comfortable. A doula can be with you at home, in hospital, in aged care, or in a hospice setting. The focus is always on creating a calm and supportive environment that fits your wishes and circumstances.

  • The first step is a free session. This is a gentle space to ask questions, share what you need, and see if doula support feels right for you. From there, you can choose to book further sessions to create a tailored plan together.

  • Yes. Family, friends, and carers are an important part of the journey. A doula can support them with guidance, resources, and gentle reassurance so that they feel empowered, confident, and included.

  • No. Doula support is guided by your values and beliefs. Some individuals want rituals with dedicated meaning, while others prefer a simple presence. The approach is always shaped by what matters most.

Contact Us

We’re here with warm, practical support 24/7 - whether you’re interested in booking your first session, or just want to find out more.

[email protected]
0458 002 151

40 Main Road
Sorell, Tasmania 7172