Blue Water Doula CollectiveDoula Directory
The vision of the Blue Water Doula Collective grew from a heartfelt vision into a community-rooted initiative. With early support from founding stewards who contributed to design, outreach, and awareness, the collective began to take shape, grounded in shared intention and connection.
Jen Willoughby, OTRL
Founding Director | Occupational Therapist | NEDA Proficient End-of-Life Doula | Reiki Master Teacher | Doula Educator | Reiki Practitioner | Community Outreach & Partnerships
-
Jen Willoughby is the Founder, Director, and Steward of the Blue Water Doula Collective, leading a collaborative community that supports doulas and families through life’s most sacred transitions. With more than 20 years of experience as an occupational therapist, educator, and college professor, Jen blends clinical depth with compassionate, presence-centered care.
She created BWDC’s Core and Steward Memberships to provide meaningful pathways for professional growth, mentorship, connection, and leadership. Jen also developed the End-of-Life Doula Training Program, delivered with NEDA standards alongside BWDC Stewards and guest speakers to prepare doulas with the knowledge, confidence, and ethical foundation to serve with purpose.
Through her leadership, Jen is helping redefine end-of-life care—shifting it from solely a medical event to a deeply human experience rooted in dignity, connection, and presence. She continues to build a model that strengthens doulas, supports families, and helps ensure no one walks these sacred transitions alone.
Jen is now expanding BWDC’s reach across Michigan, beginning with new connections and community-building efforts in Petoskey and Charlevoix.
Judy Haynes
Founding Steward | NEDA Proficient Lifespan Doula | Caregiver Support | Educator | Reiki Practitioner | Community Advocate & Liaison
-
Judy Haynes is one of the founding Stewards of the Blue Water Doula Collective and a guiding light who helped support its grassroots beginnings. As a Lifespan Doula with dementia training, she offers compassionate support across the full continuum of life in Port Huron, Memphis and surrounding areas.
Judy is a trusted mentor and educator, known for her work in Five Wishes, advance care planning, and meaningful legacy building. Her grounded presence and wisdom help both families and doulas approach end-of-life with clarity, connection, and intention.
Through her role within BWDC, Judy continues to nurture and guide both doulas and families—offering steady support, thoughtful education, and a compassionate presence. Her work helps create space for meaningful conversations, intentional planning, and a deeper sense of peace along the journey.
Charlotte Howell
Steward | NEDA Proficient End of-Life Doula| Educator | Community Advocate & Liaison
-
Charlotte Howell is a compassionate NEDA Proficient End-of-Life Doula and recent graduate of the Sacred Death Doula Program through the Blue Water Doula Collective. She is committed to supporting individuals and families through life's final chapter with presence, dignity, and heartfelt care.
Charlotte understands that the end-of-life journey can bring uncertainty, difficult decisions, and a need for meaningful connection. She offers emotional support, companionship, caregiver support, advance care planning guidance, and a calming presence for individuals and families navigating serious illness, aging, dying, and grief.
Her approach is centered on listening deeply, honoring each person's wishes, and creating a space where individuals and families feel seen, heard, and supported. Charlotte believes that every person deserves compassion, respect, and the opportunity to make informed choices throughout their end-of-life journey.
Whether you are seeking support for yourself, a loved one, or simply wish to begin conversations about future care wishes, Charlotte welcomes the opportunity to connect.
Free Consultation Available
"Walking alongside individuals and families with compassion, presence, and support through life's most meaningful transitions."
Suzanne Angèli
Core Member | NEDA Proficient End-of-Life Doula | Certified Reiki Master | Ordained Interfaith Spiritual Minister
-
Suzanne Angèli is an NEDA Proficient End-of-Life Doula currently serving the Grosse Pointe, St. Clair Shores areas and Macomb County. She is dedicated to providing compassionate, heart-centered support to individuals and families as they navigate life's final chapter. After more than 30 years as a Registered Dental Hygienist, she brings exceptional clinical observation skills, calm presence, clear communication, and deep compassion to every family she serves.
Suzanne's calling to end-of-life care began while accompanying her father through his active dying process in 2012. Although she was not yet a trained doula, her experience as a Reiki Master and ordained minister allowed her to intuitively provide comfort, spiritual presence, and loving support during his transition. She has also supported families through the loss of beloved pets and is currently serving clients living with progressive illness by providing advance care planning, emotional and spiritual support, legacy work, education, and ongoing companionship for both individuals and their loved ones.
She completed her End-of-Life Doula training through the Blue Water Doula Collective and remains an active Core Member. Suzanne is also a member of the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance (NEDA) and earned the NEDA Proficiency Badge after receiving a scholarship to complete the national proficiency examination. In addition, she is a Certified Reiki Master and an Ordained Interfaith Spiritual Minister, allowing her to offer non-denominational spiritual support while honoring each person's beliefs, traditions, and values.
Suzanne believes every person deserves dignity, comfort, and compassionate presence throughout the end-of-life journey. Her approach is grounded in active listening, respect for autonomy, and creating a calm, supportive environment where individuals and families feel seen, heard, and cared for.
Areas of Support
End-of-life doula care
Compassionate presence and bedside companionship
Vigil planning and bedside vigils
Advance care planning
Emotional and spiritual support
Legacy projects and life review
Reiki for relaxation and comfort
Family education and caregiver support
Community education on death, dying, and compassionate caregiving
In addition to one-on-one client support, Suzanne is passionate about helping normalize conversations surrounding death and dying. She offers educational presentations and workshops designed to increase understanding of advance care planning, compassionate caregiving, and the role of end-of-life doulas, empowering individuals and families to approach life's final transition with greater confidence, peace, and dignity.
Brooke Forth
Core Member | End-of-Life Doula in practice
-
Brooke Forth is a graduate of the Blue Water Doula Collective (BWDC) and a Core Member of the collective. She is passionate about providing compassionate, non-medical support to individuals and families navigating the end-of-life journey with dignity, presence, and care.
Brooke's calling to this work was shaped by her own experiences with loss and a heartfelt desire to better understand the grief process. Those experiences have inspired her to accompany others through life's most profound transitions, offering a calm and supportive presence during times that can feel overwhelming or uncertain.
As an emerging end-of-life doula, Brooke is committed to helping individuals and families feel empowered to make meaningful decisions that reflect their values and wishes. She believes that every person deserves to be supported with love, strength, and compassion, ensuring they never have to navigate the end-of-life journey alone.
Through her training with the Blue Water Doula Collective, Brooke has developed a strong foundation in end-of-life care and continues to deepen her knowledge and skills. She is dedicated to lifelong learning and to serving her community with empathy, respect, and unwavering support.
Brooke looks forward to carrying this important work forward, helping individuals and families find comfort, confidence, and peace throughout one of life's most sacred transitions.
Roxanne Wenskay
Core Member | NEDA Proficient End-of-Life Doula
-
Roxanne Wenskay is a Blue Water Doula Collective (BWDC) Doula Graduate and NEDA Proficient End-of-Life Doula serving individuals and families throughout the Sterling Heights and surrounding area. After a successful career as a Senior Marketing Manager and years of leadership within her church community, Roxanne has answered a calling to provide compassionate support during life's most meaningful transitions.
Inspired by her personal experience accompanying her father through his end-of-life journey and a profound near-death experience during the COVID pandemic, Roxanne brings a calm, caring presence to those she serves. She believes every person deserves to be met with dignity, grace, and heartfelt compassion.
Roxanne has a special interest in community outreach, compassionate support, and grief education. She is currently participating in the Blue Water Doula Collective Grief Co-Led Support Group Mentorship Program, expanding her skills to better support individuals and families navigating grief and loss.
Areas of Interest
End-of-life companionship and support
Community engagement and education
Grief support and bereavement
Family-centered compassionate care
Legacy, presence, and emotional support
Meet Roxanne→
Kiersten Cervini
Core Member | End-of-Life Doula in practice
-
Kiersten Cervini is an emerging end-of-life doula serving the St. Clair County area with a compassionate presence and a background as a Certified Nursing Assistant. She is currently expanding her knowledge through continued education, including pursuing her NEDA proficiency, while thoughtfully building her end-of-life doula practice.
As a member of the Blue Water Doula Collective, Kiersten is participating in the BWDC Grief Support Group Co-Lead Mentorship Program, where she is gaining hands-on experience and mentorship in facilitating compassionate community grief support. She is committed to bringing the presence, awareness, and heart-centered approach of end-of-life doula care into her everyday practice, supporting individuals and families with empathy, dignity, and authentic connection.
Open to learning, collaboration, and shadowing opportunities, Kiersten continues to grow her skills while honoring each person's unique journey with intention, compassion, and respect.