Welcome!
Valerie Nicholas
certified life-cycle celebrant® end-of-life doula
“Life should not only be lived, it should be celebrated.” ~ Osho
about me
Valerie Nicholas
When I am in service to others, I am truly answering my highest “calling.”
I have been a lifelong professional working with older adults as a retirement community event planner and a hospice volunteer. My path has serendipitously led me to my encore career as a Life-Cycle Celebrant and End-of-Life Doula. When I am in service to others—am truly answering my highest “calling.” Life-Cycle Celebrants are professional ceremony specialists. I co-create, with my clients, unique, individualized ceremonies for milestone transitions in life. Life’s journey offers so much to celebrate, acknowledge, and honor from birth to earth! My experience, training and education have culminated in the discover my passion…LIVING memorials/funerals. As a hospice volunteer and end-of-life doula, I have had the honor to listen to meaningful life stories from my patients. It occurred to me that their family and friends should hear these stories as well. LIVING memorials/funerals are for the terminally ill, who are the guest of honor at their very own celebration. A successful celebration is one in which stories are shared and hearts are full of gratitude, love, and laughter. Living funerals are the party of a lifetime.
“It’s not happiness that brings us gratitude. It’s gratitude that brings us happiness.”
with you in the circle of life
Education, Training & More
- Colorado End-of-Life Collaborative (CEOLC) First Vice-President & Co-Founder – Director of Strategic Planning and Committees
- Certified Life-Cycle Celebrant, Memorial Celebrant, Healing & Transitions Celebrant (Celebrant Foundation & Institute)
- Certified Advanced Care Planning Guide (University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus/ Denver Hospice)
- Trained End-of-Life Doula (INELDA)
- Hospice Volunteer (Denver Hospice)
- Neighbor to Neighbor Volunteer (Senior Resource Center)
- Certified Second Degree Reiki Practitioner (Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki, S.W. Denver Reiki)
- Certified Essential Oil Coach (AADP)
- Spiritual Practitioner Student (Centers for Spiritual Living)
- Bachelor’s Degree: Exercise Science/ Gerontology (Metropolitan State University in Denver)
- I am a dog lover and avid lover of the outdoors! I enjoy running, hiking, biking.
- I have two teenage daughters that keep me hip and humble.
- My husband and I have been married for over 20 years strong.
- I am a life-long learner. I follow my own inner drum when it comes to personal development and spiritual enlightenment!
“Life is a journey, not a destination.”
what I do
Ceremonies, Celebrations, End-of-Life Services & More
living funerals
The Party of a Lifetime, Living Celebration of Life with the Honoree, Fare-Thee-Well Celebration, Goodbye Celebration, Living Wake or Pre-Funeral – These ceremonies are for the terminally ill or advanced in age who wish to celebrate their life with their friends and family, which can provide the opportunity to share stories of love, laughter, and life lessons.
eulogy & obituary writing
A eulogy is a speech typically given during a funeral or memorial service that pays tribute to the deceased. On other occasions, a eulogy can be given during a celebration, such as a milestone birthday or a retirement party.
funeral service
A formal ceremony that recognizes the cultural and religious beliefs of the deceased. This ceremony is for celebrating the life of a person who has died. This service usually takes place within a few days of the death. The ceremony may take place at the home of the deceased, in a funeral home or church. I prepare and officiate funeral/memorial services from beginning to end. This includes music, rituals, readings, poems, tokens of remembrance suggestions… coordination with other speakers and funeral director, and a beautiful ceremony keepsake for the family.
memorial service
A ceremony for remembering or celebrating the life of a person who has died. It takes place after the body has been buried or cremated, and the cremated remains may be present during the ceremony. Unlike a funeral service, the body of the deceased is not present at a memorial service. Because the body does not need to be present at a memorial service, it can be held any time after death, from days, weeks, months to a year. This type of service is often used for more informal and non-religious, celebrations of life. Memorial services can be held virtually anywhere: a park, beach, restaurant, home, church or funeral home.
committal service
A funeral and memorial service might include a committal service (also referred to as a graveside service); some people may choose to only have the committal. This service is often a brief prayer ritual.
cremation witness ceremony
Some funeral homes have their own crematory onsite with appropriate facilities, and encourage and welcome family members to view the cremation of their loved one’s body. I will meet with you and create a short ceremony to honor this profound transition in the death process. I will hold sacred space for you and your loved ones at the Crematorium.
scattering ashes
Just as it sounds, this is a ceremony to release the ashes of the deceased over water or into/on the ground. Like the committal service, some may choose to only have this type of memorial experience. This ceremony signifies the freedom your loved one has in the place that he/she would have liked to remain forever.
pet memorials
Many people might believe that pet memorials are a modern custom, but people have memorialized their pets since ancient times. Having a pet funeral or memorial might not be for everyone, but many grief experts believe that holding some type of ceremony or ritual can help us cope with the loss of a beloved family member. I welcome the opportunity to co-create a meaningful ceremony to honor your family animal companions.
recovery from illness
This ceremony, which usually takes place after healing and recovery, is a beautiful way to reflect on challenges and fears that may have been endured through an illness. It also provides a wonderful platform to recognize the wisdom and gifts that were brought forth from the illness to you and your loved ones. A ceremony for healing and recovery also offers the opportunity to formally thank your family, friends, and healthcare providers for their support, guidance, and love.
miscarriage/pregnancy loss
Just as birth is honored, so too is death. Millions of women experience pregnancy loss, and this type of death can invoke a sense of grief that can linger, creating doubts and fears around her own body and her capacity to be a mother. Ceremonies to honor this loss can be very profound.
community healing ceremonies
After 9/11, and on every anniversary since, communities have gathered to support families, friends, co-workers, and first-responders who honor and remember the 3,000 victims who perished that day. “These expressions of connection and empathy give us a sense of hope, even in the face of shared grief.” ~ Alice M. Greenwald, President and CEO of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum
house blessing
This ceremony is a way to honor one’s home and offer gratitude for the shelter and security it provides, as well as acknowledge the memories created there with family and friends.
Read what my clients have to say about house blessings I have performed.
adoption, mother, baby & parent ceremonies
Ceremonies to bless and welcome what is new make these significant occasions even more special. Naming and welcoming blessings are only a few of these sacred ceremonies that can consecrate new life and the new roles that come along with it.
renaming & gender transitions
The rituals we enact when committing to a new name can come in many forms, but it's the meaning we make of them that matters. Whether it's taking the name of another in dedication to their union, or remaking one's identity, or commemorating a gender transition with a new name, sealing these promises through ceremony can be a beautiful way to mark these moments in our lives.
coming of age
Coming-of-age ceremonies are an opportunity for both the child and parent(s) to create a memorable and educational, rite of passage.
achievements & transitions
Achievements, awards, and other forms of recognition have special meaning and deserve the respect of ceremony. Often occupying a significant part of one's identity, our careers and jobs bring many opportunities to celebrate and pay tribute to employment transitions, such as promotions, layoffs, retirement, or starting a new business. Milestone birthdays and anniversaries call for special celebrations that can be the perfect occasion for ceremony.
details & logistics
What to Expect
- A no-charge, no obligation interview to discuss services prior to commitment.
- An in-depth family interview (One to two hours). In-person or via Zoom.
- Ceremony Creation. A personalized ceremony that reflects the honoree’s unique personality, wishes, values, philosophical and spiritual beliefs, and cultural background.
- May also in include some or all the following: readings by others, poems, music, souvenir/memento suggestions, and coordination/collaboration with all others involved.
- Includes: research, design, draft and final. During this phase, I offer unlimited consultation to ensure attention to every detail.
- A contract between Celebrant and client noting all specifications with noted charges and fees.
- When necessary, a rehearsal ceremony with family/ friends and honoree.
- Ceremony presentation officiated by me.
- A beautiful keepsake copy of the ceremony for the client to treasure.
My fees are based upon the complexity of the ceremony, travel, family meeting and interview, writing a personalized creative ceremony, keepsake of ceremony, officiating the ceremony (and rehearsal if needed). Ceremonies are as unique as snowflakes—there are no two alike! As such, my pricing will vary.
Generally, my prices range from $450 – $1200 for my end-of-life, all-inclusive ceremonies in Colorado.
All other celebrant services are typically priced between $125 – $1200 in Colorado.
I am confidant you will love your ceremony!
So much so, I provide a money back guarantee.
- I offer gift certificates as an option for those who wish to gift a ceremony to a loved one.
- I am also available to hire on an hourly basis, as a ceremony consultant.
- I offer ceremony writing services. Clients will choose this option if they would like a family member or friend officiate the ceremony.
- For those who wish to pre-plan their own memorial service, I can help you create your ceremony exactly as you wish.
- I am willing and able to travel out of state. Fees for travel expenses will be added to final contract.
Please inquire about fees for these services during your consultation.
“Ceremony isn’t the only time you’re supposed to carry yourself in a sacred way. It is supposed to remind you, that you are sacred and to carry yourself that way every day.”
(other than eol ceremonies)
some of the “gifts” I bring to my end-of-life doula work are:
End-of-Life Doula Services
These wills tend to be spiritual in nature. They are documents or letters written to communicate values, wisdom, history, stories and love from one generation to another. These letters to your loved ones preserve who you are in written word and all that matters to you. Ethical wills can be a priceless gift one leaves to their beloveds.
According to a 2017 survey conducted by the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Center on Aging, 83% of Coloradoans have no ACP. Advance Care Planning is the process about making decisions about the health care you wish to receive if you are facing a medical crisis. These are your decisions to make based on personal values and beliefs, preferences, and discussions with your loved ones. ACP is a gift to give our families. To learn more about Advance Care Planning and what documents are legal in each state go to: caringinfo.org
This plan is based entirely on the dying person’s wishes (and choices) for the final weeks, days, and hours prior to death. If they can no longer communicate their wishes, they will have this plan in place for family and their medical team. Similar to the ACP, this states the not-so-obvious. Do they wish to have visitors? Which ones? Do they want their pets near? How do they want their room to look? Would they like anyone to read to them and what? Would they like a foot massage? Windows open or closed?
Guided Meditation and Imagery is a mind-body technique that consists of positive words and images, set to soothing music, to achieve specific healing. This technique can be a conduit for easing stress, grief and of course, peaceful dying. There are so many benefits of guided imagery for palliative care patients and hospice patients. For one, imagery mitigates agitation, fear, anxiety and provides peace and comfort. Guided meditation requires no work or effort on the listener’s part. To learn more about the benefits of guided imagery for the dying, see this article at healthjourneys: Ten Reasons Guided Meditation Is a Best Practice for Hospice & Palliative Care
To review a lifetime of memories requires not only the right questions but the right listening. One cannot possibly do one without the other. Legacy projects are what make each person a unique being on this earth. How will people remember you? What are your beliefs and values? What memories do you wish to share? What advice do you have for your children? An example of life review and legacy projects are living funerals. Other examples may involve doing something creative. For example, I have a Memorial Christmas tree I set up every year. I decorate my tree with pictures of loved ones who have passed on. Some of my ornaments might have been passed down to me or remind me of them in some way.
Sometimes there are no conversations at the end of life. Sometimes just being present is all that is asked. During this sacred time more focus can be spent on ambiance. For example, soft lighting, quiet and soothing music, essential oil diffusers with lavender. These can be special contemplative times for family and the dying. Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation and can alleviate anxiety and pain.
“Grief is the last act of love we can give to those we loved. Where there is deep grief, there was great love.”
thoughts | feelings | info | news
Blog
not to brag, but...
Testimonials
Clearly you know how to put together these celebrations and I wish we had someone like you to liven up some of the scientific conferences I have attended. Thank you for giving all of us such a wonderful memory of Dad's 88th, for the pictures, and for the script from your work so we can share it with our other family members for years to come. You are an angel on earth for sure ... and I am not overstating that. ~ Don Velasquez
We are so grateful for the celebration of life ceremony for our dog, Porter. It was perfect and so helpful in our grief to honor him as he lived. Perfection! You have a true gift. ~ Cindy Kaufman
My sister and I are so unbelievably happy with the celebration Valerie Nicholas created for our Mom. Valerie took hours of her time listening to us tell our mom's story and asked clarifying questions all the while offering words of support and sympathy. It was quite a process to go through...sitting and sharing our Mom's story while grieving her loss. Although it was very emotional and difficult to do at times, Valerie was patient and made the time very special. Valerie crafted our answers into the most beautiful and honest story that she shared with our guests at the celebration. It was truly a work of art. Valerie is an attentive listener and gifted writer and we are forever grateful for the time, love, and energy she put into our Mom's celebration. So many people have said to us what a touching and inspiring celebration Valerie created and we could not agree more. Our loved ones left that night feeling hopeful for their own futures and grateful for the love they have around them. Valerie, you are so very special. We thank you for your love and care. We are so grateful to you and the beautiful words you wrote about our Mom. We are all blessed by your words and prayers and we thank you so very much. ~ Danika Stromberg
There were lots of glowing comments about [my dad’s] service. The service was very much what I was hoping for and you clearly got a great sense of who my dad was as a person. He would have found the event a fitting send-off (and he could be picky about such things!) ~ Mike Brezsnyak
Valerie performed a house blessing for us, and she did an incredible job! She is a very sincere, professional, thoughtful, and efficient provider. I highly recommend her; we were very happy with her services! ~ Martha and Don Roberts
As we prepared to sell our house, Valerie’s home blessing was powerful and touching. She had clearly taken a lot of time and effort to personalize our small ceremony, which was so meaningful to us. It was wonderful to have a guided ceremony to reflect on this chapter of our lives.” ~ Suzanne McMillian
This is an amazing business owned by an amazing woman! Being in the Real Estate business, we deal with all types of challenges when listing, renting, buying a home. Valerie has been critical in a few of my transactions. When she performed a personalized, detailed, and thorough blessing and cleansing for my rental property, it rented within 6 hours! She also performed a blessing for my business partner's listed house, and it went under contract within a few days. She is professional, caring, and personalizes her services to her client's needs. Any event or property would benefit from her services! ~ Freddy Figallo
Valerie performed a house blessing (and healing ceremony) for me a short time ago - it was beautiful and profound! Her preparation and attention to detail made the ceremony very specific to my needs. She met with me prior to the ceremony to find out what I needed/wanted. On the day of the ceremony she came prepared with all her “tools” as well as a personalized packet for me to keep which included the entire ceremony, intentions, prayers, and an affirmative prayer she wrote just for me! During the ceremony I felt a huge release of negative energy in my home and my body. We ushered in love, laughter, prosperity, and peace to fill my home and my heart - it was beautiful!! ~ Chrissie Thompson
Valerie thank you so much for the beautiful service. A cousin of mine called and asked if you were a family friend because you knew so much about our mom. You really took your time and made it personable. ~ Darcie
“New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.”
I'd love to hear your story
Contact Me
Are your ready to co-create a one-of-a kind, personal ceremony that will give you, your family, and your friends ever-lasting memories? Please fill out the form for a free, no-obligation phone call!
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email: valerie@giftsoflifeceremonies.com
phone: (303) 489-4110
