Death is transformative for the dying and their loved ones. With time and intention this transit can be healing and empowering for individuals, families and communities. Pollinate is committed to ‘people first’ care. We’re not here to sell you anything. We’re here to help you on the journey, whatever part of it you’re in.
Regardless of what part of the death cycle you are in and what role you are playing, Pollinate’s Deathwork Team is here to help you through it. Here is what we offer.
Planning:
Advanced Care Plan » Also referred to as a Living Will gives loved ones and health care professionals a guideline of how you want to be cared for should you become unable to communicate your wishes. These include actions that you want taken to ensure your comfort, what procedures you would like to help with life saving care, or when to end care and let you pass. Often times a Advanced Care Plan is combined with Advanced Directives.
Advanced Directives » This paperwork helps guide your family on your wishes past the life saving measures and into and after your passing. Advanced directive are more direct as to what care you want withdrawn when, if you want to be an organ donor and how you would like your body to be cared for before you are put to rest.
Estate Planning » Evaluating how you would like your estate handled upon your passing such as heirs, property sales, etc. Will documentation. Strategies for family communication.
Active Dying Services:
Death Doula Support »Doulas are guides and support people along your journey. They help advocate for you when you or your family need help speaking up for your wishes, or offer respite for your caregivers. They can act as the point person for recording your legacy and helping you have the hard talks with loved ones and even help you planning your service. We can also help you navigate hospice timing and resources.
Hospice Support» We can help you access hospice care.
Body preparation, transport and burial »Our team includes two licensed Funeral Directors that can consult, manage and initate the processes and paperwork around how a body is handled after death.
Post Death Support:
Funeral or Celebration of Life Services » Our team includes Spiritual Directors and Ritualist that can guide you through creating a ritual/service that fits with the spirit of your loved one and your family.
Grief Care » We provide support group (every first Friday of the month, 6-8pm) and 1-1 session care for those navigating their grief.
Education & Community Healing:
The Pollinate Death work team is devoted to educating the community on compassion-driven death care, home death, natural burial and transition rites. Our ritualist are available to build and facilitate healing and memorial rituals for the community as well. Please contact us if you have an organization that would like to learn more about compassion-led deathwork or help with a community ritual.
Pollinate Deathwork Support
Meet Our Team
Suzanne Pulcher, RN
With 18 years of nursing experience in Hospice, Neurology and ICU, Suzanne has expanded her wisdom to include training as a Cannabis Nurse Coach and End-of-life Doula.
She has been a natural caregiver from an early age, Primarily to her ailing mother, Charlotte, and has always embraced the transitions life has to offer including one of the most beautiful, impactful moments of our transition into the next life. Suzanne has helped many patients and her parents transition and finds the work to be peaceful and fulfilling.
Suzanne facilitates the Charlotte’s Door End of Life support group at the Pollinate Hive House the first Friday of every month.
Hospice Nurse (RN), Death Doula, Grief Specialist
Lissa Muhm,
LFD & E
Licensed Funeral Director
Lissa has been a licensed funeral director and embalmer as well as crematory certified for 15 years. She entered this field because she was drawn to it. She has known since she was a child deathwork was her calling.
She earned an advanced standing degree in Mortuary Sciences at DMACC.
She did her apprenticeship under one of the most renowned Funeral Director in the field– James Fullerton.
“A life is incredibly sacred. As a death should be. Families should feel like they can care for their loved ones after they have passed, as much or as little as they want to.
Grief is a tricky process and guidance is essential before AND after the death of your person.
It is different for most. I do not believe the process is the same for anyone.
Beyond the hundreds of families I’ve served in the community during my career I have taken care of my own parents and many, many close family members and friends. It is very personal and close to my heart.”
Lissa handles death paperwork, body transport, body prep, burial/cremation and consulting on any of these steps of the process for Pollinate clients.
Kathryn Dickel, CSD
Certified Spiritual Director, Ritualist, Grief Specialist, Secularly Ordained Minister
Spiritual Direction is a sacred and profound practice aimed at fostering spiritual growth and creating or deepening one's connection to their faith and inner self, particularly in times of transition and life altering events like death. Through the guidance of a Spiritual Director, individuals are offered a supportive and nonjudgmental space to explore their spiritual journey, reflect on their experiences, and discern the presence of the their unique soul. In this nurturing environment, seekers can gain new insights, clarity, and a sense of peace as they navigate the complexities of their beliefs, doubts, and aspirations. Spiritual direction is not about providing answers, but rather about asking the right questions and accompanying individuals as they unravel the mysteries of their life ultimately leading them to a deeper understanding of themselves, their relationships, and their place in the universe.
Erika Hall is a compassionate Death Doula and End-of-Life Advocate, dedicated to creating a sacred space for transition, healing, and dignity.
A proud member of the International Association of Professional Death Doulas and the International End of Life Doula Association (INELDA), Erika has upheld the highest standards in her field for the last five years, ensuring that every passage is met with reverence, companionship, and warmth. Through healing touch, heartfelt conversation, and unwavering support, she honors each person’s story, helping them find peace, connection, and meaning in their final moments.
Erika is also providing support to those looking to renew that sacred connection to the body—through pleasure, embodiment, and connection. She helps humans reconnect to their sexual life force energies both individually and within relationship.
Certified Death Doula, Ritualist, Grief Specialist
Erika Hall, CDD
Hope Wood, JD
Lawyer, Estate Planning, Will Specialist
My goal as an attorney is to provide legal services efficiently, effectively, and at a reasonable cost.
I provide one-on-one service, so you will always talk directly to me about your legal needs.
I will develop timelines for completing your case.
I will keep you informed of new developments of your case.
My invoices provide specific details about the work performed.
I offer a secure client portal where you can communicate with me and view information about your case.
I stay informed about current case law by reading the Iowa appellate opinions after they are published.
Marcus Walsh, tLMHC, LMT, SEP, 200RYT
Oncology Massage, Licensed Therapist, Trauma/Grief Specialist
I employ a holistic and integrative medical approach to my work. It incorporates a body-oriented method, using attention and orientation, we explore in an embodied way. I hold space for your experiences and attune to your story with compassion and curiosity.
I engage with empathy and curiosity, exploring a client's thoughts and feelings. Trauma comes in big T and little t experiences. Both negatively impact people, impeding their goals in life. Whether you are adjusting to a life challenge, medical, military, or developmental trauma, there are ways to move through it. Co-regulation cultivates resilience which is fundamental to this work. Using non-judgmental attention is central to this work as well. We collaborate while building trust, rapport, and goals of therapy. As sessions evolve, we expand on abilities to navigate life in a regulated, resilient, and resourced way.
One-on-One Support
Do you just need a space to sit and talk? Ask questions? Take care of you too? Assess self care moving forward? Do you want help constructing the right ceremony or making plans for closure? Would you like support for you and your family in a private, focused setting? A “Your Path” session(s) provides a time for you and you family to get 1-1 support and care from our grief specialists. Free will donation. Come as you are.
Group Support
Charlotte’s Door Grief Support Group
Charlotte’s Door centers on the journey of grief. Those working through the process of dying, letting a loved one go and the short-term and long-term phases of grief. Group takes place at the Pollinate Hive House, typically has 2-12 participants a month. These meetings are safe, confidential, and open-hearted spaces with no religious affiliation.
Group: ACTIVE
Meeting Date/Time:
1st Friday of the Month, 6pm.
Facilitator: Suzanne Pulcher, RN, Erika Hall, & Kathryn Dickel
Death Cafe
A Death Cafe is a scheduled, directed discussion, hosted by Erika Hall, about death and dying held intermittently during the year, typically at a DSM -area public library. These meetings are safe, confidential, and open-hearted spaces with no set agenda, themes, or religious affiliation. Typically has 20+ participants per meeting.
Facilitator: Erika Hall
UPCOMING DATES: TBD