Meet Michelle
I’m Michelle Montgomery, founder of The Next Kahu and a practicing end-of-life doula.
Why I Do This Work
As a death doula, I support people navigating the sacred and difficult work of dying. I help them clarify their care, honor their choices, and ensure their final days reflect the life they lived and loved. My role isn’t medical. It’s emotional, practical, and deeply human.
I created this service out of something I saw again and again: a very specific kind of heartache that happens when someone given a terminal diagnosis hasn’t had the resources or network to choose a new Kahu for their beloved pets.
The Next Kahu exists to help make that possible.
My Beliefs as a Doula
My work is grounded in values I return to again and again:
Truth over platitudes
Language that respects and honors dying
Vulnerability as a sign of strength
Trust in the dying person and in the process itself
Witnessing without needing to fix
Love, above all else
I believe that when someone is dying, it is important to show up with clarity, courage, and compassion. To slow down. To listen. And when it’s time, to let go without turning away.
My Training & Memberships
Certified End-of-Life Doula through Going With Grace
Certified Transplant Doula and Founder of The Transplant Doula™ Training & Network
NEDA-Proficient; Member of the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance
Member of the Funeral Consumers Alliance
NHFA-Proficient; Member of the National Home Funeral Alliance
Associate Member of the International Transplant Nurses Society
A Bit About Me
In 2022, I left behind a 12+ year career in design and marketing strategy to fully answer this calling and support people (and the animals they love) in navigating death with grace, preparedness, and dignity. Every person I’ve had the honor of supporting was a teacher to me, and has deepened my understanding of life.
Since then, I’ve worked to find ways to bridge the gaps I’ve witnessed in care and needs. This has led me to develop a new model of doula care tailored specifically to transplant doulas. I’ve also recently started a local initiative in Boynton Beach, Florida to bring collective deathcare and education to our community.
Boynton Beach is where I call home with my husband, my dog Bosco, and my cat Quinn.