Jill McClennen
Jill McClennen is a certified death doula, yoga instructor, host of the Seeing Death Clearly podcast, and designer of death-positive apparel. Her journey into this work began when she cared for her grandmother at the end of her life, and now Jill helps others navigate death anxiety, end-of-life preparation, illness, caregiving, dying, and grief.
Chapter 23: Where Her Hands Once Were
Jill McClennen was largely raised by her grandmother in a New Jersey house filled with ritual and care. Years later she and her husband move back into the attic to help as Grandmom declines; nightly talks during Jill’s pregnancy, hospice signs, and final conversations become part of an extended goodbye. After Grandmom dies, grief ambushes Jill in familiar spaces—the kitchen, the mirror—but sorting belongings and noticing her body’s signals teach her to feel rather than resist. She embraces simple movement, journaling, and support, concluding that we don’t “move on”; we carry love differently—and her path turns toward end-of-life and grief work.
Listen To Jill’s Podcast Here:
Episode 44: End-of-Life Clarity: Healing, Presence,
and the Sacred Role of a Death Doula with Jill
Read Jill’s Story In The
Empowered Grief Journey
Discover Jill’s story and 22 others inside The Empowered Grief Journey. A collection of voices who have faced the depths of loss and emerged transformed.
Through raw, heart-centered storytelling and deep reflection, each author shares how grief became their greatest teacher guiding them toward acceptance, resilience, and empowerment.
These stories remind us that grief is not something to escape, but a journey that awakens us to deeper wisdom, presence, and personal truth. Within these pages, you’ll find hope, reassurance, and the quiet strength that comes from choosing to live fully, even after loss.
Whether you are grieving a loved one or rediscovering yourself after change, this book will meet you where you are and invite you to rise, rebuild, and reconnect with your own inner power.
Join The Empowered Grief Collective
Continue the conversation with others readers by joining our community of grievers from across the world.
Connect with others who truly understand grief & loss
Additional grief resources to support you between the pages
Live webinars on healing, coping, and self‑discovery
Zoom calls with grief coaches for real‑time support
Your story matters. Your healing matters.
You don’t have to walk this road alone.
The Empowered Grief Journey Podcast
This podcast is your dedicated space for healing and transformation.
Each episode brings real conversations with people around the
world who have navigated grief and discovered the strength
to create inspiring new beginnings.
You’ll discover how to walk from loss to empowerment through
powerful storytelling and actionable insights that will
guide you towards a future filled with courage and hope.
