Penny Waugh

It’s legal in every state to care for a loved one at home after death. With compassion and experience, I guide families through the process of tending to the body — whether it’s for just a few hours before transport to a funeral home, or for a longer period to create space for gathering and holding a home funeral.

When loved ones take part in this final act of care, it becomes a tender, intimate gift — a powerful part of the grieving process that can bring comfort, connection, and a sense of closure during an intensely emotional time.

Every family and situation is unique, and there’s no one “right” way to do this. I offer gentle guidance, emotional support, and practical tools to help you navigate each step with confidence and care. When done with intention, this time can become a sacred pause—a moment outside of urgency—where love is expressed not just in words, but through presence and touch.

As a death educator, I’m deeply committed to helping individuals and families understand their full range of end-of-life options — especially those that are gentler on the earth. I specialize in green death care practices such as natural burial, water cremation (alkaline hydrolysis), and natural organic reduction (human composting). By offering clear, compassionate education, I empower people to make choices that honor both their personal values and their connection to the planet.

If you're looking for an engaging and thought-provoking topic for your next workplace event, community gathering, or social group, I’m available for both large and small speaking engagements. I love sparking conversations that invite people to rethink death — and explore greener, more intentional ways of approaching it.

Home funerals are legal in every state, but there can be obstacles when it comes to county permitting, so it’s important to partner with someone who can guide you through the process. Most mortuaries do not offer home funeral services, which means it takes a bit of planning to bring your vision to life.

As a death doula and certified funeral arranger, I can help you create a meaningful and beautiful send-off for your loved one in your own home, while also assisting you in navigating the next steps regarding disposition options.

While not all death doulas are trained in home funerals, I am. As a board member of the National Home Funeral Alliance, I bring hands-on experience and a deep understanding of what it takes to support families through this sacred process.

I believe that planning ahead is one of the most loving acts you can offer your family. By taking the time to explore your options and make clear decisions, you create space for those you leave behind to grieve without the added burden of logistics. Advance planning also allows you to craft an experience that authentically reflects who you are — your values, your story, and the way you want to be remembered.

When we make space for authentic remembrance, we invite healing. Honoring our loss and saying goodbye gives our bodies, hearts, and minds permission to grieve—a vital part of processing loss in a healthy way. Whether through music, storytelling, shared meals, or quiet moments of reflection, these acts connect us, ground us, and carry us forward.

From 70s-themed disco home funerals to a Zen farewell with sound bowls, reflective meditation and incense, I welcome all ideas because every vision is worth honoring!

I also specialize in coordinating Living Farewells — celebrations of life that take place while individuals are still alive, allowing them to experience the love and connection of their community before they pass. These intimate gatherings provide a unique opportunity for reflection, gratitude, and meaningful goodbyes, ensuring that the person’s legacy is celebrated while they can still enjoy it.

From casual picnics to formal dinners, from dance parties to intimate storytelling sessions, the possibilities are endless — ensuring that the farewell is as personal and meaningful as the person it honors.

Living Farewells (aka Living Funeral or Living Wake) can be profoundly healing—for the person at the center, and for their loved ones. They create space for shared presence, honest conversations, and moments of joy amid the tenderness of goodbye. It's a way of honoring life while it's still being lived.

As a certified death doula through the University of Vermont, I complement the medical care provided by hospice by offering emotional, spiritual, and practical support during the end-of-life journey. While hospice focuses on medical needs, my role is to guide families through the transition, offering a safe space for grief, spiritual rituals, and meaningful conversations. I help families navigate the complexities of dying, ensuring that the process is peaceful, intentional, and grounded.

Death is a deeply personal experience, and my goal is to support both the individual and their loved ones with compassion and clarity. I work alongside the family, honoring the wishes of the person who is passing and providing tools for emotional healing. Together, we create a sacred environment where death is met with reverence, and where everyone involved is empowered to face the journey with grace.

I am deeply passionate about green burial and human composting / NOR natural organic reduction as sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives to traditional burial and cremation. These options are not only gentler on our bodies but also on the Earth, offering a way to return to the natural cycle without harm.

Green burial uses the Earth's natural resources which allow the body to decompose naturally, while NOR turns the body into nutrient-rich soil, helping to enrich the Earth rather than contributing to pollution.

Both green burial and natural organic reduction (human composting) are available in San Diego, CA - but these options are best chosen ahead of time because of logistics and accessibility. That’s what I’m here to help with!

By choosing a green disposition, we can offset our living carbon footprint, ensuring that our final act supports the environment, rather than harming it.

As a certified funeral coordinator, my role is to walk beside you during what is often one of life’s most difficult moments. Grief can be overwhelming, and the details that follow a death can feel like too much. I’m here to offer clear guidance, calm support, and a steady presence—so you don’t have to navigate this alone.

I assist with the practical side of things, including the paperwork and documentation required once a final disposition has been selected.

Beyond logistics, my focus is on honoring the life that was lived. I work with families to craft meaningful funerals, memorials, and celebrations of life that reflect the uniqueness of their loved one—not just how they died, but how they lived. Whether simple or elaborate, traditional or unconventional, the ceremony should feel like them.