Bay Area end-of-life doula shares What Matters Most' in new book

"She learned the names, birthdays and special food requests of the home's residents, and when some of them became bedridden, she'd sit by their bedsides and listen to them share their stories and photos from their lives. Some were at peace, others had regrets, but she learned early on that just giving someone the chance to tell their story could be healing."

"It would be the first step in uncovering her life's work: supporting people to find meaning, comfort, joy and peace in life and in death as an end-of-life doula, a companion for the dying, which she's done for around 20 years. Her work and the lessons she's learned from her patients, whom she calls wisdom keepers inspired the Novato author's latest book, What Matters Most: Lessons the Dying Teach Us About Living."

"The sad part about my work is that all my clients die. The beautiful part is they all leave so much of themselves behind for us to learn and grow from, writes Button in the book, which was encouraged by Maria Shriver after an article Button wrote in Shriver's Sunday Paper about the 10 lessons she's learned about living from the dying went viral in 2022."

Diane Button began volunteering at 15 at Nazareth House, a convalescent home near her high school. She learned residents' names, birthdays, and special food requests, and sat with bedridden residents to listen to their stories and view photographs. She learned that giving someone the chance to tell their story can be healing. She became an end-of-life doula over roughly 20 years, supporting people to find meaning, comfort, joy, and peace in life and in death. She refers to her patients as wisdom keepers. Case examples include Floyd, Rosie, and Sally, illustrating connection, celebration, and gratitude. A breast cancer diagnosis and treatment became a deeply spiritual experience and provided tools for living well. She is a founding partner of the Bay Area End of Life Doula Alliance.

Read at www.mercurynews.com