Meet Jamila
"Dying is not a medical experience.
It is a social, communal, and sacred family transition."
— Barbara Karnes, RN
Most people encounter dying in hospitals — surrounded by machines, alarms, and urgency. But over years at the bedside, I’ve learned that this transition is often quieter than we expect.
It is not only medical.
It is relational.
It is deeply human.
Experience & Training
My name is Jamila Gubbels, RN, and I have spent nearly fifteen years caring for individuals and families during end-of-life transitions. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. My clinical training allows me to interpret what is happening medically. My work as a Death Doula allows me to focus on what is happening emotionally and relationally.
Both matter.
Living the Full Circle
In my home in Gatineau, the full circle of life is not theoretical — it is daily life. I live in a home filled with the energy of my three growing children and the quieter rhythms of my aging parents who share our space.
I understand the tension of the “sandwich generation.” The pull between being a present mother and a watchful daughter. The weight of trying to interpret medical language while simply wanting to sit beside someone you love.
I know how exhausting it can feel to carry decisions, appointments, questions, and fear — all at once.
And I know how important it is to not carry it alone.
Why I Became a Doula
In 2023, I became a Certified Death Doula because I felt called to support families beyond clinical tasks.
As a nurse, I could assess symptoms, adjust comfort measures, and communicate with physicians. As a doula, I can slow the room down. I can sit at the kitchen table. I can hold space for questions that do not fit neatly into a chart.
I wanted to bring both of these worlds together — the clinical clarity of a nurse and the steady presence of someone who understands that this is not just about medicine. It is about people.
My Promise to You
When I am in your home, I bring both parts of myself with me.
I bring clinical awareness to ensure comfort and safety.
I bring steady presence so you do not have to carry everything alone.
I can help interpret what you are seeing.
I can help prepare questions for physicians.
I can help you understand what to expect in the days and weeks ahead.
Most importantly, I am there so you can step out of the caregiver role — even briefly — and simply be the person who loves them.
This is sacred work. It deserves time, clarity, and tenderness.
We will take it one breath at a time.
My practice honours privacy and dignity at every stage. I work alongside medical teams, not in place of them. Nursing services are provided in accordance with the standards of the College of Nurses of Ontario. Doula services focus on emotional, relational, and practical support.
Every family is different. Every journey is different. My role is to meet you where you are — with steadiness and respect.
Quiet Integrity
A Conversation, When You’re Ready
If something in your world feels uncertain right now, you do not have to navigate it alone.
Whether you are caring for a parent, sitting beside a partner, or preparing for your own transition, support can begin with a simple conversation.
There is no pressure. No urgency. Just a place to ask questions. To breathe.
To understand what comes next.
