The Death Comadre Curriculum / El currículo de la Comadre de la Muerte
There are many titles for those who facilitate end-of-life transitions, such as a Death Doula, Death Midwife, or Death Comadre. Because the work of the Collective spans womb to tomb, some refer to themselves as Womb to Tomb Comadres. Regardless of the phase of transition that you are called to support, in the training, individuals have the opportunity to receive a certificate to facilitate different aspects of grief and loss.
Our training is available for anyone interested in being better educated in preparing for death and supporting others, whether as a family member or a professional. Broken up into two major sections, Sacred Transitions and The Business of Death, this training reviews both Indigenous and Western teachings regarding end-of-life transitions to the legalities and logistical considerations of death and post-death arrangements.
Hay muchos títulos para aquellos que facilitan las transiciones al final de la vida, como Doula de la Muerte, Partera de la Muerte o Comadre de la Muerte. Debido a que el trabajo del Colectivo se extiende del vientre hasta la tumba, algunos se refieren a sí mismos como Comadres de útero a tumba. Independientemente de la fase de transición que esté llamada a apoyar, en la capacitación, las personas tienen la oportunidad de recibir un certificado para facilitar diferentes aspectos del duelo y la pérdida.
Nuestra capacitación está disponible para cualquier persona interesada en recibir una mejor educación en la preparación para la muerte y apoyar a otros, ya sea como miembro de la familia o como profesional. Dividida en dos secciones principales, Transiciones Sagradas y El Negocio de la Muerte, esta capacitación revisa las enseñanzas indígenas y occidentales sobre las transiciones al final de la vida, las legalidades y consideraciones logísticas de la muerte y los arreglos posteriores a la muerte.
New 2025 Spanish Cohort! / ¡Nueva Cohorte en Español en 2025!
Oct 24th - Nov 22nd (1 Friday/Vierness & 4 Saturdays / Sábados)
Friday / Viernes 6 pm - 8:30 pm
Saturday / Sabado 9 am - 3:30 pm
Virtual (Recordings will be available if you miss a session) / Virtual (Las grabaciones estarán disponibles si se pierde una sesión)
The Cihuapactli Collective is honored to offer a fourth cohort of the Death Comadre Curriculum from Saturday, Oct 25th, to Saturday, Nov 22nd. Those who complete all parts of the training will receive Death Comadre certification through the Cihuapactli Collective.
The Cihuapactli Collective strives to be inclusive of our community. We hope to offer an in-person Spanish version of this training Jan 31st - Feb 28th.
El Colectivo Cihuapactli tiene el honor de ofrecer una cuarta cohorte del Currículo de la Comadre de la Muerte desde el sábado 25 de octubre hasta el sábado 22 de noviembre. Aquellos que completen todas las partes de la capacitación recibirán la certificación de Comadre de la Muerte a través del Colectivo Cihuapactli.
El colectivo Cihuapactli se esfuerza por ser inclusivo con nuestra comunidad. Esperamos ofrecer una versión en español en persona de este entrenamiento del 31 de enero al 28 de febrero.
Curriculum Syllabus / Plan de estudios
Sacred Transitions / Transiciones sagradas
Oct 24th (6 pm - 8:30pm)
6 pm- 7:00pm -What is a Death Comadre? / ¿Qué es una Comadre de la Muerte?
An introduction to death comadre work with Enjolie Lafaurie and Maria Parra Cano. Be introduced to the concept of a death binder as a way to prepare for end of life.
Una introducción al trabajo de comadre de la muerte con Enjolie Lafaurie y María Parra Cano. Conoce el concepto de una carpeta de la muerte como una forma de prepararte para el final de la vida.
7:05pm-8:30pm - The Last Ecstatic Days / Los últimos días extáticos
View the movie screening of the film, The Last Ecstatic Days. Watch the journey of Ethan Sisser, who uniquely filmed his cancer journey and end-of-life transition.
Ver la proyección de la película Los últimos días extáticos. Vea el viaje de Ethan Sisser, quien filmó de manera única su viaje contra el cáncer y su transición al final de la vida.
Oct 25th (9 am-3:30 pm)
9:20 am - 10:40am -The Stages of Dying / Las etapas de la muerte
A training led by Dr. Gerardo Vazquez that includes the stages that the human body undergoes during a transition to the end of life.
Un entrenamiento dirigido por el Dr. Gerardo Vázquez que incluye las etapas que experimenta un cuerpo humano durante una transición al final de la vida.
10:50 am - 12:50 pm - Pregnancy and Infant Loss / Embarazo y pérdida infantil
A training led by Maria Parra Cano and Enjolie Lafaurie on how to identify, prevent potential pregnancy loss while learning to support families experiencing this type of transition.
Una capacitación dirigida por María Parra Cano y Enjolie Lafaurie sobre cómo identificar y prevenir la posible pérdida del embarazo mientras aprende a apoyar a las familias que experimentan este tipo de transición.
1:30 pm- 3:30 pm - What about the Babies? / ¿Qué pasa con los bebés?
During this training, Enjolie Lafaurie will share about grief from the perspective of the unborn child through adolescence.
Durante esta capacitación, Enjolie Lafaurie compartirá sobre el duelo desde la perspectiva del niño por nacer hasta la adolescencia.
Nov 1st (9 am-3:30 pm)
9:20 am - 11:20 am - Navigating Suicide & Unexpected Loss / Navegando por el suicidio y la pérdida inesperada
Enjolie Lafaurie will facilitate a conversation around unexpected and tragic transitions and the complexities that this type of grief can hold.
Enjolie Lafaurie facilitará una conversación sobre transiciones inesperadas y trágicas y las complejidades que puede contener este tipo de duelo.
12:00 pm - 1:50 pm - Pregnancy Release & After Care Support / Liberación del embarazo y apoyo posterior al cuidado
Learn to support individuals experiencing abnormal & unintended pregnancy from a clinical perspective with Dr. DeShawn Taylor.
Aprenda a apoyar a las personas que experimentan embarazos anormales y no deseados desde una perspectiva clínica con el Dr. DeShawn Taylor.
2:00 pm - 3:30pm - Estate Planning / Planificación Patrimonial
Be introduced to various legal options and related documents to ensure smooth estate transfer with Enjolie Lafaurie.
Conozca varias opciones legales y documentos relacionados para garantizar una transferencia patrimonial sin problemas con Enjolie Lafaurie.
11:15am - 12:15pm - Life Insurance / El seguros de vida
Be introduced to the basics of life insurance and mainstream funeral services.
Conozca los conceptos básicos del seguro de vida y los servicios funerarios convencionales.
The Business of Death / El negocio de la muerte
Nov 8th (9 am - 3:30 pm)
9:10 am - 11:10am - Funeral Services / El servicio funerario
11:30am - 3:00pm - Alternative Body Disposition / Disposición alternativa del cuerpo
Nov 15th (9 am-3:30 pm)
9:15 am - 11:00 am - Hospicing Organizations / El hospicio de organizaciónes
Learn about the cycles of organizations from start up to sunset.
Conozca los ciclos de las organizaciones desde el inicio hasta el ocaso.
11:00 am - 12:00 pm - Death Binder / Carpeta de la muerte
Complete a Death Binder with your family and learn how to help others in order to be better prepared for inevitable life transitions.
Complete una carpeta de la muerte con su familia y aprenda a ayudar a otros para estar mejor preparados para las inevitables transiciones de la vida.
1:00 pm - 3:30 pm - Celebrating Your Ancestor / Celebrando a tu antepasado
“I greatly appreciated the wisdom and ancestral knowledge shared within the Cihuapactli Collective’s Death Comadre curriculum. It was administered with intentionality, sensitivity, and reverence. This is a course you want to take if you desire a personal transformation that better equips you to be a vessel of service to your community.
Aprecié mucho la sabiduría y el conocimiento ancestral compartido dentro del plan de estudios de la Comadre de la Muerte del Colectivo Cihuapactli. Se administró con intencionalidad, sensibilidad y reverencia. Este es un curso que desea tomar si desea una transformación personal que te prepare mejor para ser un recipiente de servicio a su comunidad.”
Online Pricing: $500 / Precios en línea: $ 500
(Valued at $2,000) Payment plan option available. See registration link for info.
(Valorado en $2,000) Opción de plan de pago disponible. Consulte el enlace de registro para obtener información.
When available, the Cihuapactli Collective strives to offer free and or low-cost services to the community. In these changing times, the Collective has been forced to consider new ways of sustaining itself. The virtual training is valued at over $2,000 per person, but for this cohort, it will be offered at $500 per person. Payments can be split into two installments or paid all at once. $500 covers the training, and the additional amount is to cover the cost of food.
Cuando está disponible, el Colectivo Cihuapactli se esfuerza por ofrecer servicios gratuitos o de bajo costo a la comunidad. En estos tiempos cambiantes, el Colectivo se ha visto obligado a considerar nuevas formas de sostenerse. La capacitación virtual está valorada en más de $ 2,000 por persona, pero para esta cohorte, se ofrecerá a $ 500 por persona. Los pagos se pueden dividir en dos cuotas o pagar todos a la vez. $ 500 cubren la capacitación y la cantidad adicional es para cubrir el costo de la comida.
Death Comadre History / Historia de la Comadre de la Muerte
In the fall of 2023, we piloted our first training with over 120 registrants to support our community with education and resources about death. From various experts and experienced individuals, participants learned how to be a thoughtful caregiver to someone experiencing the end of their life, or tools to provide support to someone who has lost a loved one. We held sessions around prenatal & infant loss, suicide, alternative body disposition, and conversations around grief with our family and children.
En el otoño de 2023, pusimos a prueba nuestra primera capacitación con más de 120 inscritos para apoyar a nuestra comunidad con educación y recursos sobre la muerte. De varios expertos y personas experimentadas, los participantes aprendieron cómo ser un cuidador atento para alguien que experimenta el final de su vida, o herramientas para brindar apoyo a alguien que ha perdido a un ser querido. Celebramos sesiones sobre la pérdida prenatal y infantil, el suicidio, la disposición corporal alternativa y conversaciones sobre el dolor con nuestra familia y nuestros hijos.
Testimonials / Las recomendaciones
Presenters
Many of our Black and Indigenous presenters have experienced various types of grief and loss and have supported community members during end-of-life transitions. Presenters include mental health providers, physicians, community and spiritual leaders, and our children.
Muchos de nuestros presentadores afroamericano/africano e indígenas han experimentado varios tipos de dolor y pérdida y han apoyado a los miembros de la comunidad durante las transiciones al final de la vida. Los presentadores incluyen proveedores de salud mental, médicos, líderes comunitarios y espirituales, y nuestros niños.
About our Presenters / Acerca de nuestros presentadores
Dr. Enjolie Lafaurie
Enjolie is a grandmother, mom, sister, comadre, psychologist, hypnotherapist, womb-to-tomb comadre, and business owner of Inspired Therapies, LLC. Originally from Southern California, she is Afro-Cuban and Guatemalan (Maya). Her role as a Death Comadre surfaced as early as childhood. One of the most impactful experiences was upon losing both her father and husband a day apart from one another in 2009. Upon deciding to become certified as a death midwife, her family's response was, “don’t we do this already?” The Collective has been taught by our elders ways to support families with ceremony in times of birth and death. Enjolie and many others feel privileged to support the community through those sacred transitions and to support in practical and logistical areas associated with the business of death.
Enjolie is the lead facilitator and lead creator of the Death Comadre Curriculum.
Dr. Gerardo Vazquez
Dr. Vazquez is a licensed Naturopathic physician in the state of Arizona. He earned his pre-med Bachelor of Science degree at Arizona State University and obtained his Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine. Dr. Vazquez utilizes alternative healthcare treatments to address numerous health conditions utilizing herbs, nutrients, and lifestyle modifications. His passion for Naturopathic medicine began while searching for alternative treatments for his childhood asthma. This passion now grows in helping others achieve their health goals through education and empowerment to take charge of their own health. He takes the time to understand the patient’s concerns and address the root cause. Dr. Vazquez specializes in general health with an emphasis on sports injuries, GI health, endocrine disorders, acute and chronic diseases.
In his free time, Dr. Vazquez dedicates time to technical skills training for youth basketball. He is a fine artist with an emphasis on Indigenous imagery and culture. He also loves to be physically active in the outdoors including basketball, hiking, and kayaking.
link to full bio
Gerardo is a facilitator, educator and will provide tech support.
Maria Parra Cano
Maria or Carmen as many know her is the mother that put out a call to her community for support. She is co-founder & Executive Director of the Cihuapactli Collective, now in its 9th year. Maria is a Xicana Indigena born in Phoenix, Arizona with her lineages stemming from the Acolhuan People from Texcoco, Mexico & Raramuri People from Cuauhtemoc, Chihuahua. Maria was raised in Barrio Garfield, along with her 7 siblings. Maria is a community organizer and activist at heart.
Maria is a facilitator and educator.
Yolehua Parra Cano
Storyteller
Dr. Deshawn Taylor
DeShawn Taylor, MD MSc (she/hers) is an award winning Gynecologist, Family Planning Specialist, Gender Affirming Care Provider, Reproductive Justice Activist, and Author whose work advances reproductive health care access through direct services, education and training, advocacy, and leadership. Dr. Taylor solo operates Desert Star Family Planning, an independent abortion clinic founded in 2013. The non-profit Desert Star Institute for Family Planning that Dr. Taylor founded in 2017, houses coalition work and community programs advancing access to reproductive healthcare for multiply marginalized communities.
Facilitator & educator
Jessyca Hernandez
Jessyca is a Licensed Funeral Director & Embalmer in the state of Arizona. Any job I've taken, I do it with integrity. I’m a firm believer in holding respect within the work environment. I have 3 degrees. Bachelor's in small business, master’s in business administration, and an associate’s in Mortuary science. I am an embalmer, but I have worked in makeup artistry as well, allowing me to transfer my skill sets from the living to the dead. One of my strongest achievements with any job I've done. I have always given a great representation for any product or company.
Facilitator & educator
Mayra Alvarado
Mayra is Maya K’iche’ born in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, and has lived in Arizona for most of her life. She earned her B.S. in Family and Human Development and her master’s in social work with a Latino Cultural Competency Graduate Certificate from Arizona State University. Before pursuing her master’s degree, she worked as an educator with first-generation, low-income high school students.
Facilitator, educator & tech support
Estrellita Alvarado
Estrellita Alvarado is the Safe Repatriation Manager for the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights in the Phoenix office. Estrellita started as the Safe Repatriation Social Worker at the Young Center in 2017. Estrellita has developed relationships with experts and organizations in Central America, Mexico, Haiti, Canada, and Angola, enhancing the Young Center’s International Home Study providers network, international partners, and Safe Repatriation Project.
Before joining the Young Center, Estrellita served as a Clinician providing mental health services for unaccompanied immigrant children. She received her Master of Science in Social Work with a minor in International Social Welfare from Columbia University. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, a Bachelor of Science in Family and Human Development, and a Minor in Communications from Arizona State University.
Estrellita has dedicated her work to serving at-risk youth, undocumented survivors of domestic violence, and unaccompanied children in Arizona and New York City. As a daughter of K’iche’-Maya immigrants, Estrellita is passionate about the collective healing of her Indigenous community, language justice, and the rights of Indigenous peoples' sovereignty, and advocating for the rights of historically marginalized communities.
Facilitator & educator
Jessica Alvarado
Jessica Alvarado is a proud native of Phoenix and the daughter of Guatemalan immigrants. She spent her summers exploring Guatemala with her parents, deepening her connection to her Mayan heritage.
Jessica holds a B.A. in Psychology, a B.S. in Justice Studies, and a Minor in Women’s Studies from Arizona State University. She earned her J.D. from Arizona Summit Law School.
Throughout her life, Jessica has been involved with organizations that reflect her passion for education, community, and justice, including the Upward Bound Program and Public Allies Arizona. One of her most cherished experiences was working with special education preschoolers, who taught her how to paint with her feet, fly kites, and embrace patience.
In her free time, Jessica enjoys seeking out new adventures and spending quality time with her family.
Facilitator & educator
Kim Stravers
I believe death is a miracle. It’s an event common to every living being on the planet, yet unique to each one. Through death, we connect to our natural environment, to our ancestors and descendants, to those we hold close, and to those we’ve never even met. To be invited into that most intimate space to bear witness and offer support as a death midwife is an incredible privilege, and it’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly.
The story of how I have come to tend death’s many gardens is complex, expansive, and blessed with the suffering and wisdom of much loss. I greet you with a robust academic and intellectual grounding, but my skills truly have bloomed within the hothouse of lived experience. If you’d like to get to know me not only as a deathcare professional, but also as a fellow witness to death and grief, I invite you to explore below.
Kim is a teacher and knowledge holder of the impacts of body composition. She will focus on discussing the topic of the different journeys of a body after death.
What to Expect & FAQ’s / Qué esperar y preguntas frecuentes
1. Do I have to attend every training date? / ¿Tengo que asistir a todas las fechas de entrenamiento?
Yes. 100% participation is expected. The virtual training will be recorded and shared for those who miss the training. We will also have weekly accountability questions for all participants.
Sí, se espera una participación del 100%. El entrenamiento virtual será grabado y compartido para aquellos que pierdan el entrenamiento. También tendremos preguntas semanales de rendición de cuentas para todos los participantes.
2. What type of certification will I receive? / ¿Qué tipo de certificación recibiré?
Participants who complete the training will receive a Death Comadre Certificate from the Cihuapactli Collective. If you choose, you will also be included in our directory of providers.
Los participantes que completen el entrenamiento recibirán un Certificado de Comadre de la Muerte del Colectivo Cihuapactli. Si usted elige, también será incluido en nuestro directorio de proveedores.
3. Is childcare available? / ¿Hay guardería disponible?
No. Childcare will not be provided during this course. Children are welcome but must be attended to by their guardian. / No. No se proporcionará cuidado de niños durante este curso. Los niños son bienvenidos, pero deben ser atendidos por su tutor.
4. Are the trainings offered in Spanish? / ¿Las capacitaciones se ofrecen en español?
Yes. Trainings in Spanish will take place in the fall of 2025 and in person in Jan/Feb. 2026. / Sí. Las capacitaciones en español se llevarán a cabo en el otoño de 2025 y en persona en enero/febrero de 2026.
5. Why is the CC charging a fee? / ¿Por qué el CC cobra una tarifa?
Like so many non-profits, available grants have dramatically changed in 2025. We make every effort to provide free services when grant support is available. Your fee will help the CC become more sustainable and less grant-dependent. This training is valued at $2000. Comparable trainings range from $800 to $2000.
Al igual que muchas organizaciones sin fines de lucro, las subvenciones disponibles han cambiado drásticamente en 2025. Hacemos todo lo posible para brindar servicios gratuitos cuando hay apoyo de subvenciones disponible. Su tarifa ayudará a que el CC sea más sostenible y menos dependiente de la subvención. Esta capacitación está valorada en $ 2000. Las capacitaciones comparables oscilan entre $ 800 y $ 2000.
6. Will the trainings be recorded? / ¿Se grabarán los entrenamientos?
The in-person trainings will not be recorded. Images and some sections of the training might be recorded for funding or promotional purposes.
Los entrenamientos en persona no serán grabados. Las imágenes y algunas secciones de la capacitación pueden ser grabadas con fines de financiación o promoción.
7. Will food and drinks be offered? / ¿Se ofrecerán alimentos y bebidas?
Food, drinks, and snacks are offered during in-person trainings. Plant-based meals are provided throughout in-person trainings.
Se ofrecen alimentos, bebidas y bocadillos durante los entrenamientos en persona. Las comidas basadas en plantas se proporcionan a lo largo de los entrenamientos en persona.
8. Will the CC hold an altar for this training? / ¿Tendrá el CC un altar para este entrenamiento?
We will hold a main altar, and participants are encouraged to add items to in in-person altars so that they can be blessed. During virtual trainings, participants are encouraged to use their medicines and sacred items at home.
Tendremos un altar principal y se alienta a los participantes a agregar artículos a los altares en persona para que puedan ser bendecidos. Durante las capacitaciones virtuales, se alienta a los participantes a usar sus medicanas y artículos sagrados en casa.
9. Who can attend the trainings? / ¿Quién puede asistir a los entrenamientos?
Everyone needs healing. This training is open to all. Workshops will be taught from an Indigenous and BIPOC perspective. Those experiences will be centered, but all are welcome to participate.
Todos necesitan sanación. Esta formación está abierta a todos. Los talleres se impartirán desde una perspectiva indígena y BIPOC. Esas experiencias estarán centradas, pero todos son bienvenidos a participar.
10. What is a Death Comadre? / ¿Qué es una Comadre de la Muerte?
A Death Comadre supports the individual, family, or community through the extensive process of transition, grief, and loss. A death midwife, or death doula, is a person who assists in the dying process, much like a midwife or doula does with the birthing process. They may provide holistic, non-medical, emotional, spiritual, and practical support for the dying and their families.
Una comadre de la muerte apoya al individuo, la familia o la comunidad a través del extenso proceso de transición, duelo y pérdida. Una partera de la muerte, o doula de la muerte, es una persona que ayuda en el proceso de muerte, al igual que una partera o doula lo hace con el proceso de parto. Pueden proporcionar apoyo holístico, no médico, emocional, espiritual y práctico para los moribundos y sus familias.
Other Questions / Otras preguntas
For questions, please write to both Mayra@cihuapactlicollective.org and Enjolie@cihuapactlicollective.org
Para preguntas por favor escriba a Mayra@cihuapactlicollective.org y Enjolie@cihuapactlicollective.org