LiElla Kelly, End-of-Life Practitioner

I am an End-of-Life Doula and After-Death Care Educator based in Helena, Montana. I have worked in the Helena community for 24 years as a Massage Therapist. 

I've had an interesting journey with death, I visited my first cemetery at a young age with my great-grandfather. I was young enough and felt safe enough that death didn't scare me. Instead, I became fascinated by death customs. After attending deaths and funerals of loved ones, it seemed that at times, there was something missing, especially during the moments when you're overwhelmed and unsure of what comes next.  I fill that gap, so that the dying get what they need and their loved ones can make the best use of their final moments together.

It's been my privilege to volunteer with hospice organizations as well as the St. Peter's NODA (No One Dies Alone) program. NODA is a beautiful program that strives to make sure that even if a person has reached the end of their lives without friends or family nearby, they won't be alone at the end. 

 In 2024, I was honored to be appointed as the Public Member of the Montana State Board of Funeral Services, where I contributed to upholding the integrity of the funeral industry in our state. Though my term has since ended, the experience deepened my understanding of the regulatory side of deathcare and continues to inform my work today. 

I am nationally recognized as a NEDA Proficient End-of-Life Doula and After-Death Care Educator.

At Leaving Well, my heartfelt mission is to foster understanding and compassion surrounding the natural transition at life’s end. I am dedicated to providing education on matters of death, offering guidance in End-of-Life planning, and championing the freedom to make deeply personal choices about one's own journey. By empowering and standing beside individuals as they navigate these decisions in harmony with their core values, I aim to bring solace, relief, and peace of mind to the end of life transition. The result is a better death experience for you and your loved ones.