Guest Profile

Arlene Stepputat

When her father died suddenly four days before her 12th birthday and right before Christmas, Arlene Stepputat’s journey with death and dying began. By the time she turned 38, she had lost friends and family through everything imaginable — suicide, murder, accident, illness — and she was nearly killed by a drunk driver herself.   In addition, she found herself working in New York City when the AIDS crisis hit and she worked first hand with its youngest victims- teens and even babies.  These experiences laid the foundation for her work with death and dying as aspects of life’s journey.

 

Arlene is an end of life doula, a retired administrator in hospice and an ordained minister She has presented workshops and keynotes at national conferences, including the California Hospice and Palliative Care Association and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. She has a YouTube channel called Dying in Grace where she has interviewed many people about aspects of the journey.

 

Arlene collaborates with 6 other women trained also trained as death doulas under the banner Dying in Grace and all services are free. In addition she serves as a volunteer chaplain for the Santa Barbara City Fire Department and is called when a fatality has occurred.

 

Arlene holds a Master’s Degree from Columbia University in Family and Community Education and a Master’s in Theology from Peace Theological Seminary. In addition, she holds a certificate in Applied Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica. Arlene trained as an Anamcara (Celtic for “Soul Friend”) for four years through the Sacred Art of Living Center.  She is an End of Life Practitioner and graduate of the Metta Institute founded by Frank Ostaseski