Melanie Humphries-Connolly
Tender Loving End of Life Care
Honouring life, supporting peaceful transitions.
tenderlovingeolc@gmail.com
027 6331900
End-of-Life Doula
Kia ora, I’m Mel.
With over 30 years of experience as a Registered Nurse, specialising in palliative care, hospice, older adult mental health and dementia care, along with my training as an End of Life Doula, I offer compassionate, holistic support to individuals and their whānau.
Through calm presence and deep listening, I provide practical guidance, advocacy, and sacred care that honours the emotional, physical, spiritual and cultural aspects of each person and those close to them. I believe everyone deserves a gentle and dignified transition, held with love.
Planning & Empowerment
Helping you organise important decisions with care and clarity.
Advance Care Planning
Organising personal affairs
Knowledge and insight to make informed decisions
Advocacy and deep listening
End of Life Care
Providing personalised, practical, and emotional care.
Respite care and carer support
Companionship and bedside vigil
Education about the dying process
Creating tender, meaningful moments
Rituals & Emotional Support
Honouring your spiritual and emotional needs through meaningful practices.
Sacred space, ritual, and ceremony creation
Holistic aromatherapy
Legacy work and memory-making
After Death & Bereavement Care
Gentle care for you and your whānau beyond death.
After-death care, including natural body care (Manaaki Mats available), or support for other choices made by the person and their whānau
Funeral and memorial guidance
Support through grief and loss
Community Engagement
I actively contribute to my local community by co-facilitating Death Cafés and supporting national initiatives such as Dying Matters Week, Compassionate Communities, and Death Without Debt
A Little About Me
I’m also a mother, musician, yoga enthusiast and nature lover. My practice is grounded in compassion, respect, and a deep appreciation for life’s impermanence.
Please feel free to phone or email me to arrange a complimentary 30-minute chat.
I’d love to explore how I can support you during this important time.
Available for in-person and remote support.
Get in touch with me
Testimonials
““It was such a relief to meet with you and feel I have someone to share the load with. I feel much better about facing my death with your support.””
““I just wanted to touch base and let you know that all went well for my dad’s life celebration. You made a huge difference to us, and I know my mum really appreciated your company and excellent support.””
“Mel accompanied me and Mum at the end of her life. Mel’s presence was profoundly supportive, both in very practical ways but also psychological and spiritual.
Mel is a highly experienced hospice, palliative and dementia care nurse in Wellington. I honestly can’t sing her praises enough. She is a treasure. Her value really is the kind that spreads through word of mouth”
