No one should have to die alone — not a person, and not a beloved animal.
Mourning Drums was created by Maren Turner, PhD, MA, MS, as a space where humans and companion animals are honored with tenderness, ritual, and rhythm.
Why Mourning Drums Exists
Maren comes to this work as someone who has lived the ache of loss. She has held the hands of people she loved as they died, and she has felt the quiet, devastating grief of losing pets who were part of her daily rhythm and family. She is certified through the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care, allowing her to better support individuals and families grieving the loss of a beloved pet.
Those experiences shaped her belief that death should never be met with isolation, confusion, or silence. Mourning Drums is her way of honoring those she has lost while creating the kind of support, presence, and ritual that people often need most during life’s final transitions.
A Life of Service, Care, and Community
Maren has spent her career at the intersection of human behavior, public service, and compassionate care. Before becoming an end-of-life doula, she worked as a lobbyist and earned a PhD in behavioral psychology.
She has taught graduate courses in Death & Dying, sponsored community Death Cafés, facilitated Caring Conversations, and served on the Board of Midland Hospice. Over time, she realized that what mattered most was not policy or theory alone — it was people, presence, and making sure no one faces their final moments without support.
Training and Approach
Maren’s doula training through the International End-of-Life Doula Association deepened her commitment to dignity, ritual, legacy, and emotional grounding.
She is certified through the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care so she can better support individuals and families grieving the loss of a beloved pet.
Rhythm, Ritual, and Remembrance
Across cultures, drums have long accompanied death, grief, and transition. Their steady pulse mirrors the heartbeat — the first rhythm we ever hear, and the last one we let go.
Through drumming, guided reflection, and compassionate presence, Mourning Drums helps individuals and families create meaning, find grounding, and feel supported during one of life’s most vulnerable chapters.
Whether you are preparing for a vigil, grieving a companion animal, or navigating the emotional terrain of loss, Mourning Drums is a place where life’s final beat is honored with dignity.
Maren Turner, PhD, MA, MS
A Place to Be Held, Heard, and Supported
