A companion through death, grief, & the journey of aging.

Quietus (kwy−EE−tus)

noun

  1. a final rest; a peaceful release

  2. a quiet ending

  3. the act of bringing something to a close

Quietus sounds like ‘quiet us’. An invitation to sit together in stillness, holding what is to come with calm, courage, and care.

My name is Alexandra Corzano.

I’m a death doula, ritual guide and companion.

When my grandfather died unexpectedly at just 65, I didn’t realize then I was being guided, slow and steady, toward this work.

To me, the greatest thing I could have done with my life would have been to care for him in his elder years. Creating a cozy sanctuary where his loving presence filled our home. A place alive with family visiting often, laughter dancing through rooms, and his artwork and memories layered on our walls. I pictured slow, golden days spent reading, listening to music, moving our bodies, sharing stories, and enjoying favorite meals, each bite a soulful remembrance of holidays, visits, and gatherings past.

At the threshold, I envisioned an in-home vigil, gently wrapping his body in linen, anointing his head and feet, and surrounding his resting place with flowers, books, photos, and candlelight. My family would play music and hold each other close, gathered near him in the warmth of our home that held us, too. We would take turns holding his hand, kissing his forehead, and crying from the depths of our souls, being in the coming and going for as long as we needed, until we felt ready to let his body go.

But we didn’t get that. His sudden passing left a quiet hollow in me that I carried for years.

Later, by what felt like chance, I began caring for a 90 year old woman named Berget. Caring for her filled some of that hollow. At first, I felt guilty offering her the tenderness I had meant for my grandfather, but over time that guilt softened into deep gratitude, and a quiet, clear calling.

I realized that this work could become the living prayer I had once dreamed of. That through tending to others at the threshold of life’s seasons, I could offer the presence, dignity, and gentle steadiness I had wished to give my grandfather, to each soul I am called, and honored to serve.

Services

  • Gentle, dignified support for elders

    Aging is sacred in and of itself. Our Golden years are a time that deserve presence, respect, and gentle companionship. Elder companion care through Quietus Light is about tending the heart, mind, and spirit, not just the body.

    I can offer:

    • calm conversation and deep listening

    • sharing stories or reading aloud together

    • making tea and creating small rituals of comfort

    • gentle walks, garden visits, or time outdoors

    • supporting photo sorting, scrapbooking, or creative projects

    • letter writing or legacy storytelling

    • quiet presence on difficult days

    • emotional and spiritual companionship

    • helping plan for future wishes or gentle transitions

    This is not medical caregiving. It is presence, soul care, and human connection. A way to be seen, valued, and supported through the later seasons of life.

    Ready to explore elder companion care? Let's talk about what would bring the most comfort and meaning to you or your loved one.

  • Honoring stories, preserving memory, and creating a living connection for future generations.

    What this can include:

    • Legacy Letters

      co-creating written messages to loved ones, sharing gratitude, wisdom, blessings, or forgiveness

    • Audio & Video Recordings

      capturing a client’s voice or image telling their stories or messages

    • Life Story Interviews guided sessions to document personal or family history

    • Memory Books

      printed or digital albums with photos, stories, and letters

    • Creative Keepsakes poems, art, or personal rituals that celebrate who they are

    • Storytelling Circles gathering family to share stories aloud and preserve them together

    • Memory Archiving helping organize photos, recordings, or heirlooms with meaning

    Why this matters:
    Stories help keep a person’s love, values, and wisdom alive. This work gives families a way to revisit their loved one’s words and memories for years to come.

  • A steady, sacred presence in death

    Dying is a threshold that deserves witness and care.

    The Quietus Vigil offers companionship for those preparing to die, and gentle support for their loved ones.

    This is not medical or hospice care, it is heart care, soul care, presence care.

    I hold space for calm, for truth, and for a present crossing.

    What the Quietus Vigil can include:

    • bedside presence in the final hours or days

    • gentle conversation or silence, depending on need/want

    • soothing practices (breathwork, soft touch, music, prayer if desired)

    • help creating a sacred atmosphere with candles, flowers, or chosen symbols

    • supporting the family with grief, storytelling, or moments of pause

    • liaising with hospice or caregivers as needed

    • guiding simple rituals for letting go

    • honoring final wishes with reverence and steadiness

    • advocating for the dying person

    Sacred Keeping

    For families who wish to keep their loved one at home before burial or cremation, I offer guidance and steady support through:

    • Shrouding

      gently wrapping the body in a simple cloth

    • Laying in Honor surrounding the body with flowers, candles, and objects of meaning

    • Family-Led Rituals storytelling, blessings, food, silence. Whatever it is loved ones feel called to do, I am there to support you and free you up to be present in this once in a lifetime moment

    • Practical Guidance answering questions, and coordinating next steps with funeral or green burial providers

    No one should have to cross alone. The Quietus Vigil is a companion through one of life’s most profound transitions, helping you feel seen, supported, and at peace.

  • A ritual of memory, love and letting go.

    What is an Afterlight Ritual?
    A personal, meaningful ceremony to honor endings, grief, or transitions. Together, we shape a space for remembrance and healing.

    When words fall short, ritual speaks. Afterlight Rituals help you honor endings with presence, beauty, and intention.

    Examples include:

    • Farewell or remembrance ceremonies

    • Seasonal or anniversary grief rituals

    • Memory altars with keepsakes

    • Candle or water-based rituals

    • Writing and sharing final words

    • Post-death anointing

    • Writing final words, blessings, or messages to the loved one who passed

    • Incorporating flowers, stones, or herbs

    • Music, poetry, or art as ritual

    • Small family or community gatherings

    You do not have to rush. These rituals allow time to pause, honor, and release with love.

    Who is this for?
    Anyone seeking to mark a loss or crossing with presence, intention, and care. It can be spiritual, creative, or entirely personal, shaped by you, supported by me.

    Why Afterlight?
    Because even after the breath has gone, love remains. Afterlight Rituals help you tend to that love with beauty and meaning.

Why I Do This Work

I believe aging and dying are sacred passages, worthy of presence, beauty, and reverence. In a culture that rushes grief, shies away from death, and too often overlooks its elders, I offer slowness, care, and a return to the sacred.

I walk alongside the aging, dying, the grieving, and their loved ones, offering calm companionship, gentle ritual, and practical support in times often marked by fear or uncertainty.

I am not here to fix or rush what is unfolding.

I am here to hold space for it, with tenderness and truth.

I am someone who has spent a lifetime noticing what others overlook, tending the hidden places, and standing firm when others shy away.

My path has led me through water and wild places, always returning to the truth that love does not end at death, and that silence can be its own kind of prayer.

With Quietus Light, I offer you a hand to hold, a candle in the dark, and the reminder that love remains.

 FAQs

  • A death doula offers non-medical support before, during, and after death. That can look like helping you plan rituals, sitting vigil, creating legacy letters/projects to share with loved ones, or simply being a steady presence for you and your loved ones.

  • No. Hospice provides medical care, while a death doula offers emotional, spiritual, and practical support alongside that care. We work together to help you feel safe and seen.

  • Anyone. People who are dying, people who are grieving, families preparing for loss, or even elders who want a gentle companion in their later years.

  • Working with a death doula is a simple, compassionate process. Here’s what it can look like:

    • Start with a conversation. We’ll talk about what matters to you, your wishes, fears, hopes, and values.

    • Share what feels important. That might be spiritual beliefs, family dynamics, cultural practices, or rituals you’d like to include.

    • Decide on the level of support. I can help as little or as much as you need, from a single conversation to full bedside vigil or ritual planning.

    • Stay flexible. Dying and grieving don’t follow a script. We’ll adapt together as things unfold, honoring every change with calm and care.

    The first step is simply reaching out. You don’t have to have all the answers, we can begin with a quiet hello.

  • I provide a calm, nonjudgmental presence that can help ease fear, create meaningful rituals, legacy projects, and hold sacred space for what matters to you. You don’t have to cross this threshold alone.

  • At Quietus Light, ritual means creating meaningful actions, or ceremonies to honor what matters.

    These can be simple or elaborate, spiritual or not, and always shaped by your wishes.

    Some examples of rituals we can create together:

    • writing goodbye or forgiveness letters

    • sharing gratitude stories with family

    • blessing and caring for the body after death

    • lighting candles and speaking names during a vigil

    • designing a peaceful goodbye ceremony at home

    • planting a tree or garden in memory

    • making a memory altar with photos and keepsakes

    • preparing special music, poetry, or readings for a final moment

    • holding a seasonal grief circle

    • crafting legacy audio or video messages

    • crafting legacy projects with elders or those in the transition of death.

    Ritual is anything that brings intention, presence, and care to a transition — big or small. It is a way to say this matters and we will not rush past it.

  • I believe everyone deserves compassionate end-of-life and grief support, no matter their financial circumstances.

    My services use a sliding scale so you can choose a level that feels fair and sustainable for you:

    • Community Rate — for those with limited resources

    • Standard Rate — reflects the true cost of my time and care

    • Supporter Rate — an optional invitation for those with more resources to help support those in crisis or with fewer resources, creating a practice rooted in community and reciprocity. This rate is always optional for higher earners and is never expected. Please only contribute if you feel called.

    Before we begin, we’ll talk together about your budget and what’s possible, with no pressure or shame.

    This is a practice rooted in community and reciprocity, where each person gives what they can, and receives what they need.

Connect With Quietus Light

Endings, grief, and aging can feel overwhelming — you don’t have to face them alone. Whether you are preparing, remembering, or simply wondering, I’m here to hold space with you. Reach out to begin a conversation.