Hello, I’m Erika Davis, the heart behind Guided Departures.
I’ve spent my life surrounded by loss—starting with the death of my father when I was just nine. By the time I was 14, I had also lost my great-grandmother, who helped raise me, and my only sister. Most recently, I experienced the journey of hospice care with my mother, whom I lost in 2023.
Through it all, I’ve come to understand death in a way that makes me feel at peace with the topic, and I’ve learned how important it is to have open conversations about it.
Guided Departures was born from my desire to help others during what is often the most difficult time in life. When we lose someone we love, grief can make even the simplest decisions feel impossible.
My goal is to provide clear, compassionate guidance for those facing the overwhelming task of planning a funeral or navigating end-of-life decisions.
I created this blog to open up conversations about death—topics that are often avoided or uncomfortable but are so necessary.
By discussing these things openly, I hope to help families and individuals come together to make the process of planning and coping a little easier.
Whether you are learning how to write a eulogy for someone you didn’t know well, planning a funeral, or preparing your own end-of-life arrangements, I’m here to provide information that is both practical and comforting.
My goal is to make the information you need simple, actionable, and easy to understand, reducing the overwhelm that often comes with these decisions.
Thank you for visiting Guided Departures. I hope this space can be a source of comfort and clarity for you in times when you need it most.