Who We Are…

It’s pretty simple, death is the one thing that unites us all but as a society we tend to turn a blind eye to it until it can’t be ignored. And, then we are unsure about how to navigate all the complexity death and dying can bring which can result in stress, frustration, and isolation.

The Death Network was born from a conversation that gained traction within our community and then started to breathe new life into how we were approaching our own lives. Accepting our mortality has caused us to make some big shifts in our lifestyles and mindsets. Talking about death can be hard, our mission is to remove the taboo and create a safe space for everyone to explore what their mortality means to them.

Meet The Team

Penny Waugh

Founder & CEO

To me, death isn’t just something that just happens at the end of our lives, it’s happening all the time. Everything is tied to the circle of life and when I live my life through that lens I’m more intentional with my time and relationships. My hope is that by exploring grief & death we can open up honest dialog about what we want our own end-of-life experiences to be like.

My journey of exploring my own mortality sprouted from an internal calling that I was not living my life's purpose and I realized I only had 2 options: 1 - listen to what that voice was trying to tell me, or 2 - continue to ignore it and try to drown it out with the mostly unhealthy habits I had established over my lifetime. I choose #2 for a long time, until I was burnt-out, exhausted and spiritually empty. When I had a moment to pause (thank you broken foot!) and started to listen to that voice, I learned that the only way to fulfill my purpose was to go through the mud of my past and learn the lessons that had been lingering in the background for so long. Healing our grief and trauma and discovering who we really are is a lifelong journey and there is no right or wrong time to start it. Shame and guilt used to guide my decision making, I’ve learned to replace that with self compassion and discovery which has unlocked valuable lessons for me. Discovering who we really are can be hard work, it’s not fun opening up the closet of skeletons and embracing the lessons they hold, but it’s necessary if we want to live a meaningful life.

I spend a lot of time trying to understand what my skeletons want to teach me, and my life has become an exciting, magical place because of what I have learned from them. I left a 30 year corporate career to become a certified Death Doula, I’ve edited my relational circle and only spend time with those who support and nurture my growth, and I try to be intentional about listening more and talking less… man that’s hard! I’ve discovered a meaningful life for me comes from those I am connected to and that’s where my priorities lie now.

For me, part of living my life to the fullest includes crafting an end-of-life experience that reflects the unique life I led. What does that mean? Before I die, those who loved me the most will gather, laugh, share their quirky stories about me, and celebrate me with love and authenticity. After I die, they’ll gather and lower me into the earth in the same way that I was born… naturally.

That’s how I’ll Do Death Differently, how about you?

Yiru Pace

Chief Innovation Architect

As a member of Generation Z, the concept of “death” has often felt distant and unfamiliar. So when I was introduced to the idea of “The Death Network”, I was curious - which led me to explore a realm I had never considered before.

After doing some research, I realized a shared sentiment among people of my age - a lack of knowledge about death. Many individuals like myself were unsure about the appropriate things to say or wear at a funeral. It became evident that our generation is not adequately prepared for the inevitable, and this ignited my passion for change.

‘Doing Death Different’ to me means a shift towards greater awareness and education. I want to contribute to a more informed and open conversation among my peers about death.

Meghan Rotkosky

Culture and Communications Chief

Having recently navigated the death of a parent, I encountered a maze of emotions, logistics, and decisions. As a typical Millennial, I was astonished to see how the death, burial, and funeral industries are stuck in the past, especially in terms of technology. When Penny first mentioned her passion to create a community that navigates and educates on the delicate but significant process of death, I jumped at the opportunity.

We go through metaphorical and literal deaths throughout our lives: the death of loved ones, dreams, relationships, and different chapters of our lives. Don’t we deserve a network that destigmatizes and educates those of us living in the present, not the past? Everyone should be able to Do Death Differently, in a way that is authentic and natural to them, and I am so excited to be a part of that.

Man under red light wearing a hat, earrings, red jacket, and leopard print bandana with black net around his face

Brendan Reilly

Afterlife Architect

Growing up, I was taught the idea that death is a part of life, nothing to be fearful of, but to be aware of as a sure thing regardless. Memento mori; remember, you too shall die. And so, with the knowledge that our purpose here on Earth is to spread as much joy and compassion as possible before that happens, I want to contribute to a more just, equitable, and creative world any way that I am able. The concept of death has always been a guidestone.

‘Death’ can mean change, not necessarily tragedy, though grief in the face of loss is always understandable and welcome. The opportunity to write for The Death Network came along during a period of great change, and I’m grateful for the role this organization plays.

To ‘Do Death Different’ is to approach all aspects of life and death with an open-hearted, honest compassion and to allow for the non-prescriptive. It means taking a holistic approach to our presence and impact during our life and after, caring for everyone and everything around us we might affect or have affected, and operating with a desire to leave the place just a little bit better than we found it.

Selfie of woman with blue eyes and dark brown hair wearing black shirt

Elaina Lilienthal

Afterlife Architect

As a new mom, I've had to really ask myself for the first time, "What happens when I die?" I've had to make plans for what happens to her when I am gone. It was surprisingly difficult to figure out how to make official plans. People shouldn't wait until they are facing death to get their affairs in order. The Death Network helps get everything in place, all in one place.

Doing Death Different means showing people death and grief don't have to be a taboo subject. We should be open and honest about our fears and struggles when it comes to the topic. I'm excited to help create a safe space to do that.

Autumn Fowler

Afterlife Intern

As it becomes a more relevant topic within my family, I became interested in delving into the profound and often challenging realm of death. The Death Network has allowed me to utilize my interest in technology to gain perspective on death, especially the changing attitudes surrounding it in recent years. Many in my age group see death as far off and don’t consider its effects on their lives now. The Death Network offers an opportunity for us to understand our impact in the evolving deathcare and funeral industry as we get older and need to make these decisions for the people around us and eventually ourselves.

Death is a change that can be painful, but also an opportunity for growth. Every day, I am learning from the stories shared on our platform, gaining a deeper understanding of the diverse experiences and perspectives related to death and how each and every person does death differently.

Doing Death Differently?

How are we

Looking out for the small surprises in life.