news & press
By Stefano Esposito | Jan 7, 2026, 5:30am CST
‘Death doula’ provides comfort and support to the terminally ill on their final journey
Tiffany Johnson, an Oak Park woman who helps the dying navigate the last months and weeks of life, has recently found herself talking publicly about her work — while advocating for Illinois’ so-called right-to-die legislation.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
From Advocacy to Action: We Too Shall Pass Founder Launch "Wally’s Hearth," Illinois’ First Social-Model Hospice Home
OAK PARK, IL — Tiffany Johnson, founder of the death-honoring platform We Too Shall Pass, alongside renowned gerontologist Dr. Lydia Manning, announced the launch of Wally’s Hearth, a pioneering non-profit dedicated to establishing the first social-model hospice home in Illinois.
For years, We Too Shall Pass has served as a digital sanctuary, providing deathcare education, doula resources, and advocacy for end-of-life agency. The transition into physical care with Wally’s Hearth marks a critical evolution in the movement to humanize the dying process in the Chicagoland area.
"At We Too Shall Pass, we’ve spent years teaching people how to reclaim the end-of-life experience," says Tiffany Johnson. "Wally’s Hearth is the physical manifestation of that mission. It is the 'home' for the conversations we’ve been having—a place where dignity isn't just a concept, but a daily practice."
A New Blueprint for Illinois Deathcare
Unlike traditional clinical hospice facilities, Wally’s Hearth utilizes a social-model framework. This community-based approach prioritizes a domestic, family-centered environment where:
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Presence Over Protocols: 24/7 companionate care provided by trained staff and volunteers.
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Holistic Support: Integration of death doulas and end-of-life specialists—a core pillar of the We Too Shall Pass philosophy.
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Seamless Integration: Coordination with medical hospice providers to ensure clinical needs are met without compromising the warmth of a home setting.
Expertise Meets Empathy
The partnership between Johnson and Dr. Lydia Manning brings a unique blend of grassroots advocacy and academic rigor to the project. Dr. Manning, a leading expert in aging and resilience, emphasizes that Wally’s Hearth fills a desperate gap in the current healthcare landscape.
For more information on the intersection of deathcare education and community-supported hospice, visit We Too Shall Pass.
To donate or volunteer for the building project, visit WallysHearth.org.
Tiffany provided a safe space for our dad to openly discuss and unpack this unique and emotional stage in life–an area of discussion that [was] unknown territory for me and my siblings. Tiffany was able to break the ice, provide my dad some physical comfort and emotional support that was invaluable, and we were able follow Tiffany’s lead in comforting him with nostalgia, nurturing, and loving touch.
In October 2019, my Dad was in hospice care, and I reached out to Tiffany for advice on how to accept his final journey in life. She listened to me about my challenges and my stories about him. Her gentle guidance led me to a safe place to express my grief. Being among the very few people I called after he passed, I found great comfort in her words.
My husband--so strong with a big, warm personality--lingered in hospice for many days beyond the doctor’s expectations. Tiffany helped us through the emotional journey of his transition. She was so respectful of our space and needs. It’s hard to describe the emotional peace and comfort that her presence brought us. Having someone present whose sole focus is your dying loved one and your immediate family is an extraordinary gift at a critically important time.