Lauren Richwine received her initial training with the Earth Traditions Program in 2018 and previously volunteered keeping vigil at deathbeds with Heartland Hospice. She launched Death Done Differently in 2019. She is a trained facilitator through the “Respecting Choices Advance Care Planning” Program with Parkview and is currently a member of the National Association of Certified Death Midwives (NACDM), the National End of Life Doula Alliance (NEDA), and the National Home Funeral Alliance (NHFA).

In 2023 after an anonymous complaint was filed by a funeral industry insider, the state of Indiana issued a cease and desist against Lauren’s business, Death Done Differently, demanding that she become a fully licensed funeral director and embalmer if she wished to continue her work as a community death care advocate.

She did not agree to their terms. 
Instead, she fought back.

With the support of many, especially the Institute for Justice, Lauren filed a federal lawsuit against the state challenging the Indiana funeral code and defending the work of death doulas in the Midwest.

The case is still underway. 
Lauren continues to offer her services to the community.