Our Story
Journey Home for Empowered Living and Dying was founded by Renee Moor, a Buddhist psychotherapist, meditation teacher, and end-of-life doula. Her personal journey through the profound losses of her father and husband revealed both the healing power of mindfulness and compassionate presence, and the gaps in how our culture approaches death. In a system where medical professionals—trained primarily to prolong life—are often the main guides at the end, she recognized the need for holistic support. Journey Home was created to provide the emotional, mental, and practical care that helps people meet death not only as something to endure, but as an experience that can be held with peace, meaning, and even beauty.
With this vision, Journey Home was born.
Our intention is simple yet powerful:
To create peaceful and meaningful memories at the end of life.
As a registered charity, Journey Home is guided by a team of dedicated directors, supported by passionate committee members and volunteers who serve the community with compassion and care.
Our Board
Bonnie Frenette, Chair of Board
I am recently retired from my position as the Director of Ontario Works in Hamilton. I was fortunate to have a fulfilling 35-year career in various positions within social services.
My philosophy has always been to focus on a person-centred approach to supporting people, and I am honoured to bring my experience and knowledge to supporting Journey Home.
Dr. Alexandra Farag, Diector
I am a Palliative Care Physician and Assistant Clinical Professor at McMaster University. I have been honoured to care for patients and families with life-limiting illnesses and teach the next generation of physicians about compassionate care.
My goal is to help demedicalize and demystify death and dying, and help all people with serious illness receive the support that they need in their communities.
Dr. Ine Wauben, Director
I work at McMaster University, where my career has focused on aging research and organizational management with the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA), Canada’s premium platform for research on aging, and McMaster Institute for Research on Aging (MIRA).
I am inspired by the life stories of older adults and what matters most in life, celebrating meaning, connection and shared experiences. I am honoured to support Journey Home’s mission.
Tina Burgess, Director
My past includes working with young children at the YMCA, radio broadcasting, and running a dedicated team of fraud and payments analysts for a tech company focused on the travel industry.
I have developed the skills to communicate effectively with anyone about any topic, while also considering their concerns and needs to create a tailored plan of action.
James Maggs, Director
Since 2014, I’ve had the privilege of working with families through every stage of life, guiding them through the often-overwhelming world of real estate with clarity, strategy, and care at each phase of their lives.
I'm proud to support Journey Home and its mission to provide compassionate education and guidance for those navigating end-of-life transitions. Just as I aim to bring peace of mind to my clients in real estate, I believe in the importance of creating dignity and support for all of life’s transitions.
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Renee Moor, Founder and Executive Director
My life’s work has been rooted in service, healing, and transformation. As a Senior Behaviour Therapist, Buddhist Psychotherapist, and certified death doula, I am deeply committed to supporting others through life’s most profound transitions. I find joy in helping people cultivate peace within themselves and in their relationships with the world around them.
When we meet life with compassion and awareness, even the most difficult moments can be pathways to love. I founded Journey Home to offer that possibility to help others find peace in the face of change, and to ensure that no one has to navigate life or death alone.
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Committee Members
Kristen Lew-Byrne
Registered Social Worker & Educator, Specializing in Grief, Loss and Bereavement, Palliative and End of Life Care, and Geriatric Social Work. I practice from a compassionate, person-centred, holistic lens.
For the past 12 years, I have had the privilege of working alongside clients and their families in hospitals, retirement communities, long-term care facilities, hospice care settings, and the broader community. I am passionate about normalizing conversations about death and dying, advocating for a good death, and the belief that we are all just walking each other home.
Lori Lawson
I have been a registered social worker for the past 36 years, with experience both in community and healthcare settings. As a leader in health and social services, I bring a deep commitment to person and family-centred care and advocacy for vulnerable and equity-deserving groups.
I believe every person deserves the right to live and die with dignity. It is with deep respect and compassion that I support Journey Home Sanctuary in its mission to establish a non-medical community-based space where families and loved ones can be with peace and meaningful memories at end of life.
Allen Tedjo
I am a Registered Psychotherapist (RP) and the founder of True Health Therapy, a wellness clinic in Hamilton focused on integrative mental health and mind-body healing. My clinical work is grounded in cognition and behaviour, mindfulness, trauma-informed care, somatic therapies, and a deep respect for the wisdom of many states of consciousness.
It is an honour to support Journey Home's vision of restoring dignity, meaning, and empowerment to the end-of-life experience.
Heather Antoni
Holding an MA in Theology (Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy), I work as a Registered Psychotherapist and Chaplain, specializing in grief and existential challenges and completed my training in Spiritual Care through St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton.
I have found that connecting with birds of prey naturally conjures meaning, hope and direction for people and has created New Feather Therapy as a way to help others experience this connection and hope to bring this to Joureny Home Sanctuary to support those at end of life.
Chantel Boyd
I'm an IT professional who has worked for large technology companies, consulting firms, and the public sector. At work, I enjoy leading teams and analyzing and solving challenging situations.
Working with Renee and Journey Home this past year has inspired me to evaluate my life intentions, which is what I'll be focusing on personally this year.
Tony Velenosi
As an Advisor, I'm passionate about helping people make informed choices to build savings and help protect assets. With 15 years of experience as a Financial Planner, I understand the role I play in clients' lives. My valuable advice is meant to provide clarity and insight towards your financial future.
Working with Journey Home enables our community members to receive education in financial planning for end-of-life care, empowering them to make informed decisions for themselves and their loved ones.