Trudy James is the founder of Heartwork/Speaking of Dying and the producer of the Speaking of Dying film. A retired interfaith hospital chaplain, she graduated from the University of Kansas and Union Theological Seminary in New York City. She learned hands-on lessons about death, dying and grief while creating congregation-based volunteer AIDS CareTeams in the early days of the AIDS epidemic in Arkansas; her ground-breaking work with AIDS was honored at the Clinton White House. Later, she created an AIDS Care Team program in Seattle and served as a chaplain at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.

After retiring, she spent four years pioneering community-based end-of-life planning workshops and two years producing the 30-minute film, Speaking of Dying. The movie depicts end-of-life options and resources and the value of speaking openly about dying before there is a crisis. Trudy trained fifteen facilitators who lead end-of-life workshops and screen the film. Trudy retired in 2021 but continues to consult with individuals and groups regarding issues of aging, living deeply, and dying well. She is on the Advisory Board for End of Life, Washington.

Contact info: 206-985-0400; email tjheartwork3@gmail.com