What We Offer
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Family Guidance & Education
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Emotional & Practical Support in navigating the unknown
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Caregiver Support and Respite
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End-of-Life Planning & Coordination
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Workshops & Training
Mission
Contentus supports individuals, families, and communities throughout the end-of-life journey.
Delivering accessible, personalized support that honours each person’s values, cultural background, and wishes
Educating and empowering people to participate confidently and compassionately in end-of-life support
Building partnerships that bring dying back into the fabric of community life
Offering presence, guidance, and practical resources so families feel supported
Our mission is to transform fear into understanding, isolation into connection, and confusion into comfort — one person, one family, and one community at a time.
About Us
Contentus – End-of-Life Support & Community Education
North Vancouver, BC
Contentus helps individuals and families navigate the final chapter of life with clarity, calm, and confidence. Inspired by successful European models of community-based care, Contentus brings death and dying back to the community & family— where support, care, presence, and dignity come first.
Desiree Kranendijk
I am the Founder of Contentus, a North Vancouver initiative created to support individuals and their loved ones through the end-of-life journey — and to help bring “dying well” and “a good death” back into the home and community.
Contentus is grounded in the compassionate, community-based approach widely practiced in the Netherlands and Northern Europe, where dying is understood as a shared human experience supported by knowledge, presence, and care.
Many families in Canada encounter the end of life feeling unprepared, isolated, or unsure where to turn. With strained systems, limited hospice beds, and reduced community supports, people are often left without guidance. Contentus was created to bridge that gap by offering a calm presence, clear information, and steady support throughout life’s final chapter.
With over 5 years experience working as a Hospice Health Care Aide and studying end-of-life care in Vancouver, I have provided hands-on personal care, emotional support, and bedside presence to people in their final stages of life. I have seen the difference it makes when families feel informed, confident, and supported — and the hardship when they don’t.
Contentus was created to help families feel less alone and more capable of caring for someone they love at the end of life, through education, compassionate support, and open dialogue.
Qualifications
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Master’s degree in Development Studies (Social Sciences)
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Lifelong connection to Dutch traditions of open dialogue and community involvement around death and dying
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Professional training including the Health Care Assistant Program at Capilano University, End-of-Life Doula Certification at Douglas College, LEAP™ Personal Support Worker Palliative Care course, FoodSafe, Trauma-Informed Care, First Aid, and Violence Prevention Training
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Over 4.5 years of experience as a hospice health care aide
Community Partnerships
At Contentus, we believe end-of-life care belongs to everyone. By partnering with local organizations, community groups, and care providers, we help extend compassionate support and education beyond medical settings, bringing care back to where people live and connect.
Partnership opportunities include:
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Co-creating resources or community-based projects that strengthen collective care
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Hosting conversations and educational events that build death literacy
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Providing caregiver and volunteer training
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Offering workshops for staff, faith communities, or neighbourhood networks
Together, we can nurture a more connected and caring community—one where knowledge, compassion, and presence guide the way.