“When You’re Prepared to Die, You Live Better.”

About a decade ago, Hayley Hughes sat with one of her first hospice patients and witnessed a moment that would change her life forever. The man—gentle, wise, and very near death—had asked Hayley to help him complete his hospice paperwork. His wife and daughter waited outside while he calmly signed every form. When he was done, he called them in. His daughter curled onto his lap like a little girl. His wife pressed her head to his chest. And as Willie Nelson’s “Angels Flying Too Close to the Ground” played in the background, he looked at them both and said, “My life, it has been such a gift. Knowing each of you is the greatest gift.”

Moments later, he took his final breath.

This experience was both heartbreaking and illuminating. “It was heart-wrenching and inspiring. Soul-crushing and beautiful,” Hayley recalls. “It was everything I had feared about death—and everything I had hoped.”

In that room, Hayley didn’t just witness a good death. She experienced the power of clarity, of peace, and of having nothing left unsaid. From that moment forward, she made a personal commitment—to live more deliberately and to help others do the same.

From Hospice Work to Personal Loss

Hayley Hughes is a mother of two, a hospice executive, a certified Death Doula, an amateur birdwatcher, a scuba diver, a regular live music patron, and someone with deep respect for both the facts and poetry of mortality. After decades in end-of-life care, Hayley observed the same pattern over and over: people unsure what mattered, families left guessing, and goodbyes missed.

Years later, her grandmother—Jeane—called. Lucid for the first time in weeks, she asked Hayley and her children to visit. “She needed to say goodbye,” Hayley says. And she did. She held her great-granddaughter for the first and last time, gave treasured gifts, and peacefully said goodbye a few days later.

Hayley had seen both ends of the spectrum. But she knew most people never get a moment like that.

“Most deaths don’t allow for closure,” she says. “They unfold slowly or strike without warning. There’s no grand monologue. There’s just the mess of real life.”

Why Deathwishes Was Created

Because of these experiences, Hayley created Deathwishes—a space built to hold the words, wishes, and reflections we often leave unsaid. A place to pass on stories, objects, music, and meaning. A place to let your people know what matters. And to leave behind something that truly reflects who you are.

Deathwishes isn’t a legal will. It isn’t a collection of sterile medical forms. Instead, it’s a practical, personal platform for sharing your real-life wishes—while you still can.

“I’m not a guru,” Hayley says. “I’m a person who understands that when you’re prepared to die, you live better.”

Meet the Humans Behind Deathwishes

Deathwishes is brought to life by a team with deep roots in hospice care, funeral services, product innovation, and brand development. Each member brings unique expertise and shared purpose to the mission.

Hayley Hughes, Founder – is a longtime hospice executive and certified Death Doula. Her career has been dedicated to making the end of life more meaningful for individuals and families—and she created Deathwishes to bring that same care to a wider audience.

Hailey Lowder, Co-founder – leads concept development and operations, shaping both the brand and the user experience. With a strong background in startups and funeral service, Lowder’s leadership ensures that every part of Deathwishes reflects its mission to make death planning approachable and empowering.

Andrew Germer, Head of Product & Marketing – brings the brains behind the build. He pairs deep research with creative strategy to ensure the app not only works beautifully but connects with real people’s needs and emotions.

Looking Ahead

Together, this team is creating something that’s never existed before—a bold, accessible, modern platform that turns end-of-life planning into an act of love, not dread.

And we’re just getting started. To learn more about our mission and the people behind it, visit our team page.