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Episode Notes
No one prepares you for the brutal reality that grief doesn’t come alone. It shows up hand-in-hand with overwhelming administrative tasks, financial confusion, and legal red tape that can bury a grieving spouse in stress.
In this episode of Buried in Work, Jasmine Hathaway, founder of Compass Coordinators and co-founder of PALS (Professional Alliance of Life Services), shares how the sudden loss of her husband forced her to navigate the complex world of estate planning, paperwork, and system failures—alone, with a baby on her hip. That heartbreaking experience led her to launch Compass Coordinators, a company that helps families find clarity amid chaos. She also co-founded PALS (Professional Alliance of Life Services), creating a supportive community of trained after-loss professionals nationwide.
If you’ve ever delayed writing a will or assumed “it’ll all work out,” this conversation is your wake-up call. It's about grief, loss, support, and the empowerment that comes when we plan ahead and show up for others in their hardest moments.
Key Takeaways
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Why administrative overwhelm hits hardest during deep grief
- How the lack of estate planning created long-term stress for Jasmine and her family
- The moment that sparked the creation of Compass Coordinators
- How PALS is raising the standard for after-loss services across the country
- What grieving spouses really need—and how accountability can be more helpful than sympathy
- How to empower others by combining compassion with organization and clear planning
Show Links
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???? Compass Coordinators: https://compasscoordinators.com
- ???? PALS – Professional Alliance of Life Services: https://afterlosspros.com
- ???? Contact Jasmine: jasmine@compasscoordinators.com
About Jasmine
Jasmine Hathaway is the founder of Compass Coordinators, a company dedicated to helping grieving families navigate the complex administrative tasks that follow the death of a loved one. After losing her husband to cancer in 2015, Jasmine found herself overwhelmed by paperwork, legal responsibilities, and unanswered questions—while also raising a toddler and managing her own grief. That experience ignited her passion to ensure others never feel as lost and unsupported as she once did.
In addition to leading Compass Coordinators, Jasmine is a co-founder of PALS (Professional Alliance of Life Services)—a national network of trained after-loss professionals who provide compassionate, practical guidance to families during life’s most difficult transitions. Through PALS, she is not only transforming grief support, but also training and empowering others to do the same work with integrity and heart.
Jasmine is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and serves clients across the United States. Whether she’s guiding a widow through estate paperwork or mentoring future after-loss professionals, Jasmine leads with empathy, clarity, and a deep belief in community over competition.
