Elaine O'Reilly

Wilmington, NC

Elaine O’Reilly, Ed.D., has spent the past 32 years teaching Psychology in higher education. She is a published author, speaker, and former therapist whose combined professional experiences have shaped her commitment to compassionate, evidence‑informed care. This breadth of expertise led her to join the Board of Directors for the Center for Death Education, where she works to normalize the reality that we will all die someday, encourage thoughtful planning, and support individuals in living lives of meaning and legacy—whether large or small.

Elaine currently works with Lower Cape Fear LifeCare and is training to become a Death Doula. Across her work, she integrates foundational principles of positive psychology, philosophy, and spirituality, bringing a holistic, deeply human approach to conversations about death, dying, and living well.