funeral service
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Celebrating Friendship and Career Journeys: Our StoryCorps Interview
Last month, my best girlfriend, Doris, and I were interviewed by StoryCorps about our lengthy careers as funeral directors. The interview was posted today and is also being aired throughout the day on NPR. It was truly enjoyable to share stories, reminisce about our careers, and discuss our friendship with listeners. These moments of reflection…
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A Day in my life —A Cemetery in the Snow, a Law Seminar and Stories to Tell
My day began early, as it always does. I’m a morning person, and I’ve found that the hours between 5:00 and 7:00 AM are an ideal time for writing, especially with my busy and often intense days at the funeral home. During these early hours, my mind is fresh, and there are typically no incoming…
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Grieving at the Holidays: Through the Eyes of a Funeral Director
Some call it “the happiest time of the year,” but it can feel like jingle hell for others. The holiday season has always been a time of joy and celebration, when families come together to share laughter, love, and create lasting memories. But for those who have lost a loved one, the holidays can be…
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Remembering Nelson DeMille: A Literary Legacy
On of the advantages of being a funeral director who writes about famous funerals is being able to attend them. The most recent high-profile funeral I attended was in September, for Nelson DeMille, one of my favorite authors. DeMille died on September 17, 2024 at the age of 81. The following day, obituaries appeared in…
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The Myth of Running Out of Cemetery Space
One of the prevailing myths is that we, as a country, are running out of cemetery space. While some of the cemeteries that were established in the 19th century may be short of space (although there are still graves available), that is definitely not the case on Long Island. I was happy to be able…
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12 Things No One Tells You About Being a Funeral Director
Much to my surprise, an article I wrote for BuzzFeed has –so far– garnered 25.4K views in five days. You can read the article on their site (with their title change): I’m A Funeral Director And These Are The 12 Parts Of The Job I Can Honestly Say Nothing Prepares You For