alexandra kathryn mosca
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The Search for Self: Embracing Change and Joy
Knowing Yourself is The Beginning of All Wisdom –Aristotle I’ve spent much of my life unsure who I am. Not in the dramatic, soul-searching way novels portray—but in the quiet, persistent ache of trying on identities like ill-fitting dresses. Funeral director. Writer. Model. Actress. Author. Each stitched with hope, worn with grace, sometimes discarded with…
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Where the Famous Rest: Reflections from the Front Row of Farewell
I’ve stood in cathedrals, temples, and on city streets, notebook in hand. As a funeral director and writer, I’ve seen public grief become performance, legacy woven into ritual, and iconic lives distilled into final acts. Attending and writing about the funerals of public figures—Mayor Ed Koch, Governor Hugh Carey, Joan Rivers, Justice Antonin Scalia, Celia…
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Spooky Season Guide: Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown Highlights
🎃 When autumn arrives and the leaves turn bright colors in the Hudson Valley, Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown become a Halloween wonderland full of stories and spooky charm. No matter if you love a good scare, enjoy history, or just want some fall fun, this part of New York has something memorable for everyone. This…
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Personal Style and Remembrance: A Funeral Director’s Insight
“My mother’s signature color was emerald green. She said it both honored her Irish heritage and made her feel like royalty,” the daughter of the deceased told me a few days ago. At the arrangement conference, when she handed me a silk wrap dress –one of her mother’s favorites–in that color, I knew exactly what…
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Creating a Beautiful Summer-Themed Memorial Service
My colleague, Michael Rizzotto, the manager of a Brooklyn, New York, funeral home, recently shared a story about a family he served. During the arrangement conference, he asked, as he always does, about the deceased’s interests and hobbies. The funeral home aims to personalize each funeral. “They told us about her passion for the beach,”…
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Celebrate the Golden Days of September
With Labor Day Weekend behind us, many declare that summer is over. Suddenly, it’s all about pumpkin lattes and Halloween decorations. Yet, even as stores display clothing for a “crisp day in the country,” the truth is summer lingers—officially, the season doesn’t end until September 22. Don’t rush the transition; September offers the true spirit…