Firstly, I am like you — someone trying to make sense of life’s joys and sorrows, and someone who has been stopped in their tracks by the death of a loved one.

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My journey into this work began in 2019, but the heart of Undertaking Grace was borne from the death of my husband, Garryn in 2018. In navigating the funeral system, I discovered that families have far more rights and choices than we are often led to believe. Taking ownership of those choices gave me a sense of control at a time when everything felt out of control. It brought me peace to know I had done everything possible for him, and I believe that shaped how my daughter and I were able to rebuild our lives.

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That experience lit a fire in me to help other families. Even in my own grief, I could see that families who felt informed and empowered fared better in their journey from deathcare into bereavement. By contrast, those left uncertain or unaware of their options often carried unnecessary stress into their grief. I knew then that something in the system had to change.

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Since 2019, I have worked in the funeral industry — now with over 7 years of professional experience. From being part of a pioneering start-up to supporting thousands of families directly, I have witnessed where families fall through the cracks, and how a lack of death literacy compounds trauma, contributes to staff burnout, and adds to the broader mental health crisis.

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Today, I bring together lived experience, professional expertise, and a vision for change. I hold a Compassionate Bereavement Care® Certification through the MISS Foundation and practice the ATTEND Model of Care, grounding my work in evidence-based, trauma-informed practice. I am also an educator, presenter, and advocate, regularly educating healthcare and community professionals about death literacy and bereavement support.

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I don’t fit neatly within the traditional funeral industry because I believe something larger and more human is needed. Death has been commodified, but it doesn’t have to be. My vision is for families to be cared for and guided seamlessly from healthcare into deathcare, and from deathcare into healthy bereavement.

 

The Deathcare Worker role is designed to build these bridges — so that every family, every staff member, and every community feels supported, informed, and empowered at one of life’s most vulnerable times.

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