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By Leader Editor Kara Apel Editor’s note: When you grow up in a family-owned business, it can seem like...

A relatively new option for the dying and their family members, death doulas provide non-medical emotional support and assist in navigating the end-of-life process. They advocate for the wishes and final preferences of a dying person while serving as a calming presence for loved ones.

When my brother-in-law passed away two years ago, so many people wanted to help us, but we didn’t know where to start or what we needed. Our funeral director proved to be invaluable because he gave us ideas about what to ask for during the process.

The series, published on both Facebook and YouTube, highlights funeral homes across the country whose owners take interesting or innovative approaches to their businesses.

As deathcare professionals, our job is to help people experiencing personal loss understand what is happening and move through grief with intention and support. Our jobs are meaningful and important, but they can also come with large amounts of heaviness.

Certain games have even become a medium for players to engage with painful emotions, as some have plot points related to grief and loss that are incorporated throughout.

Dexter David’s journey provides a compelling look at how you can pursue your passions and still have a calling for funeral service. His story is a great resource to share with those in the next generation who you think would excel in our profession.

Without a funeral, what are the hundreds of thousands of families who have lost or will lose a loved one during the pandemic, regardless of cause of death, supposed to do?

Marilyn Jones Gould recently spoke with two next-generation leaders, Jae Rhodes and J.B. Rhodes IV, who said COVID-19 has made them even more determined to be a part of this industry.

In connection with our first-ever Mortuary School Spirit Contest, we spoke with Tanya Scotece, Ph.D., who is a licensed funeral director and a professor at Miami Dade College.