In this recent issue with The Sunset Post, it was fun to revisit the beginning of my journey in funeral service and reflect on how much has changed over the years. When I first entered the profession, I was one of very few women in the field. With a background in the biological sciences, I enrolled at the American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Services, graduating first in my class.
In those early days, many people doubted that a woman could succeed in funeral service, let alone own a funeral home. I remember telling my coworkers that one day I would have my own business. Most of them laughed. But in 1989, I purchased Jurek Park Slope Funeral Home and set out to prove that compassion, hard work, and perseverance could overcome any obstacle.
Looking back, what makes me proudest is not the longevity of my career, but the families I’ve been privileged to serve. Whether helping someone through an unexpected loss, keeping services affordable, or finding ways to reunite loved ones during the challenges of the pandemic, my goal has always been the same: to make a difficult time a little easier.
More than four decades later, I remain grateful for the path that began with a simple decision to help someone study for funeral service classes. Revisiting those early memories reminds me how far I’ve come and how fortunate I’ve been to spend a lifetime serving my community.