Featured Article in NEW YORK STATE FUNERAL DIRECTOR ASSOCIATION

Hometown:  Glenville, NY

Mortuary School Attended:  Hudson Valley Community College

Date Licensed: March 2019

What made you interested in a career in funeral service?

At age 17, when my parents asked me if I wanted to get into the family funeral  business, I couldn’t run fast enough!  In my opinion, not many teenagers know enough about LIFE to be confronted with death and loss on a daily basis.

Sure enough, after graduating from college, traveling the world, and exploring a spectrum of different professions, I found myself back to square one, next door to my childhood home: Glenville Funeral Home. However, the difference between the Brittany here and the girl 7 years prior is a plethora of life lessons, adventures, loves, heartbreaks, wins, losses, and overall a woman who had a deeper understanding of life.

One day, in between jobs, my Dad asked me to assist a family at the funeral home. The widow loss his wife of 55 years; together they shared a life filled with memories, a handful which were shared with me through his storytelling. I was captivated by the power of listening and in return, needed to be there for this man I had only just met. From our conversation, I learned that his wife enjoyed gardening and loved white orchids. Before calling hours, I ran over to a local flower shop and purchased a white orchid. His facial expression when he saw the orchid was it for me. There’s no other career like a funeral director. As a funeral director, we have the opportunity to bring light to those going through their darkest moments.

Life/education/professional background prior to mortuary science school:

After Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School, I attended the University of Hartford on a Dance and Academic scholarship. I completed my Bachelor’s Degree at the University at Albany in Communications and Business. Throughout high school and some of college, I was a competitive cheerleader and dancer.  I learned a lot about business and people working as an Account Manager for a startup marketing agency called Boogie, in Albany and Brooklyn, NY.

What do you wish people knew/understood about funeral service?

That every life has a story, and funeral directors are in charge of making sure those stories are told. We aren’t just the wo[men] in black.

Looking back, what advice would you give yourself as a new mortuary science student?

Overall, don’t be afraid to ask questions! Never be intimidated by professionals who have been in this industry longer than you. We all start somewhere.

What activities do you like to do outside of the Funeral Home?

I’m always finding the time to check things off my bucket list, which means I could be doing anything! My fiancé and I love to travel and eat; we will drive a few hours away on a Sunday to check out somewhere we’ve never been before (hopefully dog friendly, so we can bring our furbaby, Cesar)! This career requires you to put negative energy elsewhere. For me, that means staying active with bicycling, gardening, and working out with friends!

Role model:

I feel you need to really know someone in order to believe they are someone you aspire to be like. Sorry, Audrey Hepburn, but my fiancé wins! When he wakes up in the morning, he already hits the ground running (theoretically, because he hates running)! I got lucky finding a partner, who is both my #1 fan and the motivational force in making every day matter. And I strive to be that for him, and everyone around me.

Favorite quote:

Normal is a dryer setting.