Jess Wakefield

How did you first get into this work?

I was asked to join a removal/transportation team while I was working at a nursing home and finishing up college. I fell in love with the profession and the rest you could say is history.

What keeps you doing it?

I believe every life deserves to be honored with dignity, truth, and care. I’ve seen how meaningful ceremony and presence can bring comfort in the hardest moments, and that keeps me going. This isn’t just a job to me. It’s a calling. A way to restore humanity, hold space for grief, and help people feel seen when it matters most.

Who has mentored, inspired, or encouraged you along the way?

My family has been my anchor. Even after 17 years in this profession, which still feels recent in the grand arc of funeral service. I’ve carried the weight of navigating a space that wasn’t always welcoming to women. I didn’t have mentors who looked like me or shared my path. That absence shaped me. It’s why I show up now, fiercely committed to being the guide I never had, for every new voice entering this field, especially those who’ve been overlooked or underestimated.

One piece of advice for women entering this profession.

Never let anyone tell you that you have to change who you are to grow or be promoted. Your passion and excitement for this work are your greatest assets, protect them. This profession isn’t easy, but for the right people, it feels like home. Let that sense of purpose fuel you through the hard days, and don’t dim your light to fit into someone else’s idea of who you should be.

Favorite moment or memory from your work so far.

It’s hard to choose just one moment, there have been so many that have stayed with me. From helping a mother hold her child one last time, to guiding a community through the unimaginable with gentleness and grace, to planning a service that brings a family together in love and laughter. Some of the families I’ve cared for have become lifelong friends. These moments, big and small, are reminders that this work is sacred. Every time I can ease someone’s burden, witness their love, or help create meaning in the midst of grief, I’m reminded why I chose this path.

What’s a surprising skill or fun fact about you?

I’m a big Disney fan, of both Walt and the Parks. What inspires me most is the incredible level of detail and intentionality built into every experience. Whether it’s the hidden magic tucked into park design or the storytelling that sparks awe across generations, Disney reminds me how powerful it is to create space for wonder.

In a profession that often holds the weight of the world, Disney gives me a moment to escape, to reconnect with childhood joy, and to dream a little bigger. It’s a reminder that even in serious work, delight matters, and so does the care we put into every small touch.