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Episode Notes
Did you know most people don’t have time to grieve because they’re too busy canceling Netflix and clearing out the fridge?
In this episode of Buried in Work, Rachel Donnelly, founder of AfterLight and author of Late to Your Own Funeral, talks about what really happens after someone dies? The grief, the overwhelm, the paperwork, and the flaming dumpster fire no one prepares you for.
Rachel shares her personal story of loss, the chaos she inherited after the deaths of both her parents and uncle, and how it inspired her mission to help others navigate end-of-life logistics. Together, they talk candidly about:
Why having a will is not enough (and why it’s not your estate plan)
The emotional toll of being an executor while grieving
How to organize your loved one’s affairs without losing your mind
The “phases” of sorting out a loved one’s estate (and why order matters)
What digital assets, forgotten bank accounts, and unspoken wishes can cost your family
Whether you're in the thick of it or trying to get ahead of it, this conversation is a wake-up call to plan better, grieve fully, and make space for what really matters.
Because the best gift you can leave behind isn't stuff—it's peace.
Key Takeaways
-
Grief gets hijacked when we rush to “clean up” after someone’s death
- Estate planning is more than legal documents—it’s an act of love
- Start with organization: assets, debts, digital logins, and instructions
- You don’t have to do everything at once. Break it into phases.
- Lead with empathy: Rachel’s first question to every client is,
- “If I had a magic wand and could take three things off your plate, what would they be?”
Show Links
???? Visit Rachel’s website: wwmyafterlight.com
???? Buy her book Late to Your Own Funeral: latetoyourownfuneral.com
About Rachel
Rachel Donnelly is the founder of AfterLight, a consulting firm that helps families navigate the overwhelming tasks that follow the death of a loved one. After personally experiencing the emotional and logistical chaos of settling multiple estates—including those of her parents and uncle—Rachel made it her mission to create space for grief by managing what she calls “the flaming dumpster fire” of post-loss logistics.
She is also the co-founder of PALS (Professional Alliance of Loss Support), a national network of end-of-life service providers, and the author of the upcoming book Late to Your Own Funeral: How to Leave a Legacy, Not a Logjam, a practical and humorous guide to estate planning for Gen X, millennials, and beyond.
Rachel lives in Atlanta, Georgia, and is a leading voice in legacy organization, death care, and compassionate estate planning.
