A former practising mortician has opened up about what it's really like working in the funeral industry.
There's seemingly a lot of interest in the process of preparing a person to be laid to rest, as well as a lot of myths around methods such as cremation.
Content creator Tilly (@yunniesun) said it was one of the most 'fulfilling' experiences of her life, as she enjoyed the different aspects of mortuary work.
A mortician, also known as an undertaker (nothing to do with the WWE star), prepares bodies for burial or cremation. Their work can also involve embalming, arranging transportation, and handling paperwork.
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In a TikTok video from last year, Tilly said that helping families navigate grief and being part of their most vulnerable moments gave her a great sense of purpose.
However, she also revealed the draining challenges of working in the funeral industry.
"The biggest thing is that I had no life whatsoever and whatever mortician, funeral director, morgue worker, whoever you ask, intern, licensed or not, will tell you the same thing," she said. "You will have no life, the funeral home will become your life, because death doesn't sleep and neither can we, apparently."
She also noted that 'internships are very hard to come by' and even if you do manage to get one, 'you're gonna be in for the ride of grunt work for the longest time'.
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Tilly explained: "All you're pretty much gonna be able to do is pick ups and run errands, and that's if you can secure an internship, which is also a big part of why a lot of people are discouraged from entering this field.
"I got lucky, not everybody gets lucky."
The reason why she didn't go back into the field, at the time of recording the video, was because the then-27-year-old just had a baby and was in a brand new relationship, which she was 'trying to nurture'.
She added that 'working 10 hour days, every single day, sometimes for 14, 15 days, was just not it'.
"My entire life was the funeral home, and again, while I enjoy what I do, and it brings me fulfilment, I am a human being," Tilly noted.
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Her advice to aspiring morticians is to consider carefully if it really is the job for you.
While the field can be rewarding, it is best pursued without other major commitments outside work.
"Maybe wait until you're a little older," she suggested. "What I found is that, again, I love this field, and I would love to go back.
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"But it's better if I go back in the future when l'm not so much needed here."
Anish Vij