Women In Funeral Service: A Career Change To Die For

Meet some of the women profiled in MORE magazine's article about making a career switch to funeral service.

Laura Fulcer, 43. Funeral Director Since 2007

The first time Laura Fulcer had to confront death, at age 13, she broke out in hives on her way to the service. Three decades later, the Shawano, Wisconsin, funeral director spends her days—and nights and weekends and holidays—collecting bodies, embalming them and arranging their clothes, hair and makeup. "I didn't think in a million years this is what I'd be doing now," says Fulcer, who left a career in health insurance because she got tired of denying claims. "But now I can't see myself not doing it."

Darla Tripoli, 47. Mortuary Cosmetologist Since 2003

A former executive administrative assistant to the president of the Pittsburgh Symphony Society, Darla Tripoli got her funeral director’s license at 40. She has since carved out a successful freelance career as a mortuary cosmetologist and teacher, giving seminars as far away as Russia. “Airbrush cosmetics is huge now, and that’s my specialty,” she says.

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