A Conversation with Death's Apprentice

Meet Christa Ovenell, a former Principal turned funeral director, embalmer, death educator, death doula and a genuine trailblazer, to talk about her experience in the death care industry.

When I picture a mortician, I envision a person - a man, to be specific - with a dour disposition, dressed in a sombre black suit, who prepares the deceased so they look like they’re slumbering. It’s a slight-of-hand illusion that somehow tricks those who are left behind into thinking that their loved ones are not dead.

Then there’s Christa Ovenell. She’s vibrant, self-assured, spirited, and bold. With red stained lips, multi-colored glasses, the sides of her head shaved and a heap of curls haphazardly dangling over the side of her face, she gives off more feminist icon Rosie The Riveter vibes than a mortician or funeral director.

I came across her Instagram page when one of her posts caught my attention. In it she says, “I’m a queer adjacent, queer positive death educator… who’s an independent funeral director and doesn’t work for one of those large corporations.” She was referencing companies that pay lip service to the queer community during Pride Month and not much more. As Christa asserted, her “pride flag is here all year round.”

With a sizable following of 40K, it’s pretty clear her message is resonating with people.

My interest was piqued. Not only because she is not beholden to a corporation, but because she’s a maverick in an industry predominantly run by men.

When we met over Zoom, I felt an immediate connection. Her openness and warmth put me at ease.

I asked why she chose to become a funeral director and if she had grief experiences that impacted her decision.

Christa: One thing that makes me a little unique in this business is that I actually didn't come from a grief path.

Unlike some people in her industry whose grief experiences led them to the funeral business, Christa’s path was a bit different.