One thing I learned when I was active in the funeral industry is that there aren’t many stereotypical undertakers any more. There seems to have been a sort of generational shift, where the tall, older, quiet white male has given way to the younger, active, and outgoing person. I’d venture to guess that in Columbus, you’d find about 15% of the licensed funeral directors to be female, and most of those are under 35 (I think. If I goofed, sorry ladies!)

Jacquelyn Taylor admits that she doesn’t look like the stereotypical undertaker, “I’m white and female, and I used to be young,” the fiftysomething mortician says with a laugh.

The Boston Globe has a nice piece on Jacquelyn Taylor, executive director at the New England Institute at Mount Ida College. She talks a bit about the industry, and how she became interested in becoming a funeral director.