A New Story for Grief

My story in deathcare didn’t begin in a funeral home.
It began in the quiet aftermath of losing my mother in my early teens.

I remember the silence. The well-meaning rituals that didn’t quite fit. The questions no one answered. And I remember thinking: this can’t be it.

That early experience cracked something open in me; a knowing that grief deserved more than just a checklist. More than a polished obituary, a floral arrangement, and an awkward gathering. It deserved beauty. Depth. And room to breathe.

So, in time my path led to becoming a funeral director.
And then, I became something even more.

After over 15 years in the space of death, I’ve learned where the system ends and the real work begins. I’ve seen how many people are turning away from traditional funeral homes, not out of rebellion, but because they’re craving something more honest. More human. More them.

That’s why I created Ceremony for One — a bespoke grief and ritual space for the undone, the unspoken, and the untraditional.

I don’t believe in templates.
Every life is a blank slate… full of quirks, contradictions, and extraordinary detail.
My role is to help families fill that slate with meaning.

I specialize in the moments some traditional funeral homes overlook:
✹ Writing life-story obituaries that capture the essence, not just the facts.
✹ Crafting ceremonies that feel like love letters, not timelines.
✹ Guiding families through “living goodbyes” for those preparing to leave, or those preparing to stay.
✹ Facilitating deeply personal, off-script memorials that unfold in gardens, galleries, backyards, or anywhere grief and memory call us.

Ceremony for One is built for those who don’t want to feel like just another case. For those who want to co-create. For those who understand that remembrance can be soft, subversive, sacred, and even a little bit beautiful.

This work is not just my job, it’s my devotion … and I’m not afraid to go all in.

To sit with the hard things. To ask better questions. To invite families and friends into the process of shaping a farewell that feels as full and expansive as the life it honors.

Whether you’re grieving someone you’ve lost, preparing to say goodbye, or simply want to hold space for the ache that doesn’t always have language… you are welcome here.

I’m based in Houston, Texas. However, I serve people everywhere because death, like love, transcends borders… so let’s plan a time to virtually connect so you can feel the support from afar.

If you’ve found your way to this space, maybe you’ve outgrown what the traditional funeral world offers. If so, you’re not lost. You’re just ready for a new story.

Let’s write it together.

Warmly,

Jill
Founder, Ceremony for One