I what with the dead I frequent am archery and my office is lined with dead
archery and my office is lined with dead
archery and my office is lined with dead bodies waiting to be prepared for the
bodies waiting to be prepared for the
bodies waiting to be prepared for the after neural every day is a Matt Raj
after neural every day is a Matt Raj
after neural every day is a Matt Raj checking in and checking out my
checking in and checking out my
checking in and checking out my customers from the funeral parlor this
customers from the funeral parlor this
customers from the funeral parlor this is my career
is my career
is my career I manage a funeral business but this
I manage a funeral business but this
I manage a funeral business but this isn’t exactly the career that vision
isn’t exactly the career that vision
isn’t exactly the career that vision myself to be in my life change on the
myself to be in my life change on the
myself to be in my life change on the eve of Christmas
eve of Christmas
eve of Christmas 2:01 tree my father had an heart attack
2:01 tree my father had an heart attack
2:01 tree my father had an heart attack his new family had left him stop helping
his new family had left him stop helping
his new family had left him stop helping him with his business and overnight his
him with his business and overnight his
him with his business and overnight his world came crashing down my father
world came crashing down my father
world came crashing down my father Roland T has been in the funeral
Roland T has been in the funeral
Roland T has been in the funeral business for the past 40 years and is
business for the past 40 years and is
business for the past 40 years and is well known as the Good Samaritan of
well known as the Good Samaritan of
well known as the Good Samaritan of Singapore always providing pro bono
Singapore always providing pro bono
Singapore always providing pro bono funeral services to the people who need
funeral services to the people who need
funeral services to the people who need help since young I’ve always looked up
help since young I’ve always looked up
help since young I’ve always looked up to him as a role model in my life even
to him as a role model in my life even
to him as a role model in my life even when I was deciding what cause to pursue
when I was deciding what cause to pursue
when I was deciding what cause to pursue after my poly education I wanted to
after my poly education I wanted to
after my poly education I wanted to study embalming so that I could help him
study embalming so that I could help him
study embalming so that I could help him with his business he pondered for a
with his business he pondered for a
with his business he pondered for a while but he brushed me off because he
while but he brushed me off because he
while but he brushed me off because he thought that having a proper university
thought that having a proper university
thought that having a proper university degree it’s more important and I should
degree it’s more important and I should
degree it’s more important and I should get some working experience first and
get some working experience first and
get some working experience first and that’s what I did I graduated with a
that’s what I did I graduated with a
that’s what I did I graduated with a degree in marketing and management and
degree in marketing and management and
degree in marketing and management and I’ve worked in a marketing agency for
I’ve worked in a marketing agency for
I’ve worked in a marketing agency for four years managing large scale
four years managing large scale
four years managing large scale corporate events and marketing campaigns
corporate events and marketing campaigns
corporate events and marketing campaigns it was really fun and I’d learned so
it was really fun and I’d learned so
it was really fun and I’d learned so much but at the back of my head I’ve
much but at the back of my head I’ve
much but at the back of my head I’ve always wanted to do something that means
always wanted to do something that means
always wanted to do something that means more to me that scene at a hospital
more to me that scene at a hospital
more to me that scene at a hospital after my father’s heart attack changed
after my father’s heart attack changed
after my father’s heart attack changed my destiny for the rest of my life I
my destiny for the rest of my life I
my destiny for the rest of my life I remember he was film jaded with tears
remember he was film jaded with tears
remember he was film jaded with tears trickling down his cheeks without a
trickling down his cheeks without a
trickling down his cheeks without a second thought
second thought
second thought I turned to him and throw him dead let
I turned to him and throw him dead let
I turned to him and throw him dead let me quit my work to help you at a pliant
me quit my work to help you at a pliant
me quit my work to help you at a pliant time I don’t even know what I’ve gotten
time I don’t even know what I’ve gotten
time I don’t even know what I’ve gotten myself into because I have zero
myself into because I have zero
myself into because I have zero knowledge about history but it was love
knowledge about history but it was love
knowledge about history but it was love that let me to take the leap of faith on
that let me to take the leap of faith on
that let me to take the leap of faith on the first day of my job I had no clue
the first day of my job I had no clue
the first day of my job I had no clue what to expect my staff were all in the
what to expect my staff were all in the
what to expect my staff were all in the age of 50s the 60s and they didn’t seem
age of 50s the 60s and they didn’t seem
age of 50s the 60s and they didn’t seem convinced that I was serious about this
convinced that I was serious about this
convinced that I was serious about this job afterward they were Holly any young
job afterward they were Holly any young
job afterward they were Holly any young people in the street let alone a young
people in the street let alone a young
people in the street let alone a young female like myself the first thing that
female like myself the first thing that
female like myself the first thing that I wanted to do was to go into an
I wanted to do was to go into an
I wanted to do was to go into an embalming room to see how a dead body
embalming room to see how a dead body
embalming room to see how a dead body looked like my supervisor back then
looked like my supervisor back then
looked like my supervisor back then shouted at me across a room forbidding
shouted at me across a room forbidding
shouted at me across a room forbidding me to go in because it was an autopsy
me to go in because it was an autopsy
me to go in because it was an autopsy case I told him I was ready I wasn’t but
case I told him I was ready I wasn’t but
case I told him I was ready I wasn’t but I knew I had to do this to gain the
I knew I had to do this to gain the
I knew I had to do this to gain the respect so dare I stood looking at a
respect so dare I stood looking at a
respect so dare I stood looking at a dead body with a Y incision from the
dead body with a Y incision from the
dead body with a Y incision from the navel to the neck his chest was split
navel to the neck his chest was split
navel to the neck his chest was split open the brain was cleanly slice with
open the brain was cleanly slice with
open the brain was cleanly slice with the brain scooped out placed in a bucket
the brain scooped out placed in a bucket
the brain scooped out placed in a bucket of Hamelin bobbing up and down the
of Hamelin bobbing up and down the
of Hamelin bobbing up and down the ribcage was pried open revealing the
ribcage was pried open revealing the
ribcage was pried open revealing the internal organs it really isn’t as
internal organs it really isn’t as
internal organs it really isn’t as frightening as I had imagined I remember
frightening as I had imagined I remember
frightening as I had imagined I remember the first thought I had in my was it’s
the first thought I had in my was it’s
the first thought I had in my was it’s still scary in the movies it was
still scary in the movies it was
still scary in the movies it was unforgettable
unforgettable
unforgettable but that was a very first step I took to
but that was a very first step I took to
but that was a very first step I took to show everyone that I’m a hundred percent
show everyone that I’m a hundred percent
show everyone that I’m a hundred percent in this doing my dad’s era people shun
in this doing my dad’s era people shun
in this doing my dad’s era people shun Undertaker’s they believe that being
Undertaker’s they believe that being
Undertaker’s they believe that being around us will bring them bad luck I
around us will bring them bad luck I
around us will bring them bad luck I thought of Undertaker’s that don’t even
thought of Undertaker’s that don’t even
thought of Undertaker’s that don’t even get invited to weddings at all even when
get invited to weddings at all even when
get invited to weddings at all even when I joined the business in 2:01 tree it’s
I joined the business in 2:01 tree it’s
I joined the business in 2:01 tree it’s still seen as a very unglamorous job
still seen as a very unglamorous job
still seen as a very unglamorous job because no one wanted to do so I was
because no one wanted to do so I was
because no one wanted to do so I was very adamant about professionalizing and
very adamant about professionalizing and
very adamant about professionalizing and changing a public image of our trade
changing a public image of our trade
changing a public image of our trade I see our job as being no difference
I see our job as being no difference
I see our job as being no difference from that of a doctor or nurse after all
from that of a doctor or nurse after all
from that of a doctor or nurse after all we are also providing an essential
we are also providing an essential
we are also providing an essential service to the community as only she was
service to the community as only she was
service to the community as only she was changing the public image that I will be
changing the public image that I will be
changing the public image that I will be able to continue my dad’s legacy and to
able to continue my dad’s legacy and to
able to continue my dad’s legacy and to entice
entice
entice generation to continue in my trade
generation to continue in my trade
generation to continue in my trade however what hindered me most was my
however what hindered me most was my
however what hindered me most was my gender being a lady in a male-dominated
gender being a lady in a male-dominated
gender being a lady in a male-dominated industry was not easy people are
industry was not easy people are
industry was not easy people are constantly on the lookout for you to
constantly on the lookout for you to
constantly on the lookout for you to make a mistake just so they can affirm
make a mistake just so they can affirm
make a mistake just so they can affirm their unbiasness that this just isn’t a
their unbiasness that this just isn’t a
their unbiasness that this just isn’t a ladies job people laughed at me I
ladies job people laughed at me I
ladies job people laughed at me I adopted myself again and again but it
adopted myself again and again but it
adopted myself again and again but it was the love of my dad that kept me
was the love of my dad that kept me
was the love of my dad that kept me going on people tell me that this is a
going on people tell me that this is a
going on people tell me that this is a dying business but what I saw was an
dying business but what I saw was an
dying business but what I saw was an opportunity I realized the way this
opportunity I realized the way this
opportunity I realized the way this profession has been conducted but a fast
profession has been conducted but a fast
profession has been conducted but a fast 40 years has not changed and we needed
40 years has not changed and we needed
40 years has not changed and we needed to make a change the change was
to make a change the change was
to make a change the change was extremely difficult when we wanted to
extremely difficult when we wanted to
extremely difficult when we wanted to change the look of awake SATA my vendors
change the look of awake SATA my vendors
change the look of awake SATA my vendors protested against my vision they feel
protested against my vision they feel
protested against my vision they feel that I’m trying to change the tradition
that I’m trying to change the tradition
that I’m trying to change the tradition even my dad was hesitant but I remember
even my dad was hesitant but I remember
even my dad was hesitant but I remember my dad once taught me that in business
my dad once taught me that in business
my dad once taught me that in business if you want to heal against the wall
if you want to heal against the wall
if you want to heal against the wall don’t keep knocking against it you can
don’t keep knocking against it you can
don’t keep knocking against it you can go left go right go overall and uh and
go left go right go overall and uh and
go left go right go overall and uh and that’s what I did eventually we managed
that’s what I did eventually we managed
that’s what I did eventually we managed to create a new set of wake setup
to create a new set of wake setup
to create a new set of wake setup infusing modern elements together with
infusing modern elements together with
infusing modern elements together with traditional practices how did I do it I
traditional practices how did I do it I
traditional practices how did I do it I just said sorry to all my vendors and
just said sorry to all my vendors and
just said sorry to all my vendors and did everything myself
did everything myself
did everything myself I remember when I first started to
I remember when I first started to
I remember when I first started to revamp the business I only had a ragtag
revamp the business I only had a ragtag
revamp the business I only had a ragtag team of men people Shanna’s it was so
team of men people Shanna’s it was so
team of men people Shanna’s it was so important to change the way the public
important to change the way the public
important to change the way the public perceive us as funeral professionals
perceive us as funeral professionals
perceive us as funeral professionals rather than our job laborers the first
rather than our job laborers the first
rather than our job laborers the first thing I did was to put on a new set of
thing I did was to put on a new set of
thing I did was to put on a new set of professional-looking uniform for my
professional-looking uniform for my
professional-looking uniform for my staff to wear it’s only one whole year
staff to wear it’s only one whole year
staff to wear it’s only one whole year to convince them to put on a mere
to convince them to put on a mere
to convince them to put on a mere formality when customer sees us they
formality when customer sees us they
formality when customer sees us they instantly feel a sense of
instantly feel a sense of
instantly feel a sense of professionalism and trust in us it was a
professionalism and trust in us it was a
professionalism and trust in us it was a small step but it was a start of a
small step but it was a start of a
small step but it was a start of a journey that I realized how our
journey that I realized how our
journey that I realized how our persistence
persistence
persistence to make a difference has impact on our
to make a difference has impact on our
to make a difference has impact on our staff to instill pride and confidence in
staff to instill pride and confidence in
staff to instill pride and confidence in them so that they can view themselves as
them so that they can view themselves as
them so that they can view themselves as funeral professionals change was not
funeral professionals change was not
funeral professionals change was not easy but was accepted a change I could
easy but was accepted a change I could
easy but was accepted a change I could see their profile pictures changed to
see their profile pictures changed to
see their profile pictures changed to selfies in the new uniform we disrupt
selfies in the new uniform we disrupt
selfies in the new uniform we disrupt the deaf business by shifting the
the deaf business by shifting the
the deaf business by shifting the mindset of our industry to dead of a
mindset of our industry to dead of a
mindset of our industry to dead of a hospitality business after all
hospitality business after all
hospitality business after all we feel that a funeral is not just about
we feel that a funeral is not just about
we feel that a funeral is not just about sending off the deceased and a demon
sending off the deceased and a demon
sending off the deceased and a demon fight sent us but more importantly is
fight sent us but more importantly is
fight sent us but more importantly is about taking care of the families that
about taking care of the families that
about taking care of the families that are left behind professional mcs Allegan
are left behind professional mcs Allegan
are left behind professional mcs Allegan wig set up beautiful memorial collages
wig set up beautiful memorial collages
wig set up beautiful memorial collages coffee machine waitering services this
coffee machine waitering services this
coffee machine waitering services this is the way we want to take care of the
is the way we want to take care of the
is the way we want to take care of the families that we serve our big break
families that we serve our big break
families that we serve our big break came when my husband and I took our
came when my husband and I took our
came when my husband and I took our wedding pictures like this my husband
wedding pictures like this my husband
wedding pictures like this my husband and my father was so against the idea
and my father was so against the idea
and my father was so against the idea but I believe in it when people take
but I believe in it when people take
but I believe in it when people take their wedding pictures they usually take
their wedding pictures they usually take
their wedding pictures they usually take it at our favorite on destination
it at our favorite on destination
it at our favorite on destination weddings are places that means something
weddings are places that means something
weddings are places that means something to the couple for my husband and I the
to the couple for my husband and I the
to the couple for my husband and I the funeral business is our life it’s our
funeral business is our life it’s our
funeral business is our life it’s our calling so what better way to take our
calling so what better way to take our
calling so what better way to take our photos then to line the beautiful coffin
photos then to line the beautiful coffin
photos then to line the beautiful coffin like this I asked them to trust in me it
like this I asked them to trust in me it
like this I asked them to trust in me it was small advertisement the main purpose
was small advertisement the main purpose
was small advertisement the main purpose of taking this series of photos is to
of taking this series of photos is to
of taking this series of photos is to lead the top in debunking the taboo
lead the top in debunking the taboo
lead the top in debunking the taboo surrounding this trade believe me it was
surrounding this trade believe me it was
surrounding this trade believe me it was not easy to convince these two grown men
not easy to convince these two grown men
not easy to convince these two grown men but I persevered when the photo started
but I persevered when the photo started
but I persevered when the photo started circulating over night we went viral
circulating over night we went viral
circulating over night we went viral around the wall even BBC picked it up
around the wall even BBC picked it up
around the wall even BBC picked it up and interviewed asked life on the TV
and interviewed asked life on the TV
and interviewed asked life on the TV station it was an exciting few days for
station it was an exciting few days for
station it was an exciting few days for us and it’s part of a series of
us and it’s part of a series of
us and it’s part of a series of conversations in the media about Devin
conversations in the media about Devin
conversations in the media about Devin our industry people were finally talking
our industry people were finally talking
our industry people were finally talking about deaf deaf is our business
about deaf deaf is our business
about deaf deaf is our business it’s a six-part series about us as a
it’s a six-part series about us as a
it’s a six-part series about us as a free
free
free director family it’s a first of its kind
director family it’s a first of its kind
director family it’s a first of its kind and it went on to win the two zero one
and it went on to win the two zero one
and it went on to win the two zero one six nine Television Award for Best
six nine Television Award for Best
six nine Television Award for Best reality program
reality program
reality program [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] we are very heartened that even a local
we are very heartened that even a local
we are very heartened that even a local media are more open to featuring
media are more open to featuring
media are more open to featuring explicit details about death it really
explicit details about death it really
explicit details about death it really helped to further educate the people
helped to further educate the people
helped to further educate the people about what we do
about what we do
about what we do lifting the tab was surrounding our
lifting the tab was surrounding our
lifting the tab was surrounding our trade since our revamp our team has
trade since our revamp our team has
trade since our revamp our team has grown from 5 to 65 people and the
grown from 5 to 65 people and the
grown from 5 to 65 people and the general age group of our staff has
general age group of our staff has
general age group of our staff has decreased from 55 to 30 it’s really
decreased from 55 to 30 it’s really
decreased from 55 to 30 it’s really rewarding to see how a revamp has
rewarding to see how a revamp has
rewarding to see how a revamp has brought about so many young people to
brought about so many young people to
brought about so many young people to join our trade to fulfill our calling in
join our trade to fulfill our calling in
join our trade to fulfill our calling in life we are very glad that our
life we are very glad that our
life we are very glad that our persistence to make a difference as how
persistence to make a difference as how
persistence to make a difference as how to transform a traditional industry that
to transform a traditional industry that
to transform a traditional industry that is work by so much resentment and servos
is work by so much resentment and servos
is work by so much resentment and servos into one that is professional
into one that is professional
into one that is professional compassionate and has become a viable
compassionate and has become a viable
compassionate and has become a viable career option for younger generation
career option for younger generation
career option for younger generation through my line of work I’ve been
through my line of work I’ve been
through my line of work I’ve been privileged to witness fragments at
privileged to witness fragments at
privileged to witness fragments at families reunite people who have lost
families reunite people who have lost
families reunite people who have lost contact for decades coming back together
contact for decades coming back together
contact for decades coming back together tears of forgiveness and races of
tears of forgiveness and races of
tears of forgiveness and races of acceptance people let go of the grudge’s
acceptance people let go of the grudge’s
acceptance people let go of the grudge’s and accept each other for who they are
and accept each other for who they are
and accept each other for who they are the power of love is what makes us so
the power of love is what makes us so
the power of love is what makes us so special and this father of thumbs my
special and this father of thumbs my
special and this father of thumbs my purpose in this business of course I
purpose in this business of course I
purpose in this business of course I didn’t know what my purpose was before I
didn’t know what my purpose was before I
didn’t know what my purpose was before I was thrown into the circumstances that
was thrown into the circumstances that
was thrown into the circumstances that was in but she were each situations that
was in but she were each situations that
was in but she were each situations that I had to go through that vision to make
I had to go through that vision to make
I had to go through that vision to make things better develop I didn’t just
things better develop I didn’t just
things better develop I didn’t just succumb to the challenges that I’m faced
succumb to the challenges that I’m faced
succumb to the challenges that I’m faced with
with
with I didn’t just accept the status quo
I didn’t just accept the status quo
I didn’t just accept the status quo because the most senior generation tell
because the most senior generation tell
because the most senior generation tell me so I wanted to make a difference in
me so I wanted to make a difference in
me so I wanted to make a difference in my father’s life I wanted to make a
my father’s life I wanted to make a
my father’s life I wanted to make a difference in the business I wanted to
difference in the business I wanted to
difference in the business I wanted to make a difference in the community I
make a difference in the community I
make a difference in the community I think I suppose it is industry helped me
think I suppose it is industry helped me
think I suppose it is industry helped me develop the vision and that vision to
develop the vision and that vision to
develop the vision and that vision to make things better kept me pushing all
make things better kept me pushing all
make things better kept me pushing all the boundaries
the boundaries
the boundaries I’ve learned so much about life to death
I’ve learned so much about life to death
I’ve learned so much about life to death and the biggest thing I’ve learned it’s
and the biggest thing I’ve learned it’s
and the biggest thing I’ve learned it’s about love death greatest lesson it’s
about love death greatest lesson it’s
about love death greatest lesson it’s not about how much money you have me
not about how much money you have me
not about how much money you have me it’s not about how many Instagram
it’s not about how many Instagram
it’s not about how many Instagram followers you have it’s really about how
followers you have it’s really about how
followers you have it’s really about how loved you are by our family and friends
loved you are by our family and friends
loved you are by our family and friends I’ve learned that that is not morbid
I’ve learned that that is not morbid
I’ve learned that that is not morbid instead it reveals the more tender side
instead it reveals the more tender side
instead it reveals the more tender side of a human being I’ve seen all wounds
of a human being I’ve seen all wounds
of a human being I’ve seen all wounds heal families reunite a funeral is a
heal families reunite a funeral is a
heal families reunite a funeral is a place where miracles of love can happen
place where miracles of love can happen
place where miracles of love can happen everything happens for a reason
everything happens for a reason
everything happens for a reason and I don’t my dad’s heart attack was
and I don’t my dad’s heart attack was
and I don’t my dad’s heart attack was scared to us but I’m grateful that this
scared to us but I’m grateful that this
scared to us but I’m grateful that this opportunity this crisis has given me the
opportunity this crisis has given me the
opportunity this crisis has given me the chance to learn about live greatest
chance to learn about live greatest
chance to learn about live greatest lesson and to be a game changer in the
lesson and to be a game changer in the
lesson and to be a game changer in the industry opportunities are everywhere
industry opportunities are everywhere
industry opportunities are everywhere and you can be a game changer in places
and you can be a game changer in places
and you can be a game changer in places that you least expect even death can be
that you least expect even death can be
that you least expect even death can be game-changing so long as you believe in
game-changing so long as you believe in
game-changing so long as you believe in your purpose don’t let anything stand in
your purpose don’t let anything stand in
your purpose don’t let anything stand in your way because you don’t have to wait
your way because you don’t have to wait
your way because you don’t have to wait on to a crisis to let you take the leap
on to a crisis to let you take the leap
on to a crisis to let you take the leap of faith thank you
of faith thank you
of faith thank you [Applause]
”
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