Finding New Ways to Grieve and Understand Death During Covid with Caroline Schrank, Funeral Director of Down to Earth Funerals

Going Beyond with Randi Zinn

Of all the topics that bring us to our edge, to a place of most raw vulnerability, it’s death and dying….and particularly during the time of the Covid-19 pandemic. We’ve either experienced it or we fear it. When we were approached by Caroline Shrank, director of Down to Earth Funerals in NYC, to talk about the challenges and opportunities to redefine our relationship to death and dying, we knew that we needed to step into our own fears, and welcome this conversation. This episode concludes our corona virus pandemic mini-series, and we knew we couldn’t close it without stepping into the places we’re most scared to go.

Caroline Schrank is the founder and funeral director of Down to Earth Funerals based in New York City. She is an extraordinary empathetic person and perfectly poised to head DTE and forge a new direction in funeral care.

Her former career as a production coordinator setting up photography shoots for magazines, choosing locations for fashion catalog shoots, coupled with her background in event and party planning, uniquely positions her as someone who can handle a myriad of details effortlessly. The death of both her parents opened her to the idea that death and grief could become so much more personalized, NOT one size fits all. We’re amazed by what she’s done.

In this episode Randi and Caroline dive into:

-Being a funeral director during Covid and how funeral directors are also the front line workers, often replacing the role family members often hold.

How the virus is preventing people from gathering to heal together and witnessing the double sadness of those who can’t be physically present. How is Caroline holding space for it?

-Discovering new ways to grieve at this time. Why technology has become a tool for grieving, connecting, and support.

-Randi’s own experience processing loss and turning to yoga and movement for healing.

-How to understand death and establish a new relationship to it- the power of processing with community.

-Caroline’s advice on the importance of having a strong foundation in your life so you can be ready for the difficult times that come your way.

Tune in now for this vital (and timely) conversation!