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Innovations in End-of-Life Care with Funeral Director Ken Biery
Seeing Death Clearly
In this episode of Seeing Death Clearly, host Jill McClennen, a death doula and funeral celebrant, is joined by Ken Biery, a seasoned funeral director and founder of the Funeral Service Collective. Ken shares his journey from military service into the funeral profession and the experiences that shaped his commitment to innovation and family-centered care.
Together, they explore how the funeral industry is evolving, including emerging ideas such as sustainable memorials, underwater cemeteries, and the growing role of live-streamed services. The conversation also highlights how younger generations’ desire for meaningful, personalized experiences is reshaping traditional funeral practices.
A central focus of the episode is the potential for collaboration between funeral directors and death doulas. Ken and Jill discuss how these roles can complement one another by offering emotional, spiritual, and educational support to families, and they outline practical ways death doulas can begin building relationships with funeral homes. This episode offers thoughtful insight into how collaboration can strengthen end-of-life care and better serve communities.
00:00 Introduction to Compassionate End-of-Life Care
00:39 Meet Ken Beery: A Journey from Military to Funeral Service
00:55 Innovations in the Funeral Industry
03:08 The Role of Death Doulas in Funeral Services
08:47 Challenges and Opportunities for Collaboration
17:59 The Importance of Personalized Memorials
24:02 Collaborating with Funeral Homes
25:02 Building Referral Partnerships
26:48 Addressing Certification Concerns
32:18 The Importance of Teamwork
35:25 Generational Differences in the Industry
38:14 The Role of Technology
43:24 Concluding Thoughts and Contact Information
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