Beyond Infinity RI

09/01/2026

I love funeral service.

But there was a time when I completely lost myself to it.

I didn't realize how burned out I was until July 2019, when suddenly I wasn't on call anymore, wasn't waiting for the phone to ring, and wasn't planning my life around work.

And instead of panicking...

I felt relief.

That realization changed everything.

I had to learn how to say no without guilt, advocate for myself, rest without feeling lazy, and remember that my needs mattered too.

Burnout didn't happen overnight.

It happened one "yes" at a time.

That journey ultimately led me to create Life Beyond the Call for funeral professionals who love this work but don't want to lose themselves to it.

🖤 Swipe through to read more of my story.

And if you're feeling burned out, overwhelmed, or like you're completely alone in this industry, DM me. Even if you just need someone in funeral service who gets it, I'm here to chat.

You can love funeral service without sacrificing yourself to funeral service. ⚰️🖤

08/28/2026

🌈🐾 Today is Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day, a day to honor the beloved pets who have left our homes but never our hearts.

Today, I remember my Buster-doo, my sweet Penelope, and my Tuck Tuck. Each of them brought a different kind of love into my life, and each left behind memories that I will carry forever.

Grief is the price we pay for the unconditional love they gave us. Although their time with us is never long enough, the bond we share with them does not end when they cross the Rainbow Bridge.

In memory of Buster, Penelope, Tucker, and all the beloved animals waiting for us on the other side. 🌈❤️

Who are you remembering today? Please share their name or a favorite memory below. 🐾

08/17/2026

08/14/2026

Life Beyond the Call

⚰️Helping Funeral Professionals Create Healthier Boundaries Without Losing Themselves in the Career They Love

⚱️Because you can love funeral service without sacrificing yourself to funeral service.

How I Started My Own Journey With Boundaries in the Funeral Industry

Picture it, Sicily 1948... okay, NOT really, but you get the Golden Girls reference.

My life changed in July of 2019.

I was let go from my job of almost 11 years at a family-owned funeral home. I had been there fresh out of my apprenticeship and while getting my license. I didn't even know I wanted to be a funeral director until the spring of 2006, but you can read that story here.
I didn't know what to think. I was shocked, heartbroken, scared, felt worthless, but mostly I was just in shock. I went home and slept for the next few days.

But something strange also happened.

I felt a weird sense of relief, and that realization terrified me.

If losing my job brought relief instead of panic, something was deeply wrong. Looking back now, I know exactly what it was.

I was completely burned out.

For the first time, I didn't have to worry about being on call literally 50% of the time. I didn't have to worry about driving to the other end of the state in the middle of the night.

Coincidentally... or maybe not... this was when I started working with an energy practitioner and coach. Looking back, I see that as the beginning of my healing journey, even though I didn't realize it at the time.

I had wandered into a small crystal shop filled with spiritual items. It felt like a spiritual Toys "R" Us. The energy in that space was unlike anything I had experienced before. It just felt peaceful, welcoming, and light.

That's where I met the energy practitioner who would later become my mentor. My first Reiki session felt incredible. It didn't magically change my life overnight, but it opened the door.

I kept going back, and with each session I learned more about myself. I realized I wasn't just receiving energy healing. I was beginning a deep journey inward, facing parts of myself I had buried for years and starting the work of healing them.

One thing I realized was that I was carrying a tremendous amount of anger, shame, and guilt. Within three years, I lost all three of my dogs. To anyone who knows me, they were my children. Penelope's loss brought me to my knees. Through energy work and the support of someone guiding me, I was finally able to forgive myself and let go of the guilt I'd been carrying.
It was also the beginning of realizing that if I wanted to continue showing up for everyone else, I first had to learn how to show up for myself.

Oh, did I mention my profession was being a funeral director?

It's one of the most rewarding jobs anyone can have. It's also extremely demanding.

Being on call every other day meant that anytime I went out, even just for dinner, I knew there was a chance of getting called out and having to rush to pack up a doggy bag and leave. Dates came with the expectation that my phone might ring and why I always had to keep it close by.

I would go to work sick and then be sent home instead of calling in. I traveled through snowstorms in the middle of the night, which meant making sure I had a car capable of driving in treacherous conditions.

Sometimes I even canceled doctor's appointments.
My health was in the toilet too, despite having an excellent doctor and getting some things under control.

I didn't realize how much of myself I had lost over the years. I didn't know who I was outside of work.

I had to learn to LIVE again.

Weird, right?

I had to rediscover my own self-worth and self-respect. There was one more major thing I had to learn, something I wasn't familiar with at all... boundaries.

Boundaries?

Those did NOT exist in my world

Plans with friends? Sure, but have your phone with you.

A date? Sure, but have your phone with you.

A snowstorm? Better have a reliable car because you still had to get to work.

I was the "yes" person. I didn't want to let anyone down, but in the process, I was letting down the one person who needed me most: myself.

I was so focused on not disappointing everyone else that I was constantly disappointing myself.

I had to start with tiny steps.

Taking a break from the funeral industry gave me the mental space I desperately needed. Then I had to learn how to say no to things I didn't want to do, places I didn't want to go, and even plans with friends.

Most importantly, I had to learn that saying no didn't have to come with guilt.

I also made a promise to myself that I wouldn't let any job or career control my life.

Healing didn't happen overnight.

It started with tiny steps.

Learning how to say no.

Learning not to feel guilty for saying no.

Learning that resting wasn't lazy.

Learning that my worth wasn't measured by how much I sacrificed myself for everyone else.

As I continued my healing journey, I immersed myself in learning about energy work, grief, healthier habits, somatic work, nervous system regulation, and eventually acquiring my certification as an end-of-life doula.

The deeper I went, the more I realized something.

Burnout didn't happen to me overnight.

It happened one "yes" at a time.

Burnout was not the real issue.

The lack of boundaries wasn't the real problem either.
The deeper issue was that I hadn't yet learned that my needs mattered just as much as everyone else's.

Since late 2019, I've worked at a couple of other funeral homes, worked as a security guard, worked at an emergency veterinary hospital as a pet mortician, and created my own business, Beyond Infinity, RI in 2022.

I've now been at a funeral home for several years where we have a good work-life balance. We help each other out, we take our days off, and it truly feels like a little funeral home family.

Over the last seven years, I've continued doing my own work while learning more about energy work, grief, somatic practices, healthier living, nervous system regulation, animal Reiki, and end-of-life care.

But just as importantly, I've learned how to stand in my own integrity, advocate for myself, and hold boundaries even when it feels uncomfortable.

I had to "lose" something before finding myself again.
I've seen so many stories from funeral directors and other death-care professionals who are tired, burned out, overwhelmed, or feeling like they have nowhere to go and no idea what to do next.

That's ultimately what led me here.

Why I Created This Mentorship

I'm offering a one-on-one mentorship for funeral directors and embalmers who want support creating healthier boundaries, advocating for themselves, and building a more sustainable relationship with the profession.

Over the last seven years, I've been immersed in learning more about energy work, somatic work, healthier living, grief, nervous system regulation, and end-of-life care.

I've also learned how to stand in my integrity, even when it feels uncomfortable.

Now I want to help other death-care professionals do the same.

Who This Mentorship Is For

⚰️ This mentorship is for you if you are:
⚰️ A newly licensed or seasoned funeral director or embalmer looking to build healthier boundaries and create a more sustainable career.
⚰️ Feeling burned out, emotionally exhausted, or overwhelmed by the demands of the profession.
⚰️ Struggling to speak up, advocate for yourself, or confidently set healthy boundaries.
⚰️ Ready to stop bringing work home with you and create a healthier balance between your career and personal life.
⚰️ Looking for guidance, accountability, and practical tools to care for yourself while continuing to care for others.
⚰️ Ready to keep your work at work and serious about becoming more assertive and creating boundaries that actually stick.

Who This Mentorship Is Not For

🪦 This mentorship may not be the right fit if you:
🪦 Aren't willing to put in the work or aren't open to coaching.
🪦 Aren't interested in personal growth or making meaningful changes.
🪦 Aren't willing to prioritize your own well-being and self-care.
🪦 Have no desire to establish healthier boundaries between your work and personal life.
🪦 Feel it's your responsibility to fix everyone or do everyone else's job.

What We'll Work On Together

1:1 Coaching

We'll work through real situations as they come up, including speaking up for yourself, navigating uncomfortable conversations professionally, becoming more assertive, establishing boundaries, and learning how to maintain them without feeling guilty.

We'll also use journaling prompts and other tools to help you recognize patterns that may be contributing to burnout, people pleasing, or difficulty advocating for yourself.

If I believe what you're experiencing is beyond the scope of mentorship or you're dealing with severe burnout that requires additional support, I will help point you toward appropriate professional resources.

Energy Work

For those who are open to it, we can incorporate Integrated Energy Therapy, IET, and energy healing into our work together.

Energy work was a game changer for me during my own healing journey and can be used as another supportive tool to help you feel more grounded, clear, and connected to yourself.

Between Session Support

You'll also have access to me through Telegram 2 to 3 days per week between sessions.

This gives us the opportunity to work through situations when they actually come up instead of waiting until our next session

Your Mentorship Includes

1:1 coaching sessions.
Energy healing sessions.
Telegram support 2 to 3 days per week.
Journaling prompts and exercises.

Support navigating real workplace situations as they arise.
Access to my prerecorded Boundaries Are Sexy course.

You Don't Have to Be Completely Burned Out

You don't have to wait until you're completely burned out to benefit from this mentorship.

Maybe you're already exhausted and know something has to change.

Or maybe you're beginning to recognize the warning signs and don't want to reach the point I did.

And no, I'm not here to tell you to quit the funeral or death care industry.

I'm here to help you build a life where you can continue doing the work you love without losing yourself in the process.

You can love funeral service without sacrificing yourself to funeral service.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Because this mentorship is a personalized one-on-one experience, spaces are intentionally limited.
Applications are required so we can make sure we're the right fit for each other before beginning this work.
Limited spaces are available. Application is required for one-on-one mentorship.

3-Month One-on-One Mentorship

$2,500 Paid in Full

or

3 monthly payments of $900
(Total investment: $2,700)

Includes:

6 personalized coaching & energy healing sessions (2 sessions per month)
Telegram support 2–3 days per week
Journaling prompts & exercises
Access to Boundaries Are Sexy
Application required. Limited spaces available.

Not Ready for a 3-Month Mentorship?

3 Coaching & Energy Healing Sessions
$555
($185 per session)
Use within 3 months.

Photo credit: Cindy Ko Photography

08/12/2026

It’s been a minute since I’ve talked about burnout and setting boundaries, especially within the death care industry.

And there’s a reason for that.

I do my best to practice what I preach, and sometimes that means taking a break myself. My breaks may not last very long, but we all need them. And there’s no one “right” way to step back, reset, and take care of yourself.

Behind the scenes, I’ve also been working on something that means a lot to me. A mentorship created specifically to help funeral directors and embalmers build healthier boundaries and habits without losing themselves in the career they love.

Because this industry asks A LOT of us.

We are constantly surrounded by death and grief while carrying the demands of families, long hours, unpredictable schedules, and the pressure to keep showing up no matter what may be happening in our own lives.

Eventually, that can take its toll.

I learned that the hard way.

Apparently, it was the only way I was going to listen, because the universe finally said, “Okay, she needs a swift kick in the ass!”

And boy, did I ever get one.

But one of the biggest things I’ve learned since then is this:

Sometimes the doors we think are slamming shut are actually opening a walkway we were supposed to take all along.

We’ve come a long way in death care when it comes to talking about burnout, mental health, boundaries, and asking for help.

But we still have a long way to go, and there still aren’t enough resources created by people who truly understand what it’s like to do this work.

So…I decided to create one. ⚰️🖤

Something new is dropping Friday.

Keep an eye out for the deets. 👀

Photo credit: Cindy Ko Photography

07/25/2026

Grief Doesn't Wait Until You're Ready

In last weeks post, I talked about how burnout didn't happen overnight.

It wasn't just the long hours.
It wasn't just being on call.
And it wasn't just funeral service.

Burnout often happens when life keeps adding weight to your shoulders before you've had a chance to put any of it down.

Between 2017 and 2019, three of my dogs died, Buster, Penelope, and Tucker.

To some people they were "just dogs." To me, they were family. They were my kids.

Buster was the first. He was 12 years old, and his little body was shutting down. Saying goodbye to him on July 12, 2017, was one of the hardest things I'd ever done.

About eight months later, I lost Penelope on March 5, 2018. That was a loss that took me right down.

If you've followed me for any length of time, you've probably heard me talk about her before. She wasn't just another dog. She was my heart dog. My soul dog. She was my shadow, my sidekick, and she had a way of making everyone fall in love with her.

After Buster died, Penelope seemed okay for about a month. Then she became very sick. I know she had medical issues, but a part of me has always believed she died of a broken heart after losing Buster.

Losing Penelope was the loss that broke me.

I want to say something because I think it's something most people think about but are scared to discuss.

After the death of Penelope, working long hours, being on call, barely sleeping, and trying to keep it all together, there were days where I wished I simply would not wake up the next day.

That scared me, and I did seek help.
I was heartbroken.
I was angry.
I was angry at God.

I remember asking, "What did I do in another lifetime to deserve this?"

It felt like every time I started to catch my breath, life knocked me back down again.

Then, just over a year later, Tucker became sick. My sweet Tuck Tuck.

He was just shy of his 14th birthday when we had to say goodbye to him on May 5, 2019, only four days before my birthday.

By then, I wasn't just grieving.
I was emotionally exhausted.
The hardest part wasn't just losing them.
It was that life didn't stop.

Thank God for Josephine and Fester. Looking back, I honestly don't know where I'd be without them. They gave me a reason to get up every morning when I didn't want to.

Every morning I still had to get up, go to work, and help families through some of the worst days of their lives while quietly carrying my own grief. I had to be strong for everyone else while I was falling apart inside.
I had support, I had friends checking in on me, I was able to take a few days off work, but I still felt as if I was drowning.

This is where it connects to burnout.

When we're grieving, or dealing with life's other stresses, whether it's being a caregiver, raising children, living paycheck to paycheck, relationship problems, or anything else life throws at us, we often live in a fog. We don't think as clearly.

Our patience gets shorter.
Our energy disappears.
Even the smallest tasks can feel overwhelming.

But in funeral service, we don't get to stay in that fog.

Families still need us.

The funeral doesn't stop because we're hurting.

That's one of the things that makes funeral service different. We don't get to pause our own grief while we heal. We walk into arrangement conferences, visitations, services, removals, and cemeteries carrying whatever we're dealing with at home. Families deserve our very best, and we give it to them. But if we never make space for our own grief, stress, and emotions, eventually that weight catches up with us.

For me, it became burnout.

The phone still rings.
Arrangements still have to be made.
Services still have to be conducted.
So we put on a mask.
We smile.
We comfort others.

We push our own grief and everyday stresses aside, telling ourselves we'll deal with them later.

The grief, the lack of sleep, the emotional weight of caring for everyone else, and the pressure to keep going all continued to build until I didn't recognize myself anymore.

Looking back now, I realize this was a huge part of my burnout journey.

It wasn't just the long hours or the lack of sleep. It was trying to carry my own grief while helping others carry theirs. It was putting everyone else's needs before my own and believing that taking care of myself could wait.

As time went on, I also realized something else.

Just because their lives had ended didn't mean my relationship with them had to.

As a funeral director, I helped families memorialize the people they loved every day.

So I started doing that with each of them.
I created memorial window boxes with their photos.
I kept their paw prints.
I wear memorial jewelry with their ashes.
I wrote each of their obituaries and had them placed on the crematory's website.

Those things didn't take the grief away.
They brought me comfort.
They gave my grief somewhere to go, and they reminded me that love doesn't end when someone dies.

It simply changes.

Looking back now, I realize I was giving myself permission to grieve, but I also had to forgive myself. I spent a long time wishing I could have done more while they were here, even though I know I gave them everything I had.

Grief has a way of making us question ourselves. We carry guilt and shame that we don't need to carry.

I was surviving.

And surviving is not the same as healing.
I'm sharing this because I know I'm not the only one who's been through something like this.

I was also able to move through it, not “get over it”. I was able to do that with therapy and seeking a holistic practitioner who did energy work and held space to help me move through what I needed to let go of. This helped me the most and I cannot stress how important it is to energetically release what no longer serves you.

Today I am in a much better place and able to look back on memories of them and smile. Of course I still have my moments of feeling sad, that will never go away.

Have you ever found yourself carrying your own grief or life's challenges while still showing up every day for everyone else?

If you're comfortable sharing, I'd love to hear your story. I truly believe conversations like these remind us that we're not as alone as we sometimes feel.

Below is a photo of all three dogs. From left to right, Tucker, Buster, Penelope and a family friend who is no longer on this earthy realm

07/16/2026

Burnout Doesn't Happen Overnight

Before I continue, I want to say something.

I am not currently burned out. This is my story and the journey that led me there.

Looking back, I can see it started around 2017. At the time, I thought I was just tired. Just stressed. I figured it was simply part of working in funeral service.

So I kept showing up. Caring for families. Taking care of everyone else while slowly forgetting to take care of myself.

My health wasn't the greatest, I hadn't started receiving energy work, and I hadn't begun the inner healing I would later realize I needed.

It wasn't just work, either. I stayed in unhealthy relationships, gave too much of myself, ignored boundaries, and kept hoping things would get better.

Burnout doesn't always look dramatic.

Sometimes it looks like smiling while you're running on empty.

Sometimes it looks like being the person everyone leans on while wondering who you have to lean on.

Then, between 2017 and 2019, grief entered my life.

Not once. Not twice. But three times.

And each loss took another piece of me.

I'll share that part of my journey in my next post. 💙

07/16/2026

Burnout Doesn't Happen Overnight

Before I continue, I just want to mention something.

I am not currently burned out.

This is my story. My journey through burnout, what led me there, what it took from me, and how I slowly found my way back.

I'm sharing it because I know I'm not the only one who's been there, especially in helping professions like funeral service. If sharing my experience helps even one person recognize the signs before they reach their breaking point, then it's worth telling.

In my last post, I talked about the long hours, being on call, and the exhaustion that can come with working in funeral service.

But burnout usually doesn't come from just one thing.

Mine didn't.

Looking back, I can see it really started around 2017.

At the time, I didn't call it burnout.

I thought I was just tired.

I thought I was just stressed.

I thought this was simply part of being an adult and working in funeral service.

So I kept going.

I showed up to work.

I cared for families during some of the hardest moments of their lives.

I answered the phone.

I took care of everyone and everything that needed me.

But somewhere along the way, I stopped taking care of myself.

Even though I was trying to put my best foot forward, my own health wasn't the greatest.

I hadn't started receiving energy work yet.

I hadn't really started doing the deep inner work that I would eventually realize I needed.

I was simply surviving.

And it wasn't just work.

Some of the people around me drained me.

The relationships I allowed into my life weren't healthy.

The men I dated... let's just say I wasn't exactly picking winners. 😅

I gave too much of myself to people who weren't giving the same love, care, or respect back.

Instead of setting boundaries, I kept trying harder.

I made excuses.

I gave people chance after chance.

I thought if I loved harder, helped more, or just held on a little longer, things would eventually get better.

Meanwhile, I was becoming more exhausted.

Physically.

Emotionally.

Mentally.

Spiritually.

The thing about burnout is that it doesn't always look dramatic.

Sometimes it looks like continuing to show up every day.

Sometimes it looks like smiling when you're completely running on empty.

Sometimes it looks like being the person everyone else can lean on while quietly wondering who you have to lean on.

Then, between 2017 and 2019, grief entered my life.

Not once.

Not twice.

But three times.

Each loss took another piece of the fight I had left in me.

I'll share that part of my journey in my next post.

07/10/2026

When people think about burnout in the funeral profession, they usually think about the long hours.

And yes... those are exhausting.

But for me, one of the hardest parts wasn't just working 10 or 12 hours.

It was finally getting home after a 50 minute drive.

Taking off my shoes.

Changing into pajamas.

Laying my head on the pillow...

And then the phone would ring.

To this day, just thinking about that sound gives me a small sense of anxiety.

Don't get me wrong. Every family deserved compassionate, professional care. That was never the issue.

The hard part was what happened after the phone rang.

You had to get back up.

Get dressed.

Look alive. (No pun intended, I promise.)

Drive to the place of death.

Bring someone into the care of the funeral home.

Complete the paperwork.

Get back home.

Then, a few hours later, your alarm would go off and you'd do it all over again.

You smiled.

You comforted families.

You handled arrangements.

You acted like everything was okay.

Sometimes it really was.

But when that cycle repeats over weeks, months, and years without enough time to recover, it starts taking a toll that most people never see.

Looking back now, I can see that burnout didn't happen overnight.

It was slowly becoming part of who I was.

I just didn't realize it yet.

This photo was taken on my birthday in 2017.

Looking at it now, I remember how completely exhausted I was.

On the outside, I was smiling.

On the inside, burnout had already started taking hold.

It's amazing how much can be hidden behind a smile.

This was only the beginning.

Over the next several posts, I'll be sharing how burnout nearly cost me everything, what finally changed, and why helping funeral professionals create healthier, more sustainable careers has become one of my greatest passions.