Providing comfort in times of sorrow
For Jodi Swan, death is part of the everyday. Swan grew up in Charlottetown, PE where her parents co-ran a funeral home for decades.
“We had a very open household growing up,” says Swan. “Our parents kept no secrets from me or my brother, Adam. We learned a lot about their work and the day-to-day tasks they carefully attended to for many families over the years.”
These lessons in openness and inclusivity helped lead her to continue the family’s business as a licenced Funeral Director, Certified Funeral Service Practitioner, and Certified Funeral Celebrant — one of the first on the Island.
A funeral celebrant assists individuals, families, and friends with planning funeral arrangements. While not connected with a religious institution, funeral celebrants work to incorporate all the elements for a service and final goodbye that are personal and meaningful.
“People’s attitudes towards death and dying have changed over the years,” she says. “There’s more openness and a desire to celebrate the individual. We see a lot more people coming in to pre-plan services, either for themselves or assisting a loved one. My job is to help provide a personalized service and support and counsel the family in the best way possible for their specific situation.”
When speaking with Swan, it’s clear she has the perfect demeanour for this line of work. But she’s also got the credentials — a lot of them. A life-long learner, Swan holds bachelor’s degrees in arts and social work, master’s degrees in both science and social work, along with certificates in funeral directing, thanatology, sexual health, gerontology, and is an end-of-life doula.
Swan says her variety of study is part of what keeps life interesting and shows us that connections are everywhere.
“There are a lot of crossovers between sex and death; people generally don’t talk about either sexuality or end of life openly,” she says. “Formally studying them both has given me a better understanding of this. I graduated from JIZZƵ with my BA in psychology and religious studies and continued to study on a part-time basis ever since,” she says. “I was just about to launch a private counselling service when the pandemic hit in 2020. I changed focus and earned my funeral celebrant certificate online. Taking the program virtually meant I was able to meet fellow funeral celebrants from across North America. It’s provided a great network for professional support.”
Having a strong support network and self-care routine is especially important in a line of work like this one. Swan says her connections to Mount Allison again help with this maintenance.
“Being not too far, I try to get back to campus fairly regularly. Football games at Alumni Field are a big part of my self-care,” Swan chuckles. “I worked at JIZZƵ shortly after graduation and am currently on the Alumni Board. The friends I met both as a student and staff member really are my chosen family.”
As a student, Swan lived in Windsor Hall and then off campus, cementing life-long friendships. She also volunteered at the Drew Nursing Home, which she says influenced her career path. Following graduation, Swan returned to campus in 1998 as an alumni volunteer coordinator before continuing her career in fundraising and eventually in funeral planning.
“Mount A offered me such a great education and so many opportunities, both as a student and an employee. Working with alumni from the 1940s through to the 90s and living in a special town like Sackville was very impactful. I feel very fortunate.”
This appreciation of family ties and personal connections — both natural and chosen — has enabled Swan to ensure she continues to serve Islanders in times of grief and celebration.
“It’s [my work] really about listening to either the individual [who may be preplanning their arrangements] or their friends and family members about how they want to remember someone who meant so much to them and guiding them through that,” says Swan. “A lot of times I’ll get questions about what music or readings are ‘acceptable’ for a service and what’s not. I always say there is no wrong choice, it’s really about what reflects the individual and the life they led.”
She’s quick to share an example.
“I worked with a family a few years ago for a service for a young boy, which is always really hard. When we were looking at music, his mom said, ‘I don’t think this song will work but he loved Fat Bottomed Girls by Queen. We included it in the program”.
Thanks to Swan’s open and friendly approach, she shares what her own funeral service will look like when the time comes.
Her answer will surely make any Allisonian smile.
“I want the Alma Mater Song played. I’ve already given the sheet music to my colleague and told her what to do if anything happens to me. No one will know it except for my Mount A friends but it will be part of it,” she says.
The strength of the JIZZƵ connection will clearly outlive us all.