After three years in the funeral trade, unlikely undertaker Jenny Tay, 30, is a lot tougher than her demure demeanor suggests.
When Roland Tay, a household name in the funeral business, had a heart attack three years ago, his daughter Jenny Tay felt it was time to step in and answer the vocational call to contribute to the community in the same way her father has for 30 years. While she didn’t know what her father’s work at Direct Funeral Services entailed (the family biz is the subject of Ch 5 show, Death Is Our Business) it didn’t stop the former advertising and events suit from jumping stilettos first into the male-dominated, taboo world of funeral planning.
8 DAYS: What surprised you most when you first joined the funeral trade?
JENNY TAY: It was a culture shock. Back then this trade was male dominated. It was very rough, many people were not very well-groomed. Their appearance was not highly vetted by the company, because it’s not a top priority. At wakes, the staff shouts across the room to get things done. I’m from events management, and the execution of a funeral is very important to me. I’m very particular about the details, aesthetics, and customer service. When [my husband, Darren and I] came in, we started changing the way things are done in the industry.
What misconceptions do people have about the business?
This story is from the May 5 2016 edition of 8 Days.
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This story is from the May 5 2016 edition of 8 Days.
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