July 17, 2021
Embalmers (from left) Justine Ann, Lim Yi Huey, Nicole Chong and Sarah Ang
Serenity Casket & Funerals
"The living are more scary than dead people," said Sarah Ang, 36, a funeral director and embalmer at Serenity Casket & Funerals, a company she runs together with her husband, Elson Chong.
It is a point that her staff, Justine Ann, 32, agrees with. The trained nurse and former hospitality staff made the switch to the funeral services industry and an embalmer for one main reason — "I didn't want to work with humans".
Justine is among Sarah's all-female team of four embalmers including herself, half of whom are in their 20s. Fellow trainee Lim Yi Huey is 25, while Sarah's sister-in-law, 27-year-old Nicole Chong, has more than seven years of experience as an embalmer under her belt.