My name is Corinna Olsen and I have been in the funeral industry since 2005 as a licensed director and embalmer, after attending Mt. Hood Community College’s Funeral Service Education program while concurrently earning my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Oregon State University. I recently opened my own small funeral business, which has two parts: the funeral home side – Crescent Haven Funeral Home – where I provide Islamic burial services (all faiths served); and the wholesale/trade services side, providing on-call embalming services and facial reconstructions after traumatic or disfiguring deaths. I am based in Tacoma, WA but often travel all over the state for work. I encourage families to hold many of their ceremonies, such as ritual washing and shrouding, in their own homes. There are also many advantages to holding viewings or vigils in one’s own home, and I aim to make this option available to all families.

This blog and site exist as a way for me to write and organize that which is meaningful to me. I love what I do and I love sharing it with others. I have no unique perspectives and no shattering revelations. This is not a daring exposé. I do not promise entertainment. It’s just a place for me to say what I need to say. I firmly believe any funeral service professional needs an outlet for what we deal with on a daily basis. This is mine. I choose to make it public so I can do my part in demystifying death and my profession.

I have a gift in that I can comfortably sit with strangers and discuss horribly uncomfortable things. My greatest hope is that one day, you can too; that someday it will be normal for your funeral plans to be dinnertime conversation. Funeral rituals are ancient and have existed since early man, and I would like to see institutions move further away from what should remain a sacred family rite. Much of what I discuss here will be of my journey helping the recently bereaved take the initiative and celebrate their loved ones’ lives in more personalized, meaningful ways.

I have provided contact information and I welcome all questions and comments, and will do my best to personally respond. If you have a funeral or grief story you feel needs to be heard, I welcome your contributions and suggestions as well.

If you have experienced a recent loss or you need assistance planning a funeral for yourself or a family member, I encourage you to contact your state’s funeral and cemetery board or funeral professional association. I can assist you with locating this information; however, I cannot advise you on funeral, cemetery and life insurance laws for every state.

If you are in Washington state and have lost someone, I will help you, but if I feel I cannot provide you with the service you are looking for I will recommend several other places.

Thank you for reading. I can be contacted at crescenthavenfunerals@gmail.com