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Two women from different parts of the world, united by a common passion, experience or expertise, share the stories of their lives.

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The Conversation: Funeral Directors: Nomthetho Zote and Lauren LeRoy

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Nomthetho Zote (Left) and Lauren LeRoy (Right)

21/09/2015 GMT

Funeral Directors: Nomthetho Zote and Lauren LeRoy

BBC World Service - The Conversation, Funeral Directors: Nomthetho Zote and Lauren LeRoy

Running funeral homes in the US and South Africa and dealing death everyday.

"I don't think I have ever cried as much until I became a funeral director". Two women from the US and South Africa describe the emotional toll of dealing with death every day.

Lauren LeRoy is a 25-year-old funeral director from New York State. She says she knew she wanted to do this job from the age of 12. Lauren works at a funeral home established by her great uncle, and explains that you have to be good at reading a situation to know how to deal with each grieving family. The worst part of the job for Lauren is the moment just before she closes the casket for the final time and the family are saying their last goodbyes, knowing they won't see their relative again.  

Nomthetho Zote runs a funeral parlour in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province. The funeral business is in her blood too, she took over the home from her parents. When Nomthetho was growing up she says death was less common, people generally died of old age, but the high prevalence of HIV/ AIDS in the country has made death an every day thing. Nomthetho even gets calls at 3am from families asking for her help, and she says whatever time of day it is you always have to be patient and kind with grieving people.   

(Picture: Nomthetho Zote (Left) and Lauren LeRoy (Right). Credit: Amanda Polanski)

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