Cemetery That Breathes Life Grief, Joy, and Greenwood's Magic

What this episode covers

What If Talking About Death Could Actually Bring Us Closer to Life? In this powerful and unexpectedly uplifting episode, we sit down with Gabrielle Gatto—death doula, cemetery educator, and creator of Grim Reaper Gossip—to talk about what it really means to face mortality with heart, humor, and humanity. Gabrielle opens up about working at Greenwood Cemetery during the pandemic, how she turned personal purpose into public healing, and why she believes we need to bring death back into everyday conversation. We talk about grief in all its forms—from the loss of a loved one to pet loss and unspoken sorrow—and how judgment has no place in healing. You'll hear stories of family, culture, legacy, and the small things—like a chocolate-scented lip balm or a keychain—that can make a lasting difference. Whether you're in the field of end-of-life care or simply human (yep, that's all of us), this conversation is a warm invitation to reimagine death as a natural, even beautiful, part of life. Tune in to hear why grief needs more compassion, why death work is a team effort, and how honest conversations—however awkward—can open the door to deeper love, purpose, and peace. Key Topics: -Working Through Grief at Greenwood -Finding Purpose Through Death Care -Normalizing Grief in All Its Forms -Community Over Competition in Death Work -Making Death Conversations Less Scary Quotes from the episode: "Death work is ancient work… we've been living as long as we've been dying." -Gabrielle Gatto "I may not be a licensed therapist, but I can still sit with someone in grief and be a vessel for them to pour into." -Jennifer Muldowney Timestamp: [00:00] Podcast Intro [00:57] Gabrielle opens up about what it was like to work at Greenwood Cemetery during the height of the pandemic, sharing the emotional moments that shaped her and deepened her connection to the work. [09:28] She talks about how her love for family, culture, and meaningful connection led her to create Grim Reaper Gossip—a heartfelt, creative way to help people feel less afraid to talk about death. [19:12] Gabrielle and Jennifer dive into the many faces of grief, including pet loss and overlooked pain, and why it's so important to hold space for all of it without judgment—especially through honest, gentle conversations. [27:16] Together, they reflect on how everyone in death care—whether a doula, director, nurse, or friend—has a unique role to play, and how working together with respect and heart can truly support the people we serve. [37:14] Outro Connect with Gabrielle Gatto: LinkedIn- linkedin.com/in/gabrielle-gatto-391677113 Instagram - @gabriellegatteaux Connect with Jennifer/The Glam Reaper on socials at: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jennifermuldowney/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@therealglamreaper YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheGlamReaperMuldowney LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermuldowney/ Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/MuldowneyMemorials/ Email us - [email protected] Shop Merch - https://the-glam-reaper.printify.me/products Listen to The Glam Reaper Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-glam-reaper-podcast/id1572382989?i=1000525524145 The Glam Reaper® AMAZON Storefront - https://amzn.to/4hObpOh