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“We are so grateful to Jennifer for volunteering her time to support this important work. As we research and capture information about women across the states, her help is instrumental in guiding our efforts to expand our reach and support more women in the profession in the years ahead.” — Lisa Baue, Founder, Funeral Women Lead
She was sixteen the first time she walked into a funeral home as more than a mourner. Not because someone told her to, or because it ran in the family, but because something in her knew that this was the work she was meant to do.
Dr. Jennifer Lares is a licensed funeral director and embalmer, a college educator, a veteran, a business owner, and a passionate advocate for people. Her journey has taken her across the country and into roles that have blended care, instruction, service, and courage in powerful ways.
Her passion for funeral service was undeniable, but the doors were not exactly open when she tried to walk through them.
“While I was in mortuary school, I could not get hired. Firms preferred to hire male students,” she said. “After graduation, I struggled to find an internship. I was asked about my lifting ability, my age, my worth.”
Her first internship was isolating. She was left alone in the embalming room without any opportunities to sit in on arrangements. It was discouraging, and at times, defeating. But she did not give up.
“I overcame those challenges by surrounding myself with the right people, and over time, realizing my value,” Jennifer said. “It took longer than it should have, and I hit some bumps, but ultimately, I am certain of who I am and what I am worth most days. If I do have doubts, I know who to call for a reminder.”
She is both a first and last generation funeral professional. Jennifer began her career in a small town in Florida and became licensed in 1998. Over the years, her curiosity and dedication took her to Washington, Nevada, Tennessee, and North Carolina before she eventually made Texas her home. She served in the United States Navy and later as a civilian Mortuary Officer for the United States Army, where she cared for fallen servicemembers with honor and compassion.
“Caring for servicemembers was an honorable experience unlike anything I have ever done,” she said.
Her military service opened the door to education through the GI Bill, which she used to pursue a Doctorate in Business Administration, a degree she earned in 2019.
It was during that doctoral journey that she discovered something new: she loved teaching.
“I had never planned on becoming a teacher, but once I did, I realized how much I enjoy training and instructing others,” she said. “Seeing that ‘aha’ moment is so rewarding.”
Today, Jennifer is a full-time instructor in Funeral Service Education at Northeast Texas
Community College. She is dual licensed in Florida and Texas. And in 2023, she launched Mulling Mortician, a consulting and training business that offers virtual and onsite education for funeral professionals across the country.
Through Mulling Mortician, Jennifer creates content, teaches technical and leadership skills, and shares tools for professionals at all stages of their careers. In her first year, she co-branded an airbrush cosmetic kit called Open Casket with Dinair, the industry’s leader in airbrush makeup. Her creative work extends to her Etsy shop, where she sells her own designs made with the profession in mind.
But Jennifer’s work is about more than services or products. It is about access, growth, and creating spaces that did not exist when she started. She founded Above Ground, the first virtual student organization at her college. It was created to provide a safe, inclusive space for LGBTQ+ students and their supporters, something she felt the program deeply needed.
“This was something I felt strongly about, and to see it come to fruition was very exciting,” she said.
That same spirit of advocacy led her to Funeral Women Lead.
Jennifer was our very first volunteer to support this work. She is helping us connect with women in every state, gather data, and better understand the professional and personal needs of women in funeral service. Her leadership is helping us build a national community rooted in shared experience, real solutions, and long-term change.
“I’m so excited about Funeral Women Lead. I think having access to the support and resources this organization will provide will be a real game changer when it comes to women entering and staying in funeral service,” she said. “Geography won’t matter…you will be able to find encouragement, mentorship, and professional development, all with you in mind.”
Jennifer’s story is still unfolding, but what she’s already done is remarkable. She has served her country. Built a business. Shaped students. Created community. She has taken risks. She has proven people wrong. And she has stayed, even when the profession made it harder than it needed to be.
“I never gave up when I could have,” she said. “It was frustrating, and there were days I felt very defeated, but I refused to abandon the place I was meant to be.”
Dr. Jennifer Lares is not only shaping the future of funeral service, she’s building the kind of profession where everyone has a place.
We are proud to learn from her, work beside her, and stand with her as she leads by
Example.
- Learn more: mullingmortician.com
- Shop her store: Mulling Mortician on Etsy