Meet Jennifer Muldowney

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jennifer Muldowney. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Jennifer, so great to have you on the platform. There’s so much we want to ask you, but let’s start with the topic of self-care. Do you do anything for self-care and if so, do you think it’s had a meaningful impact on your effectiveness?
I have to have some boundaries. Grief and the funeral business is a 24/7 business and most grieving families want access to you (me) 24/7. I try to keep boundaries while also being mindful of the family’s needs. And when it does get too much I take time off, time alone to recover and recuperate and generally recharge my batteries.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
In 2003, I lived in Washington DC, where I opened and managed an extremely busy Irish Bar and fine dining Irish Restaurant. Sadly, while in America, my Portlaoise-native grandmother passed away suddenly. On the morning of her funeral, I ran my first-ever marathon in Miami in her honor.

With my grandmother’s name and the Irish flag emblazoned on my shirt for the run, I knew she would have wanted me to pursue what I had worked so hard for. She was always proud of my achievements and one of the hardest-working independent women I’ve ever known. She faced adversity with strength and resilience.

Like many Irish women of her time, she gifted me a religious miraculous medal to keep me safe before I moved to America to set up the bar in 2003. Following her passing, I wore it constantly as a way to keep her memory close. I still imagine her sitting on my shoulder, wagging her finger when I’m up to no good. However, wearing the medal also attracted negative attention. At 24 years old, I was often called the Virgin Mary, or assumed to be overly religious. I had to explain that it was a tribute to my deceased grandmother. Sadly, I eventually stopped wearing it after a while.

Upon returning to Ireland the following year, I experienced the loss of two dear friends to separate tragic circumstances, and our family dog had to be ‘put to sleep’. These events motivated me to seek out information and resources for dealing with grief. When I couldn’t find what I needed, I became a source of support for others in similar situations. I wrote a book titled “Say Farewell Your Way: A Funeral Planning Guide for Ireland”, drawing from my own grief and experiences to help others navigate their own.

It was the loss of my friends, combined with my skills and background in hospitality, that inspired me to establish Farewell Funeral Planners in Ireland in 2010, which later transformed into Muldowney Memorials based in New York City. I have remained dedicated to the Funeral Industry ever since and have become a published author and speaker on the subject. That first book, “Say Farewell Your Way,” was published in 2013, and I am currently working on my fourth book.

In 2016, I had the opportunity to deliver a thought-provoking TEDx Talk titled “Grief: As Unique as your Heartbeat,” which resonated with the audience. Additionally, I have had the honor of officiating the NYSFDA Annual Remembrance Service as a celebrant for the past four years, contributing to the meaningful commemoration of those we’ve lost.

At Muldowney Memorials we offer Celebrants to families and funeral homes and Modern Memorial Planners to help plan the perfect funeral or memorial.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Empathy coupled with a passion for logistics. I’m a Gemini and instead of fighting what isn’t considered normal, I embraced my unique ability to think both creatively and logically.

Courage to enter and grow in an industry that is predominantly white elderely male-dominated.

Passion for what I do – As one of my deceased clients was famous for saying “If you love what you do, you won’t work a day in your life”! I can’t say it is always that easy but it helps to love what you do!

My best advice it to be who you truly are, authenticity will get you everywhere (even when it doesn’t feel like it!) and never leave a job/employer on a bad note – the world is small and you never know who you will need or run into in the future!

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am always looking for guests on my podcast! Anyone in the grief or death space is a great potential partner or collaboration.

I am also looking for any stage that will take me, I love talking about what I do. I often do workshops too. They can be catered to specific audiences depending on what you would like for me to do but examples that I have done for a variety of audiences in the past include preplanning – both discussion and workshop, bucket list building, showcasing what can be done at a modern funeral, our digital legacy.

Email me muldowney.jennifer@gmail.com

Contact Info:

Image Credits
UPloaded about 10 images but not sure it worked?

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Productivity
Beating Burnout

Often the key to having massive impact is the ability to keep going when others

Leadership Development
Where does your generosity come from?

Over the years, we have consistently been blown away by the examples of generosity we’ve

Productivity
From Burnout to Balance: The Role of Self-Care

Burning out is one of the primary risks you face as you work towards your