About Josh
My practice is grounded in empathy and pragmatism. I am not a therapist or a grief counselor, but like you, I'm a human. I help people deal with the practical aspects of mortality, but these can't be entirely separated from fears, emotions, personal values, or cost. I may be the only licensed funeral director working as a trusted independent guide, as someone who is entirely on your side.
Departures is something of a calling. I came to it after 30 years in city planning, working with small towns and urban neighborhoods across the country helping to make better places for people through a community-driven approach. In about 2019, when I was in my mid-50s, I started paying more attention to the arc of life and to the end of life. Inspired by two women, contemporaries who became funeral directors as second and third careers, I embarked on a course of study and licensing.
I practiced as a funeral director at three funeral homes over the course of three years. It is a profound honor to be with someone at the time of a loss and it is a sacred trust to officiate at a funeral or memorial service. I found that work meaningful and fulfilling, but I did not like the industry I found myself working within. That is the origin story of Departures.
