Rachel Bledsoe: Creatively facing life…and death

Rachel Bledsoe an advance planner for Cress was recently interviewed by Debra Illingworth Greene (a freelance writer and editor in the Madison area) for Neighbors. October 2010 (a publication of the Wisconsin State Journal). An excerpt of the article follows:

‘Rachel has a degree in theatre, but ended up in the funeral business after experiencing her grandmother’s death. “She had been battling cancer for years,” Rachel says. “The last time I saw her, her body was defeated by treatments. When she passed away I went in and saw her and it was just me and grandma in the funeral home and she looked beautiful and at peace. I will never forget what a gift that was — to see my grandma overwhelmed with peace. Something I started to think in the back of my head was, I wonder if I could give a gift like that.’

‘By day she helps people plan funerals. At night she’s the artistic director for a cutting-edge theatre company. How does Rachel Bledsoe manage two jobs that are so diverse? Well, maybe they’re not so different after all.’

“When I’m sitting down to figure out a funeral service for someone it’s an opportunity for me to creatively express life and memories and living. And theatre does the same thing — it’s about the enjoyment of living, the range of emotions, the creative expression.” – Rachel Bledsoe

February 26, 2011 Rachel Bledsoe, Advance Planning Consultant for Cress Funeral & Cremation Service was invited to share on WIBA 1310 Ask the Expert program her knowledge of planning meaningful funerals. http://www.wiba.com/cc-common/podcast/single_podcast.html?podcast=atyourservice.xml

To read the complete articles please see the Wisconsin State Journal Neighbors October 2010 edition.