My MAED Portfolio
The Work That Found Me
Jennifer E. Sheehan CCO, CFSP
Most people don’t grow up thinking, “I want to work in funeral service someday,” and that was defintely me! Although I didn’t originally plan on becoming a funeral director, once I stepped into the profession, I found my calling in serving families during some of their most meaningful moments. Over the last 20+ years, I’ve worked in funeral homes, prepared the deceased, supported grieving families, and now teach the next generation of funeral professionals. Today, I bring real-world experience, a little humor, and a lot of heart into my classroom, where science, compassion, and creativity all belong.
I grew up in a small town in Michigan with a big plan: become a veterinarian. That dream lasted right up until reality politely showed me the exit. After regrouping back home, I landed a job at a local funeral home in exchange for a place to live. I made one very confident declaration on day one: I would not be going anywhere near a dead body. As you can probably guess, that promise aged poorly. What started as a temporary plan quickly turned into a calling. Three years later, I had completed my apprenticeship and headed to Wayne State University for mortuary school, graduating in 2004 with my Bachelor of Science in Mortuary Science, and a much better understanding of how unexpected paths can lead you exactly where you’re meant to be.
Right after graduation, I officially stepped into the profession as a licensed funeral director and embalmer with a corporate funeral home in Northern Michigan. Covell Funeral Homes had three locations, Traverse City, Elk Rapids, and Kingsley, and it didn’t take long for me to realize I’d landed somewhere special. I learned more than I could have imagined and was lucky enough to work alongside people who truly loved what they did. I stayed there for 13 years, many of which overlapped with raising my family. In fact, the Kingsley location became our literal home while we served as the custodial residents. Living there gave us countless memories, a few good stories, and a lifelong appreciation for the community that surrounded us.
After 13 wonderful years there, an unexpected opportunity came along. A former coworker, and one of my closest friends, reached out to tell me she was in the process of purchasing a funeral home in Ludington, Michigan, and asked if I’d consider joining her. The idea of working side by side with someone I trusted so deeply, in a place that welcomed both me and my ideas, was too good to pass up. As luck would have it, the timing lined up perfectly with my husband’s job, and before long we found ourselves packing up for another adventure.
Moving to Ludington turned out to be one of the best decisions we could have made for our family. Raising our kids in a small, close-knit community while serving that same community professionally felt like a dream come true. We spent five wonderful years there, building relationships, making memories, and truly feeling at home. To this day, I still miss Ludington, its people, its warmth, and of course, getting to work alongside my best friend every day.
Covell Funeral Home
Traverse City, Michigan
Covell-Smith Funeral Home
Kingsley, Michigan
Covell Funeral Home
Elk Rapids, Michigan
Oak Grove Funeral Home
Ludington, Michigan
Speaking of family, I met my husband while I was still an apprentice, long before either of us knew exactly where this journey would take us. He stood by me through mortuary school, even making six-hour round trips on weekends just to spend time together, a level of support I’ve never taken for granted. We were married in 2006, and together we’ve built a life with our four wonderful children, who keep us busy in the best possible way. Over the years we’ve moved a few times and taken some unexpected turns, but they’ve always adapted with resilience and heart. Watching them grow alongside our journey has been one of my greatest joys, and I hope they see in our story that hard work, persistence, and a little faith can take you further than you ever imagined.
The family enjoying snowshoeing in Northern Michigan
In 2022, my husband was offered a job near Greenville, South Carolina, and suddenly we were faced with a big decision. We spent a lot of time talking it through as a family and even made a trip down to see what life might look like here. In the end, we realized we couldn’t pass up the adventure. I figured I’d wait until we moved to start job hunting, after all, experienced funeral directors are always in demand, so I assumed I’d have my pick of positions. (Spoiler alert: I wasn’t wrong.)
Once we arrived, I took a few months to help my kids settle in. It was a big transition, and like most major life changes, it came with a few bumps along the way. When I finally started exploring opportunities, nothing quite felt like the right fit, until I stumbled across a posting for a full-time mortuary science instructor about an hour from home. I remember thinking, Well, that’s unexpected… and also exactly right.
Piedmont Technical College turned out to be more than just a new job, it’s been a place where I’ve felt welcomed, challenged, and inspired. Teaching the next generation of funeral professionals has become one of the most rewarding chapters of my journey so far.
Piedmont Technical College - Main Campus
Greenwood, South Carolina
Looking back, none of this unfolded the way I originally planned, and I wouldn’t change a thing. Every unexpected turn, every move, and every opportunity has led me exactly where I’m meant to be. Today, I have the privilege of helping future funeral professionals grow into confident, compassionate leaders, and I’m reminded daily why I fell in love with this field in the first place. It turns out the best paths aren’t always the ones you map out, they’re the ones that find you.
Thank you for being a part of my story.