Funeral Director Michelle Tokarski on the Art and Science of Saying Goodbye (Pt. 1)

What does death care have to do with science? A lot more than you think. In this first part of a special two-part Halloween episode of Blue Collar | White Coat, we talk with Michelle Tokarski, a California-based funeral counselor and apprentice embalmer who proves that compassion, chemistry, and cultural understanding all collide in one of the most misunderstood STEM careers.

Michelle shares how she went from art school and customer service to caring for the dead and comforting the living. We dive into the science behind embalming, the chemistry of preservation, and the microbiology and anatomy that morticians must master—all while honoring the deeply human and cultural sides of grief. 

From the Civil War origins of modern embalming to today's diverse funeral traditions and the ethics of organ and tissue donation, this conversation reveals how funeral directors blend art, science, and empathy to help families heal.

Whether you're STEM-curious, career-changing, or just fascinated by how science quietly shapes our daily lives, this episode will make you rethink what "science jobs" look like and who does them. Especially when Death doesn't work a 9-5.

🎧 Listen to find out:

• How you become a mortician and what training is required.
• Why you should care NOW about making plans for eternity.

• Why cultural diversity and empathy are vital in death care.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Michelle Tokarski
03:29 Career Transitions and Life Lessons
06:39 Finding Fulfillment in Nonprofit Work
14:30 The Unexpected Path to Funeral Directing
18:36 Navigating Education During a Pandemic
24:15 Understanding the Roles: Mortician vs. Medical Examiner
28:38 The Importance of Pre-Planning Funerals
32:02 Planning for the Inevitable
36:39 Cultural Sensitivity in Funerals
41:45 The Grief of Loss
46:26 Embalming: A Personal Perspective
50:32 NEWCHAPTER