I DID MY MOTHER'S MAKEUP FOR HER FUNERAL....

I am a mortuary cosmetologist and I didn't choose this profession, it chose me.

The funeral home industry, is the type of profession that you typically choose as a career choice. Most people have prior interest in the post mortem area and are more than likely, the professionals serving you today.

I just so happen to be one of the professionals that get ushered into the magical world of mortuary makeup. You see, I can assure my readers that I didn't have ANY interest in the dead and although I was born into a Beauty Supply Empire and worked in one for a total of 13 years, I was never interested in cosmetics. To be honest, apart from doing my sister's prom makeup, I've never done makeup professionally.

"In High School, I was known for putting on my makeup..during first period while we watched a movie...in the dark , but you couldn't catch me at a makeup counter.."

Even in cosmetology school, I only took interest in Special Fx but I could have cared less about special occasion makeup applicatons. My first professional makeup service would be a memorable one because I did my mother's makeup for her funeral.

My mother gained her wings January 2, 2018. I'll never forget the day. Like most families, My family was big on New Year traditions.

We clean our houses from top to bottom, make collared Greens for "money", Blackeyed Peas for "good luck" and we don't wash any laundry on New Year's Day, because we don't want to wash our loved ones out our life.

My mother had been hospitalized during the holiday season, so all the joy and festivities that my family would normally celebrate, was brought to a screeching halt. My mother was Our Glue, Our Chef, Our Baker OUR EVERYTHING! She was everyone's mom! So to share the news that she was ill again, was devasting to say the least. I had been her caretaker for the last year of her life, so I prepared myself to take on her role. So I decorated for Christmas in anticipation that she would be home. I even refused to buy her gifts until she came home. Something told me that she wouldn't come home this time...

You never know all that someone does; How they eat, sleep, breathe or function, until you have to fill their shoes. - Bliss Testimony

At the time of my mother's passing she was surrounded by a room full of family,friends and hospital staff. During her five year battle with cancer, my mother befriended most of Onocolgy staff and nurses. An opportunity that most people never get to experience. She remained on hospice and we were granted the opportunity to be with her as she took her last breath. Needless to say, there wasn't a dry eye on the onocolgy floor. She passed away due to complications of pancreatic cancer, along with a few other factors. My mother's health first took a turn for the worse when she was diagnosed with diabetes. She maintained her health for a while on then one year, around her birthday, she started to experience stroke like symptoms and leaving her hospitalized even after a series of various test, doctors were still unable to diagnose her. Then...It happened again the following year...same time, same symptoms... but this time she discovered she had (MS) multiple sclerosis.

My mother handle diabetes with ease. She consumed a healthy diet and she learned how to self- administer her insulin...She became a pro in that department. But when it came to MS, it was a whole different story. MS attacked her nervous system. The damage MS caused disrupted the ability of the nervous system to transmit signals to her body parts. Her vision was blurred, her speech slurred and she couldn't stand for long periods of time. This was debilitating to my mother. It wasn't the pain that brought her down, it was her inability to be the foundation for her family she always was. After she learned how to manage her MS and diabetes, it seemed like she was on the path to healing. Until she was prescribed a different medication for her diabetes. The new medication began to affect her and she became very ill. Turns out she developed pancreatitis as one of the side effects of her new medication, which quickly progessed into pancreatic cancer.

We hate the fact that my mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, but we are thankful that it was diagnosed in the very early stages. Most people lose their battle within months of diagnosis. At the time we didn't realize this, but that would allow us five additonal years with her. She was diagnosed early enough, with the help of treatment, she became apart of the 50% survival rate for people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

We were prepared for my mother's passing, although it did take a toll on us all differently. Being the oldest of my siblings, I've always shadowed my mother. Learning how to be a classy woman but always ready to do handyman work. I learned how to master her best recipes to contiune sharing her essence. I even favor her the most...I'm sure I caused the most problems as well lol but the moment my mother passed all I could think about was her makeup.

Go figure.....

As my mother's skin began to change and she lost hair due to chemo, I saw her transiton into a better version of herself. She was stricken by cancer, yes, but she took it in stride. No one knew she was sick unless she told you. My mother always said that the medication, radiation and chemo would be the death of her, she also knew that it was buying her time.

It's not the cancer that will take you out, it's the medicine...

-Erna Lacy

The chemicals from all the treatments she endured, changed the color of her skin completely. Over the years, I watched my mother's skin turn different shades from yellow/orange to black and back normal again.

During these times, she learned how to adapt by changing up her makeup techniques. She got fed up with the dark marks and after trying a variety of concealers, she found one that worked! When she lost her eyebrows, she bought an eyebrow stamp, she even mastered false eyelashes! After watching my mother apply her makeup everyday, I knew that no one else could do her makeup like I could.

When it became time to make my mother's funeral arrangements, I contacted a long term friend , Rod , who was a Funeral Director and also someone that called her "mom" as well. I mentioned that I wanted to do her "Final Look" and the funeral home allowed me the honor to do my mother's makeup for her homegoing.

After her funeral service, my family received so many compliments about how she looked so peaceful. Like Sleeping Beauty. Not knowing that I was the one that did her makeup.. As time passed the funeral home needed a makeup artist and they gave me a call and I've been doing Mortuary Cosmetologist ever since.

A lot of people think that what I do is creepy or weird. Oh believe me, it took me a while to get comfortable with my new career path but all the while I found my purpose.