Guardian of final farewells
Degrees in sociology, communications and law help NTU alumnus Johnathan Lee, a funeral director, offer legal services and have open discussions on after-life matters.
Text: Foo Jie Ying
With his father in the funeral services industry for more than four decades, former prosecutor Johnathan Lee (SSS/2010) is no stranger to death.
“I grew up with my father taking me and my elder sister to visit his company where we would see caskets. He also had a minisized casket at home that was on display in the living room, and I would sometimes open and close its cover,” Johnathan, 38, recalls.
But it was the pandemic that brought home the fragility and unpredictability of life, and a realisation that he was hardly spending time with his parents, now in their 60s.
In 2021, the sociology graduate, who also has a juris doctor law degree from the Singapore Management University, decided on a drastic career switch. He left his job of seven years as a prosecutor with the Ministry of Manpower to join Nguan Gratitude Services as a funeral director. His sister, Valerie, joined in the family business in February this year.
The switch may seem incongruous to his degrees but Johnathan says reading sociology helped him develop soft skills such as empathy to understand bereaved families on a deeper level and approach them with sensitivity.
His second major in communication studies also came in handy to clearly communicate the company’s values through various mediums and platforms, and to have open discussions on a subject that is still widely regarded as taboo.
“My personal goal is to remove the perceived taboo of the business and develop it such that we are easily accessible in the public eye, so that people can talk and plan about after-life matters easily without any awkwardness,” he says.
“Being exposed to these three disciplines allows me and the company to offer services holistically before and beyond the deceased’s last rites,” says Johnathan, who was named Distinguished Alumni at the School of Social Sciences’ inaugural alumni awards earlier this year.
Today, Johnathan and his sister Valerie are working to modernise the business and expand the company’s product offerings. Valerie manages the business’ main operations while Johnathan focuses on the backend work such as developing prepaid funeral plans and other value-added products and services.
Johnathan and his sister, Valerie, now drive different aspects of the business, with their father taking a backseat in its operations.
Although degree holders aren’t uncommon in the industry, Johnathan is in a unique position as he is able to deal with legal issues as an advocate and solicitor, and can provide services such as drafting wills and applying for court orders to distribute a deceased person’s estate.
Besides getting recognition from his alma mater, his friends have been supportive too.
“It’s no secret that my family is in the funeral industry. Those of my friends who have spoken to me about my career change have been very supportive. I have also been able to assist some of them in a direct manner since joining the business.”
Related stories:
This article first appeared in issue 3 of U, the NTU alumni magazine.
