Member Spotlight:
Ashley Hoff-Czaplewski
Hoff Funeral & Cremation Service
Owner and Funeral Director
Years in the Profession: 18
How I started in the funeral profession:
I am a third generation funeral director, which meant a fair amount of time spent around the funeral home growing up. We lived in the apartment above the funeral home until I was in second grade where we often had to be reminded to be “quiet because there are sad people downstairs.” And we could often be found playing “dead” which meant mom or dad laid on the floor and we would position their hands and do their makeup! To us, that was our life and was normal. But, after all that I always said I didn’t want to be a funeral director. I started my freshmen year of college for nursing, and soon decided that wasn’t for me. It wasn’t until I was home for a weekend and someone told me how much my dad and grandpa had helped her when her husband died, that I realized what I was truly meant to do with my life. Prior to that, I didn’t understand the true calling of our profession. I quickly changed course and graduated from the University of Minnesota with my bachelors in mortuary science in 2008.
The part of my work that is most fulfilling:
The most fulfilling part of being a funeral director is being able to walk alongside families during their
most difficult days and help them find ways to celebrate and remember the life that their loved one lived.
And getting that hug at the end and hearing that is exactly what their loved one would have wanted, that
is the most amazing part! Knowing we gave them what they needed to help start their grief process in a
healthy and meaningful way – that is what it is all about!
Now that I am an owner, I meet less families as my time is needed elsewhere. However, I still feel so
fulfilled and full of pride when I see our funeral directors doing exactly that with families, and truly
serving them!
A challenge in my career and how I overcame it:
Early on, it was a challenge to be a young woman in this profession. But showing up every day and proving your value, helps overcome that. Now, our full time staff is all female and we make an amazing team!
A lesson that shaped how I serve and lead today:
I am still working on my leadership skills and I feel like I learn something new every day. There isn’t one moment or lesson that sticks out to me. But I am learning that I need to be better at the hard conversations. I tend to trust everyone until you prove that you can’t be trusted, which for the most part works amazing; but I also need to realize that can’t always be the case.
A piece of advice I would give to women new to the funeral profession:
It’s hard – it is not an easy profession! Especially when you are newly licensed and still have so much to learn. But stick with it, it is so completely worth it! Take advice, criticism, whatever it may be, from those with more experience and learn from it! Some of the things you learn may be how you don’t want to do things instead of how to do things, but take it, and learn from it! Follow your heart and trust your gut! I promise it will be so worth it!
A resource that has inspired/helped me:
My community of funeral directors – that is what has always helped me find my way! There is always someone there ready to answer a question, or give advice or just listen. Find those people and help each other through this crazy thing called life!
A habit or practice that keeps me grounded and prevents burnout:
A few minutes of quiet is something that really helps me. Especially when it has been one of those days
where I feel pulled in every direction, being able to drive home in complete silence, makes a world of
difference. If I don’t get that, then I notice that I’m still high strung and on edge when I get home and
that’s not fair to my family. So I’ve been making a point to make sure I get that time.
I am also making a point to try and be more present when I am not working especially. Set the phone
down and enjoy the moments. I feel that has helped me as well and I encourage everyone to make a point
and do that.
My husband and I purchased a place on the Mississippi River just over a year ago, and spending time
there with our 2 children (6 and 9 years old) has been a true blessing and a way to slow down and enjoy
time together!
Something people may be surprised to learn about me:
I was the first female president of our Minnesota Funeral Directors Association. Something I am incredibly proud of! It was a true honor to serve our state and profession in that capacity and since, we have had several other amazing women presidents as well!
What does being part of the Women in Funeral Service community mean to me:
Being part of the Women in Funeral Service community is amazing. To know that there is a community that is experiencing similar situations and ready to support you in whatever you need, that is huge! Even though we all come from different backgrounds, work at firms that do it a bit differently, live in towns that are different shapes and sizes, we are all giving our hearts to serving families in their time of need. And that commonality, brings us all together and can help us support each other!
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