While each member of the Equilibar team brings a rich and diverse background to the job, it could be said that customer service representative Sara Bradley has one of the more unexpected sets of credentials.
In addition to earning an associate’s degree in surgical technology before she was 18, Sara decided to pursue a career in end-of-life care while still in her 20s. She completed a second degree in funeral and mortuary science and went on to work as a funeral director, mortician, and–more recently–a death doula to guide people facing the end of life.
“It may sound unusual, but I saw a video of a young female funeral director and I immediately related to the way she found meaning from her work,” Sara explains. “I was intrigued and went on to find a mentor and get a little experience as an apprentice before fully committing to the field. During that time, my stepfather became ill and died, so I felt that I had a close-up experience of death care from every angle. I believe that death is a universal part of life, and it should be treated openly and thoughtfully like any other part of life.”
Sara worked in funeral service for five years, but eventually realized she needed a meaningful job that would also allow her to spend more time with her school-aged daughters. “The work-life balance involved with death care wasn’t sustainable for a single mom. That’s why I’m grateful for the opportunity to work at Equilibar, where I can use my skills and have a healthier balance for my family while my children are young.”
At Equilibar, Sara is one of the first points of contact for most of our customers as she answers phone calls and emails. “I definitely use the attention to detail that I learned as both a surgery technician and as a funeral director. I also find that knowing how to actively listen and make a personal connection is incredibly valuable, especially since much of my job involves serving as a liaison between customers and various Equilibar departments. It’s satisfying to go from handling an initial inquiry to taking an order to getting feedback and then to taking subsequent orders from a return customer.”
Learning about our customers’ work is another source of satisfaction. “Our customers are doing amazing work, like cancer research, and that makes my work meaningful, too.”
When not at Equilibar, Sara enjoys raising chickens and an assortment of dogs, large and small. She stays busy with her daughters’ varied activities, is a master herbalist, and likes to cook and bake for family and friends.
