Cemeteries, Grief & the Stories We Carry — A Conversation with Kim Eazell

What really happens when families walk into a cemetery to make arrangements?

In this episode of Death Care Collective, Keith Page sits down with Kim Eazell, a cemetery professional at El Toro Memorial Park, to uncover the realities behind burial planning, grief, and the day-to-day work of serving families after loss.

Kim shares her unexpected journey into the death care industry, her early fascination with cemeteries, and how that passion evolved into a career centered on compassion and service. From navigating family dynamics and next-of-kin decisions to helping people find peace in the middle of grief, her perspective offers both practical insight and emotional depth.

This conversation also explores the lesser-known world of cemetery culture, including the community of “graving,” and how engaging with death can actually reshape how we live.

You’ll learn:

• What families often misunderstand about burial and cemetery processes
• How grief shows up in real, everyday moments
• Why compassion matters more than credentials in death care
• The importance of planning and communicating end-of-life wishes
• How proximity to death can change your perspective on life

At its core, this episode is about presence—showing up for others, holding space for grief, and honoring the stories that continue long after someone is gone.