Mortician spills macabre details of working with dead bodies on TikTok

She sees dead people — daily.

A young mortician has gone viral on TikTok, sharing macabre trade secrets and talking about the most difficult parts of working with the dead.

Eileen Hollis grew up in Syracuse, New York, living above her family’s business, Hollis Funeral Home, according to People. The 31-year-old went on to follow in her father’s footsteps and studied mortuary science.

During her four-year career, she has performed “over 1,000 services” for the dead, which include embalming, cremation, hair and makeup. Her straightforward conversations about death and the morbid details of her job — from the weird smells to wiring jaws shut — have made Hollis a TikTok sensation.

In one video, she walks her 410,000 followers through the embalming process while doing her morning skincare routine.

“Because my hands are so small, I got to reach in and hold someone’s brain. So that was interesting,” she brags while holding a face serum that looks a lot like blood.

But Hollis claims that the job isn’t “as gruesome as [people] think” but can get difficult, telling People that “infant deaths are extremely hard.”

She also appreciates the chance to destigmatize conversations about death, debunk myths and inform people of their options. Viewers often have questions for her ranging from curious — like “what happens if someone dies wearing contact lenses?” or “how do you get makeup to look natural when the skin is stiff?” — to much more graphic — like “is it true you break people’s bones to position them in a coffin?” or “where do tampons go and who takes them out?” — which she gladly answers.

“You’re not morbid,” she assured one follower who asked about pregnant people dying. “It’s normal to be curious.”

Hollis’ unconventional look, with her pink hair, tatted skin and cat eye glasses, has been called “unprofessional and disrespectful,” she told People, by some in the industry that aims to stick to tradition. But working in the profession is just as integral to her identity — and part of her roots.

“I love working with my dad,” which she says is her favorite thing about being a mortician. Hollis lives nearby her father’s funeral home, but actually plans to move out of her “Hobbit house” and back into her family home to eventually take over the business — a growing trend for young people who are taking over the mortuary business.

In fact, Hollis isn’t the only TikTok mortician as #DeathTok is a growing niche community of viewers fascinated with the macabre. Other young death professionals have taken to the app to discuss the eerie tricks of the trade including @mybloodygalentine and @mortedeanubis.

source: nypost.com