A formerLondon Metropolitan Policeofficer saw his grandfather's corpse and had the idea of becoming an embalmer. One of his most satisfying moments, he says, was when his widow said, "I want to slap you." "He.
After decades of chasing criminals in London and around the world, Mark 54, the father of three children A year-old Ratusk, who attended "corpse school" herself, became an embalmer in 2008 and took a particular interest in the field when her mentor at work became more involved in the preparation of corpses.
Mark lives in Holly, Surreyand runs a dog daycare with his wife Selina Ratuske (54). I'm here. It was when I was caring for an elderly woman and her late husband that I got attached.
Mark and his two dogs (Collect/PA Real Life)
He added: To make sure her work met her expectations, he asked her to tour her.
"She looked at him, then at me, and said, 'I'm so angry. I could slap you now. He looks better than ever.' I don't want to leave him now.'
"That's the sort of reward you're after.
Mark and his wife Serena (Collect/PA Real Life)
Mark treats the deceased and their loved ones as "the highest privilege."
"I'm not particularly squeaky, and I'm strong."
Mark when he was a police officer (Collect/PA Real Life)
He added: And he got his current job. He also learned how to deal with family members in situations that are often the worst things in life. There are clear similarities.
``But in this last chapter of my working life, I wanted to support others. It is the greatest privilege to be able to care for the deceased who were unable to and entrusted to you by their families."
I have seen real pieces of life - the good, the bad, the ugly.
Mark, who now works as a co-op funeral embalmer at his two locations in South London, said his childhood dream was to become a police officer. I say it was to be.
he said. I decided to give it a try and loved every minute.
``I spent nine years from 1988 to 1997 as a humble police constable. I loved it and worked at various stations in South London, seeing the real bits and pieces of life, the good, the bad and the ugly."
Mark at work (Collect/PA Real Life)
Next, he was given the opportunity to ``exchange the stainless steel handcuffs for gold handcuffs.'' ', he was invited to apply for jobs seeking out specific types of criminals by working in financial crimes in the banking sector. At the age of 47, after working for over a year, he decided to move into the funeral industry.
He explains:
Marks outside Co-op Funerlacare Purley (Co-op Funeralcare/PA Real Life)
Marks added: rice field. But I knew I would have done this and that to make him look more at ease, and sparks began to fly.
``So when my career in financial crime ended, I thought I would become a mortician. He drove hearses, worked on funerals, worked with coroners, and removed the deceased from homes and hospitals."
Embalmers are ordinary people who do extraordinary jobs in sometimes difficult circumstances.
But after three years of his involvement in the preparation of his remains, he realized that embalming was his true calling. I noticed
He said:
Mark with puppies at home (Collect/PA Real Life)
He added: "This is the ultimate treat for me." It can bring real closure.
and his role means he still works "on the same beat", dealing with police and crime victims.
said like this. Often they are just young and very miserable.
marks some of the protective gear he uses as an embalmer (PA Real Life)
marks added like Always consult the police. But my focus is mostly family.
"Most of these people leave behind traumatized families they never expected to find themselves in.
I think it is very important to meet and explain, in simple terms, how your loved one will be cared for, what you expect from the observation of the body and its condition.
I think you have proven that you can teach an old dog new tricks.
He added that they believe it happened:
3 adult children and 10 dogs, Mark, who has eight sheep and 50 chickens and ducks, describes it as a "small property" in the countryside. Thanks to animals, he is freed from the emotional demands of work.
He said: ``I can go home and be among vegetables and animals and take a breather.''
Mark and his 1 of 10 Dogs in (Collect/PA Real Life)
This has proven particularly valuable and especially difficult during a pandemic.
He said:
"The pandemic was really hard because I couldn't do a lot of the things I wanted to do."
Mark at work (Co-op Funeralcare/PA Real Life )
Mark added: There are many things to consider in terms of their loved ones and when, the risk of infection, and the sheer number of those who have died.
"I know some embalmers who have not yet recovered."
Looking back on his stellar career, Mark has no regrets.
He said:
``I hope you have proven that you can teach an old dog new tricks. Hmm, I did it all and it worked."
