Now Departing

A Small-Town Mortician on Death, Life, and the Moments in Between

By: Victor M. Sweeney

Narrated by: Victor M. Sweeney

In this unique and thoughtful collection, a young funeral director—also known as “the internet’s favorite mortician” (CNBC)—explores various aspects of death, offering heartfelt and practical insights into how we determine what matters most while we are alive. This evocative book is for fans of Thomas Lynch, Mary Roach, and Caitlin Doughty.

Now Departing explores the science, craft, and mindfulness behind Victor M. Sweeney’s very peculiar skill set. Working in the funeral business since he was eighteen years old, Sweeney astutely shares the powerful and moving lessons of how we can exist and be remembered with intention and meaning.

Each page is filled with reflective observations and true stories from the lives and deaths that Sweeney has come to know through his work in a small Minnesota town. With grace and understanding, he also explores the rituals around preparing and saying goodbye to those we mourn; the love and forgiveness that arises in the face of grief; the universal interplay of walking between the chasm of the mundanity of a required business practice that touches on humanity’s deepest metaphysical realities; and ultimately, how loss gives us the opportunity to focus on and celebrate the elements we have gained.

Funny, moving, and real - light-hearted but intense

A slight change of pace from his quirky YouTube videos, this is an honest and beautiful look at the life, heart, and soul of a mortician - *this* mortician - from the stress it creates on a marriage, to talking to kids about death, to dealing with his own friend’s un-aliving. This book answers all the questions you wish the videos would have asked, and gives you a whole new perspective you likely didn’t even know you needed.

Great listen, very interesting subject matter

The author has a great way of sharing stories and making his work relatable. Narration was excellent - that’s always a gamble when the author reads their own book. Not all authors are cut out to be narrators, but this is a 5-star performance. If you are on the fence on giving this one a try, this is your push to listen. You won’t regret it.

Outstanding Undertaker

There have been many books the past few years by funeral directors, morticians, undertakers and other wanna be's but this one is what it is about. Not since Thomas Lynch's writings, have I connected so deeply with another undertaker's thoughts and stories as this book.
Victor has perfectly told his stories, as well as the feelings and responsibilities of being one who cares for the dead.
Well done and thank you Mr Sweeney.

Well done

Well written book about the lives touched through the work of a small town mortician. Sharing life, death, grief and building all the relationships that you carry with you throughout life.

Detailed look at the influence people can make

Absolutely loved this book. It shows how much of an influence people can have in the comings and goings of everyday people. This was truly remarkable for its look into the way people should care for one another in everyday life. Thank you victor for a truly lovely experience