Ann’s Heartfelt Mortician Journey: an inspiring rollercoaster of emotions, resilience, diligence, bravery, and loyalty. Ann Njoki, also known as Ann Mwangangi on TikTok, is a mortician with 7 years of experience in the field. Working at Pope Benedict XVI Hospital’s morgue in Laikipia County, she grabbed Kenya’s heart in March 2024 when she dressed the late TikToker, Brian Chira, for his burial. Ann’s heartfelt journey as a mortician took shape as grieving families praised her compassionate work. She started posting on TikTok, sharing insights about her profession and offering the public valuable tips and guidance for burials. It revealed a woman whose commitment to maintaining dignity in death would resonate far beyond the morgue. She asked a client, “What have I done to warrant a thank you?” since she only handled the reception process during that burial. They said, “How you spoke to us when we came in, you gave us hope,” as per ‘The Lynn Ngugi Show.’
Pillars of Perseverance: Ann’s Upbringing
Born in Nakuru County, Ann’s heartfelt mortician journey began tragically on September 24, 2012, when her mother passed away. She was only 16 years old & in Form 2 at Kabare Girls High School. Her mother made her promise to take care of her little brother. During the burial, she neither grieved for her mother nor came to terms with her passing. Her grief came crashing down after the burial.
Unfortunately, it was confused with hysteria. “This girl is young and is making up things.” This, coupled with changes such as moving to a day school, was overwhelming. She fell into depression and had to take medication. She wishes someone had validated her feelings. Told her it was okay to grieve. That even though our loved one may be gone, we can hold onto something. This loss was particularly devastating as Njoki came from a single-parent household.
Stepping into Service: Ann’s Career Begins in 2017
After graduating from high school, her career plan was to be a professor, as she comes from a family of teachers. Unfortunately, she didn’t pass well enough to do the course. She worked in cosmetology for a year to keep herself busy. One day, a member of Ann’s friend group passed away, and while paying respects, the family asked the friends to transport clothes to the mortuary and arrange for the coffin. They arrived, but the morgue attendant was nowhere to be seen. He had to be called from the club at 1PM to attend to her and her friends.
Not only did he ask them to pay Ksh. 570 for his tab and Kshs. 50 for his motorbike ride, but he also had a chip on his shoulder. “Just the way he was addressing us, he handled us anyhow,” Ann told Lynn. “He’s like, ‘Put the clothes there!’ He wasn’t instructing us on what to do inside.” One of her friends decided to tip the mortician Ksh. 200. “I have never seen someone come back into their normal self! Now his language changed.” ‘Guys, chill outside, I’ll sort you out. I’m here for you guys.’ He suddenly became very accommodating because of the Ksh. 200. Njoki pondered how he treats those who don’t have that extra money to give him.
The next day was the burial, and the family sent Njoki and her friends early to confirm everything beforehand. They met a lady who, ironically, was also named Ann. She was in charge. In her office, she demonstrated unwavering politeness, kindness, and care. She offered to comb the deceased’s hair at no extra cost and invited them to observe if we wished. That was Ann Mwangangi’s turning point. She inquired about the course, ‘mortuary science,’ and took the lady’s number. Seven months after completing her cosmetology short course, she asked her uncle if she could pursue mortuary science, but his response was, ” Maybe you should continue taking your medication.” However, he relented and encouraged her to volunteer for three months, promising they could pursue her career further if she persevered.
She lost weight because the odour in the cold room was unbearable, and she could only stomach tea. After three months, she was offered an apprenticeship. Ann excelled in marketing with confidence and skillfully taught cosmetology. She was taught the basics of body handling. She worked there for seven months, confidently driving a dramatic improvement in hygiene levels and earning customer commendations for transforming the organization. She was earning enough money to educate herself and pursued a Certificate in Mortuary Science, as the Diploma was unavailable at the time. After graduating, she landed a job where she was made in charge of the facility. Reflecting six years after starting her journey, Ann confidently told Lynn that her success as a mortician was all thanks to God’s guidance.
God blesses the unseen. When people express gratitude for my work, they have already blessed me with their appreciation.
Ann Njoki
Wisdom from Work: Ann’s Mortician Lessons Inspire Growth
When someone is grieving, their sanity suffers as a result of the overwhelming loss. Mourners must step in to assist the bereaved, taking up responsibilities such as washing the deceased’s clothes, arranging the funeral on their behalf, and ensuring they keep their appearance despite the weight of sorrow. Another lesson learned is, “Apologise when you’re wrong, tomorrow is never guaranteed,” she advised Lynn.
Ann said she has witnessed people asking for forgiveness in the cold room, despite the deceased being unable to hear them. She came to terms with her mother’s passing when she realized she couldn’t fulfill her oath to care for her younger brother, while still yearning for her mother’s return. Sometimes she asks him if he thinks their mother would’ve done a better job raising him. His encouraging response is always the same: “Stop stressing yourself, you’re doing amazing.
Ann encountered a chilling incident early in her profession that put her determination as a mortician to the test. Assigned to the cold room, she and her colleagues were charged with fetching a body from a police Land Cruiser and laying it on the triple tray, as per regular protocol. She paused as they opened the truck bed; flies flew about the machete lying close to the body, covered in a blanket. When they pulled the body by the legs, the head dislodged and rolled. She questioned her career path, grabbed her purse, and checked out, heading home. When her supervisor called to inquire where she’d gone, she admitted she couldn’t bear the scene.
The next day, her tenacious supervisor persuaded her to return, confident in her abilities. During the postmortem of the same body, Ann was tasked with the reconstruction process, confidently showcasing her exceptional sewing skills. “I have seen your stitch somewhere, your work closing up the cannulation for embalming is impressive. You’ll handle this,” he told her. Ann worked alone for five hours, methodically recreating the body. A demanding task that showcased her exceptional cosmetic reconstruction skills. That ordeal became a pivotal moment, proving she was among the greatest in her field, a conclusion that confirmed her future as a mortician despite her initial reservations.
Myths and Misconceptions Debunked
In a 2019 TikTok, Ann explains myths and misconceptions about the cold room. For example, knocking on the refrigerator door as a sign of respect to the dead before opening the tray to view them isn’t practical.
“Are there ghosts or people who have come back to life in the mortuary?” Lynn asked Ann. “No.” she replied. “The world of the living and the dead are separate, they cannot cross paths. Those are just assumptions made by society.” Ann handles different traditions and customs the same. She remains non-judgmental, accepting requests like placing specific items in a casket or positioning the body to face the left, for example.
Conclusion
“Let me inspire them so that, when our time is due, we’ll have people who love their job as much and will take care of us,” Ann told Lynn regarding the youth. She spoke on poor pay for morgue staff. Moreover, hospitals prioritize surgery rooms, but you find the mortuary is tiny and hasn’t been upgraded for 5 years. When asked what legacy she wanted to leave behind, her response was: “I want to inspire girls everywhere and upcoming morticians that they can succeed and help others while doing so. I am not afraid of death, I am afraid of not living life to the fullest.” I congratulate her for being a good role model for all Kenyans. Discover more Inspiring stories, read another article now!
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