A mortician artist & an eco-casket maker in Malaysia
We don’t often stop and think about the people who take care of our final goodbyes with our loved ones. Yet in the quiet corners of Malaysia, some individuals are quietly shaping the way we experience grief and closure.
From the careful artistry of a mortician to the environmentally conscious innovation of eco caskets, these are stories that reveal dedication, compassion, and creativity at the intersection of life and death.
For families facing loss, these pioneers bring not only service but also comfort. They remind us that even endings can be handled with care and meaning.
Banker turned mortician artist
Image credit: Aileen Ong Mortician Artist via Facebook
Aileen Ong did not start her life dreaming of working at a mortuary. A banker by training, she joined the finance sector right after SPM and stayed in her role until after she married and had her son.
Upon moving back to Muar in Johor, she decided to resign from the bank and help out at a joss stick shop that also handled funeral arrangements and produced Chinese paper offerings. It was there that she encountered her first case, when she met with the parents of a 17-year-old boy who had been in an accident.
She had never learned how to do post-mortem makeup or restoration. “I just used what I knew and observed”, she recalled.
Her calling to the career, however, emerged only years later during a deeply personal moment, following the passing of her late brother.
Image credit: Aileen Ong Mortician Artist via Facebook
When Ong saw her brother’s body, she felt that more care could have been taken to honour him in his final goodbye. That moment stayed with her and became the turning point in her life. Determined to give others the dignity she wished her brother had received, she left her banking career and began studying the fundamentals of post-death makeup.
She went on to train in Taiwan, Japan, and China, learning how to restore bodies, especially in accident cases. Her dedication is such that her son has accompanied her since he was four. “I explained to him what I was doing. He has been with me through it all, and now at 12, he understands the importance of respect and care”, she shared.
Aileen admits the job can get emotional. “Sometimes I cry with the family. If I do not, I am not human. But we treat everybody with the same care, no matter their background. Bruises are covered, scars are repaired, and makeup applied so loved ones see only peace.” She also notes the lingering superstitions in Chinese culture about death, but says, “I do not worry about bad luck. This is about compassion and dignity”.
Her services are affordable, with funerals within sixty kilometres costing about RM580, covering makeup, clothes, and scar repair. “I feel blessed to do this work. It is meaningful, and it allows me to give families some calm during their hardest moments”.
Environmentally thoughtful farewells
Image credit: Eco Friendly Green Casket Malaysia
While Aileen focuses on bringing calm and dignity to families, Jonn is quietly reshaping the funeral industry through sustainability. His company produces eco caskets made from cardboard and fully biodegradable materials, offering families a respectful alternative that is also environmentally conscious.
What began as an idea to reduce the environmental impact of traditional coffins has now grown into a movement encouraging greener practices in a deeply traditional industry. “Traditional timber coffins are expensive, and their environmental footprint is surprisingly large”, Jonn explained.
Image credit: Eco Friendly Green Casket Malaysia
“I wanted to create something affordable, sustainable, and still meaningful for bereaved families. It was important to me that people do not feel they have to compromise dignity for sustainability”. His eco caskets typically sit within the RM 2,000 to RM 3,000 range, making them more accessible than conventional timber options while still maintaining durability and dignity.
Each casket can also be customised, allowing loved ones to include personal touches, inscriptions, or even small decorations, making each farewell unique and deeply personal.
Image credit: Eco Friendly Green Casket Malaysia
Jonn’s approach is as much about education as it is about innovation. “Many families are surprised at how sturdy and dignified our caskets are. There is this assumption that eco means fragile or cheap. That is not the case. People tell us it feels right to honour their loved ones responsibly while also thinking about the planet”.
He also acknowledges that pushing for change in an industry rooted in centuries of tradition takes patience.
“Funerals are deeply emotional and sacred. Introducing eco-friendly options was initially met with hesitation, especially because people worry it might not look or feel ‘proper’. But as more families see the caskets and understand the materials, perceptions are shifting. It is incredibly rewarding to see people embrace sustainability even in these intimate moments”.
Through his work, Jonn hopes to spark wider conversations about how Malaysians can make more environmentally responsible choices without compromising culture, faith, or sentiment. “Every funeral is a story, and we want people to know they can tell that story while also caring for the world we will all leave behind”.
Life for those who work with death daily
People die every day, and it is never easy to face a loved one’s departure. But, through the vision and care of individuals like Aileen Ong and Jonn, the way we say goodbye is becoming both more compassionate and more thoughtful.
Whether through meticulous mortuary artistry or environmentally conscious farewells, these stories remind us that even in endings, there can be dignity, beauty, and respect for both the living and the departed.
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Cover image adapted from: Aileen Ong