Meet Rachel Durbeck: A Funeral Director at Memorial Funeral Homes

May 27, 2021

Meet Rachel Durbeck: A Funeral Director at Memorial Funeral Homes

A woman is standing in a room holding a piece of paper.
Rachel Durbeck with her colleagues, Courtney Sullivan and Malek Slama.

It is with much excitement that we would like to announce that Rachel Durbeck is now a fully-fledged funeral director! Rachel’s a 2019 graduate of the University of Rhode Island with a bachelor’s degree in biology. 

Immediately upon graduation, Rachel joined our staff and enrolled at FINE Mortuary College, pursuing an associate degree in Mortuary Science to become a licensed funeral director and embalmer, which she has done successfully!  

Rachel hopes to provide families with compassionate guidance while handling the logistics and grief that follow death. Raised in Massachusetts, she has found her new home and work family here on Aquidneck Island. In her free time, (which she doesn’t have much of because she loves her work so much) you can find her hanging out with her puppies. 

We sat down with Rachel to ask her a few questions about what got her into this work.  

How did you get into this field of work?  

I was studying biology at the University of Rhode Island and I took an elective class in Thanatology, which is the the study of death, dying and bereavement. I took that course with Lark D’ Helen who I now work closely with here at Memorial Funeral Homes.

Before that class, I was a little lost and confused in college.  I started to take this class in Thanatology and all of a sudden everything made sense. I ended up doing my minor in Thanatology. I found it captivating. I had originally wanted to be a physician’s assistant. I love science, and taking care of people is really important to me. This kind of work checks both those boxes. It just feels like what I am supposed to be doing. I forget that I even get paid. 

What is the most rewarding part of your job? 

At the end of the funeral, you see this feeling come over the family. They come to peace with what’s happening. You can just see it in their eyes and in their faces, how they look at each other. It’s this bitter-sweetness, but they understand and appreciate the life that was lived. It’s like the calm after the storm or the wave crashing and then there is calm sea. You know that they are understanding and accepting the passing of a loved one.  

Part of your apprenticeship here at Memorial Funeral Homes was during the pandemic. Not being able to provide families the full opportunity to grieve the passing of loved one due to restrictions, how was that? 

It was horrible. It made me feel guilty. I started my apprenticeship before COVID-19 and we were used to handling big funerals and big wakes and then all of a sudden it was just five people that were allowed to be in the room. We had to get really creative. As time went on, I gained a new appreciation for the smaller gatherings because they were so much more intimate. You could just really feel the love and the energy. It was interesting to see this so early in my career.

What is the hardest part of your job? 

Heartbreak of any magnitude is awful. You can see when someone’s heart is broken. And time management: I feel guilty a lot of the time. I take care of the families first and foremost, but I have to take care of myself too. It’s hard taking that time for yourself.  

How has your own experiences with loss shaped how you approach others that are grieving? 

My mother’s father died when I was in 7 th grade and my first reflex was to take care of my mother. I have always been a caregiver. It was really natural to me. To be able to walk people through this journey was very dignifying to me. When my dad’s mom passed, I was his first call. My family has just always known that I will take care of them during difficult times and I think that shaped me to get into this profession.  

Why do you think families choose to work with Memorial Funeral Homes? 

I think families trust us. The Edenbach family has done such a beautiful job developing a good reputation. I am really honored to be working with them and really thankful that they trust me to work for them. I feel like everyone is welcome here and that people can hear and feel the honesty and sincerity in us when we interact with them.

The post Meet Rachel Durbeck: A Funeral Director at Memorial Funeral Homes appeared first on Newport RI | Memorial Funeral Home.

Learning to Talk About Death and How We'll Be Remembered

By Pearl Marvell • April 28, 2026
A two-part spring lecture series at Belmont Chapel invites the community to approach end-of-life conversations with honesty, creativity, and even a little courage. There's a reason most of us avoid talking about death. It feels morbid, premature, or simply something that we'd rather not think about. But a new lecture series at Island Cemetery in Newport is making a gentle, practical case that these conversations — held early, held openly — are among the most meaningful we can have. Death and Dying is an evening series of talks that brings together experts and community members inside the historic Belmont Chapel at Island Cemetery for evenings that are all about intention. Two sessions this May take on subjects that touch nearly everyone: how a life gets written down, and what happens to our bodies after we're gone. The first will be led by our very own Kim Shute and the second talk will be given by Memorial Funeral Home's Kurt Edenbach. May 7: Talking about obituaries won’t make you dead This engaging workshop offers practical tools for writing obituaries that reflect a real life, not just a list of facts. Through examples and guided prompts, participants will learn how to move beyond clichés and tell a meaningful story—whether writing for themselves or someone they love. The workshop is designed to be engaging, not somber, and leaves participants with skills they can actually use. May 14: New & Innovative burial options A week later, Kurt Eudenbach will address a question more people are asking: are there alternatives to traditional burial and cremation? The answer, increasingly, is yes — and the options have grown significantly in recent years, shaped by environmental concerns, personal values, and new technology. From green burials and conservation cemeteries to aquamation, human composting, and other emerging methods, the landscape of end-of-life choices is expanding in ways many people haven't yet heard about. This lecture offers a grounded, accessible look at what's available, what's legal, and what might align with your own wishes — or those of someone you're helping plan for. To reserve your spot, click on the link here .

Kim Shute's Review of Nothing to See Here

By Kim Shute • April 28, 2026
I just love it when I pick up a random book and it transports me to places, I never could have imagined. Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson is one of those rare finds. I was pulled in from page one by the story of a poor girl trying her luck as a scholarship recipient at a private boarding school for the ultra-elite, set against the backdrop of down-home Tennessee. The book vacillates between current day and flashbacks from her earlier life. Our narrator and main character, 28-year-old Lillian Breaker, is, quite honestly, a bit of a mess. She is living in the attic of her self-absorbed mother’s house, and her life feels stagnant at best. Beneath the humor, this is a story that touches on childhood neglect and the sharp divides of income and social status. We learn about Lillian’s complicated relationship with Madison, her former boarding school roommate who reappears with a mysterious and highly confidential job offer. What unfolds is a story about misfits that made me laugh out loud one moment and feel unexpectedly emotional the next. I struggled at times with the dynamic between Madison and Lillian. Given their history, I found myself questioning why they remained connected at all. Yet many of us are guilty of staying in relationships that do not reward us with reciprocity. Still, as the story unfolds, witnessing the trust develop under such unusual and often untenable circumstances helps to restore a bit of faith in human connection. There is a strange magic to this book. It leans into the weirdness in a way that is both disarming and oddly comforting. As Lillian herself suggests, I hope this story “hypnotizes you with weirdness” as you make your way through it. Let us know if you decide to give it a read or a listen, and what you think.

What is terramation and why should I care?

By Pearl Marvell • March 27, 2026
It's likely that you've never heard of it before, but it is the process of naturally breaking down the body into soil.

Kim Shute's Review of The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife

By Kim Shute • March 16, 2026
A case of mistaken identity turns into a sense of security for an octogenarian.

Creative Ways to Honor Your Loved One's Ashes

By Pearl Marvell • March 3, 2026
Losing someone we love is one of life's most profound experiences, and finding a meaningful way to memorialize them can bring great comfort during the grieving process. While keeping a traditional urn at home is a time-honored choice, today there are more ways than ever to celebrate a life well lived. One of the most personal options is transforming ashes into wearable keepsakes. Some companies will pressurize ashes into a diamond, which you can then set into a ring, necklace, or other jewelry item of your choice. Our very own Director of Community Relations, Kim Shute, took some of the ashes of her late husband and made a diamond ring, which she absolutely loves. Parting Stone is another company that offers a beautiful way to memorialize your loved one by transforming their ashes into a collection of polished stones that can be held, shared, and cherished forever. The process uses scientific precision to solidify cremated remains into clean, ceramic-like stones that vary in size, shape, color, and texture — making each collection as unique as the individual it honors. Rather than an urn tucked away in a closet, families can carry the stones in their pocket, display them in a memorial garden, scatter them meaningfully, or divide them so that everyone who loved the person can keep a piece close — making Parting Stones a deeply personal and lasting way to stay connected to those we've lost. For those who feel a connection to nature, there are several meaningful earth-friendly options. Tree urns allow a loved one's ashes to nourish and give life to a tree, which provides a living, growing tribute that endures for generations. Another eco-conscious option is a coral reef memorial, where ashes are incorporated into a concrete reef structure that helps restore natural marine habitats. Scattering ashes in a meaningful location is another deeply personal choice. If your loved one had a passion for travel, you could take their ashes on a journey and scatter them in places that were meaningful to them — perhaps somewhere they always dreamed of visiting. Scattering at sea can also be a beautiful send-off, especially if they loved the beach or were a boating enthusiast. For the creatively inclined, ashes can be woven into works of art. You can commission an artist to create a painting using paint mixed with your loved one's ashes, with popular choices including a portrait of the deceased or a scene from their favorite landscape. Companies can also press ashes into a vinyl record , allowing you to preserve a loved one's favorite songs as a lasting musical tribute. As you can see, there are so many ways that we can honor our loved one’s ashes. If you have any questions, reach out to us!

Winter Proofing Your Independence

By Kim Shute • February 28, 2026
Asking for help with heavy snow today may be the very thing that keeps you independent longer tomorrow.

Kim Shute's Review of Eternity

By Kim Shute • February 24, 2026
A movie about figuring out who to spend eternity with.

Expanding End-of-Life Choices in Rhode Island: An Introduction to Water Cremation

By Pearl Marvell • February 4, 2026
As society evolves, so do the choices we make—especially when it comes to end-of-life care.
An image of a man and a woman hugging,

Kim Shute's Review of Song Sung Blue

By Kim Shute • February 4, 2026
This film is based on a true love story of Mike and Claire Sardina. The film follows them from the moment they meet through the many struggles life throws at them.

Kim Shute's Review of This Time Tomorrow

By Kim Shute • January 8, 2026
How many of us wish we could go back in time to soak up more of the people we loved? I for one have wished for this multiple times since the death of my husband. I want to see him again because his life story is all jumbled in my memory. When did he take care of the grounds of that golf course? When did he walk off that roofing job in his 20s because they did not respect him? And I want more details on when he failed out of engineering school only to go back later after our son was born. Since all those things pre-date my entrance into his life, I have no way of finding out. No one in his life would remember or care about what seem like mundane details. The book review we have for you today is about this very topic. This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub was written while the author’s father was in the hospital. He had suggested she write a book about a daughter visiting her father in the hospital and that is exactly what she did. I am not a fan of Sci-Fi, but I can tolerate a bit of fantasy. I like my fantasy to be anchored in realism, no blue skin or characters named Tragorin for me. Emma Straub writes a time travel novel without any of the Sci-Fi vibes. Based firmly in realism unless you do the math on how old their pet cat is in 1996 and then in 2020. You may have to suspend your disbelief on that detail. It begins with the main character, Alice, on the eve of her fortieth birthday. Her life seems to be fine, albeit a bit lackluster. Her father who is a single father and famous for writing a time travel novel, is in the hospital. The next morning, Alice wakes up as her 16-year-old self, but she still has all the knowledge of her 40-year-old brain. The book does not have a Groundhog Day like quality to it, but she is trying to change the end result. With her father in the hospital in 2020 she finds herself wanting to spend lots of time with her dad when she goes back in time. She gets to ask all those questions that she did not care about the first time, when she was only consumed with her teen self and friends. This is a love story of a different variety, between a daughter and her dad, between her and her friends, and with herself. This book made me just want to read or listen instead of doing my grown-up responsibilities.  I hope you will give this book a try as it is both hopeful and wonderful.