Loved ‘The Last Dance’ (破·地獄)? Meet the Real-Life Trailblazer. 🕊️📽️
What drives someone to leave a high-flying career in the logistics industry to work among the dead?
Meet Angjolie Mei, the daughter of the late Ang Yew Seng—Singapore’s legendary "Coffin King." In 2004, following her father's passing, Angjolie made the life-changing decision to quit her management career and become an "accidental" funeral director.
She quickly realized that the death care industry was a calling. Fascinated by the intricate details of the trade, she set out to raise standards and bring a new level of compassion to the dearly departed and their grieving families. Today, she stands as one of the few women in a traditionally male-dominated field, and in Dying to Meet You, she pulls back the curtain on a world most of us rarely see.
A Connection to the Big Screen: Reading this book serves as a powerful companion to the recent box-office hit Hong Kong movie, The Last Dance. Much like the film, which explores the sacred rituals and deep-seated taboos of the funeral trade, Angjolie’s memoir humanizes the "dirty work" of death. It reminds us that behind the incense and the ceremonies, there are real people navigating grief, family dynamics, and the heavy cultural weight of "last rites." If the movie moved you, this book will give you the real-world perspective behind those scenes.
What You’ll Learn: This book is as educational as it is emotional. Angjolie answers the questions many are too afraid to ask:
The Process: What exactly happens during the embalming process?
The Art of Restoration: What kind of delicate post-death restoration is required for victims of severe accidents or burns?
The Reality of Loss: Little-known facts and sensitivities surrounding suicides.
The Science of Passing: Did you know that a person’s sense of hearing is often the last to go during the dying process?
The Craft: The practical differences between a coffin (6 sides) and a casket (4 sides, but significantly heavier).
The Verdict: Dying to Meet You is a courageous and deeply human look at the end of life. Angjolie Mei shares her experiences with grace, professional insight, and a touch of wit. Be prepared to walk away seeing funerals—and life itself—in a very different light.
📍 Dying to Meet You by Angjolie Mei is available at BookaliciousMY
