#TalkDeath with the American Thanatologist

Cole Imperi: The American Thanatologist

Many of you may have heard the term, but do you know what a thanatologist is, or does? Thanatology is the scientific study of death. Thanatologists investigate the psychological and social aspects of death and dying, as well as the forensic aspects of it (like bodily changes during and after death). While thanatology traces its history to the forensic study of the processes of death, today it is much more philosophical and psychological. Grief counseling, death education, hospice care, and philosophical enquiry make up a large part of thanatological training.

With death consciousness on the rise, more educational options are being made available to the public. And as the funeral experience diversifies, there are more opportunities for funeral directors to integrate the services of thanatologists. Today there are 2 schools in the United States that offer degrees in thanatology, and several certification programs.

For our next #TalkDeath episode, we are interviewing Cole Imperi, the American Thanatologist. Cole is a Certified Integrative Thanatologist and Certified in Thanatology: Death, Dying and Bereavement through the Association for Death Education and Counseling. We’re gathering your questions about thanatology, mortuary school, medical ethics, forensics of death and dying, the funeral profession, and much more!

Your Questions for the American Thanatologist:

Who is Cole Imperi?

Cole Imperi is a thanatologist, podcaster, owner of branding & strategy company Doth, and co-owner of Dead Ringers, among many other accomplishments.

Cole is a Certified Integrative Thanatologist and Certified in Thanatology: Death, Dying and Bereavement through the Association for Death Education and Counseling. Cole is a 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher. She holds a post-graduate Certificate in Typeface Design from the Type@Cooper Condensed Program. She is a Certified Crematory Operator. Cole was appointed by the City of Covington, Kentucky to the Board of Overseers of Historic Linden Grove Cemetery and Arboretum and serves on the board of a green burial cemetery—Heritage Acres—in Cincinnati, OH. She is teaching faculty for the ICCFA Cremation Arranger Certification program, and a public speaker covering topics ranging from generational marketing, end-of-life issues, and grief/loss. She is Adjunct Faculty at a mortuary college teaching Thanatology. Cole is Associate Producer of MORTAL, a feature-length documentary film about the human condition. She serves on the Advisory Board for the Art of Dying Institute. Cole is an active hospice volunteer and bereavement support group leader for children as young as 3 to adults.