Entertainment
Former Mortician Reveals the 5 Things She Learned from the Dead (Exclusive)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/annie-owens-1-061825-f92ee6bb849545d6aae8174df0cde10f.jpg)
NEED TO KNOW
- Annie Owen is a funeral director and former mortician
- She talks with PEOPLE about what inspired her to share her mortician series on TikTok
- Owen says it’s an “honor to learn the stories of the dead”
Annie Owen has a morbid job – literally.
When Owen was in high school, she was interested in pursuing a career in funeral service. Her dad initially told her that it wasn’t a job for women, but that didn’t deter her.
After studying to get her bachelor’s degree in funeral science, she took a job as an apprentice in her hometown, later becoming a mortician and funeral director.
“It was difficult because a lot of the cases or the families that I worked with, I knew since it’s such a small town,” she tells PEOPLE exclusively. “You don’t know what to expect when you get a call. I focused on the thought of helping families and people, but you have to be prepared to see a lot of things that you’re not prepared to see.”
“One night, my best friend’s father had a heart attack in front of me, and he died,” she continues. “I was on call, and that was one of the first times ever I realized how difficult this job was, but it turned out to be a good lesson for me. I was glad that I could be there for my best friend, and I was able to walk through that journey with her.”
Being there for others in their time of need is fulfilling, but can also be emotionally draining. Owen shares that you “learn very quickly how to suppress your emotions so you can take care of other people.”
“It’s not about us, it’s about their feelings,” Owen shares. “Whatever we can do for the family to make things easier for them. But, over time, it got to be a lot for me. The older I get as a funeral director, I feel like I take it home a lot more than I did in the beginning.”
Courtesy of Annie Owen
While working in funeral service, Owen has “braced herself for solemn moments,” and there have admittedly “been a lot” of them. Still, she is always amazed by how much “joy there is in celebrating someone’s life.”
“I had so many families over the years that have wonderful stories. I get to hear the stories of the person’s life. I have so many funny stories that people have told me,” Owen says. “When the families come together, they’re able to do that in a way that’s not as depressing as you think it would be.”
Owen hopes to quell some misconceptions about those working in the death industry, including the belief that they are “shady” and “unhappy.”
“There are some bad apples. But most of us have such integrity. We strive to have integrity in this business,” she shares. “There’s a misconception that if one director does something illegal, we all do it behind the scenes.”
Courtesy of Annie Owen
“The majority of funeral directors strive to follow the law, and morally, you want to lay your head down at night and know that you did a good job for the family and respectfully for the deceased,” she adds.
Owen shares that the HBO show Six Feet Under is the “most realistic behind-the-scenes show that you will ever see.” She says the movie My Girl, for the most part, also represents funeral directors “in a good light.”
Some of these misconceptions, along with her desire to share stories about the people she has encountered, inspired her to start her series, “5 Things I Won’t Do Because I’ve Been A Mortician,” on TikTok.
Owen shares lists of things that she refuses to do because of what she’s seen — such as swimming in lakes, joyriding in the back of pickup trucks, taking other people’s medication, riding motorcycles without protection and cutting people off in traffic.
“I believe we can learn a lot from the dead, that they have a story to tell, whether [or not] that’s a cautionary story,” she says. “That was when I started my TikTok, I thought, ‘What are some stories that I can tell that people will learn from?’ When I started the series, those are real events that have happened, that I have seen, and I’ve seen the devastation.”
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Owen shares other stories, including personal accounts of people who have passed away, to remember them and raise awareness about their deaths.
“When I retell the stories, I sit down and think about the families I’ve met over the years. I miss many of the families I met. I had a close relationship with many people when I worked with families,” she shares.
“This process has allowed me to sit down and go over all the memories that I’ve had, and a lot of them are heartwarming and wonderful because I have met so many wonderful families, and that’s what keeps us going.”
While the topic of death can be uncomfortable for many, Owen encourages people to find the beauty in honoring those who came before us.
“People who don’t think they can do this job miss such a beautiful part of life, even though it’s death. Celebrating someone’s life is a truly wonderful experience, and it’s an honor to be there alongside the family,” Owen shares. “It’s an honor all these years to get to know these families and learn the stories of the dead, of the people that we’ve buried.”
Entertainment
Oprah’s Roomy Cargo Pants Are a Go-To Fall Style
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/oprahs-big-pocket-cargo-pants-5a1e945a3e654a8596b7bc3da4cbbd18.jpg)
Welcome to The Blueprint, where we break down the celebrity looks we want to wear right now and build them back up, piece by piece.
Oprah Winfrey is committed to cargo pants, so it’s obvious I have to break up with my boring pocketless pants as soon as possible.
Last fall in New York City, the media mogul wore a pair of big-pocket pants (a style she’s worn before) that prompted a light-bulb realization: I fear I have not given cargos a fighting chance. And for what? Boring pants that only have hidden pockets, or, in many cases, faux ones that can’t even stash a phone.
Not long before Oprah showed off her brown cargos, Gwyneth Paltrow wore a navy blue pair with a cropped trench coat. That gives me another reason to feel confident about trying this offbeat pants style.
Raymond Hall/GC
The rest of Oprah’s look was grand, too: Her purple sweater was ideal for fall thanks to its three-quarter sleeves, plus her comfy sneakers finished it with polished comfort (she also wore heels with the outfit at another point in the day, but let’s keep it casual). We rounded up similar big-pocket pants, sweaters, and kicks inspired by the TV icon.
Oprah’s Outfit Blueprint
MoFiz Cargo Capris, $37 with coupon
Amazon
When I use regular pockets, I’m super careful because, most of the time, they’re not deep enough, so things tend to fall out when I’m sitting. In other words, they’re not that secure, and that’s why I’m picking out pants with pockets that have more room or more compartments.
These from Amazon are “very durable” and “silky” to the touch, per the reviews. Also, according to one shopper who wore them while hiking, “The pockets were big enough to hold my phone and Chapstick, so I didn’t have to carry a big bag.” They also have drawstring cuffs, so you can tie them up if you don’t want to dirty them when walking around outdoors.
Liyohon Turtleneck Top
Amazon
I can’t stand feeling like an overstuffed burrito with a thick sweater packed into an even thicker coat in the fall or winter. So, I usually choose thinner layers, but I want them to keep me at least a little warm. This turtleneck “feels more like a light sweater than a T-shirt,” according to one shopper, and it has been worn under dresses and blazers, per many others.
The purple shade here is a little lighter than Oprah’s, but the three-quarter-length sleeves are, in my opinion, the most important thing to focus on here.
Somiliss Leather Suede Patchwork Sneakers
Amazon
Oprah also pulled a sneaky move when she did a little shoe change. We don’t know which pair came first — heels or sneakers — but I personally am a “go comfortable or go home” shoe gal, so I’m choosing option B.
In my book, suede makes anything more fall-worthy, but it can be tricky on shoes. I don’t want to have to spritz a protectant spray all over, so a pair with just a little bit of the soft texture feels easier to manage long term. The soles on these look serrated like Oprah’s, which make me believe that they’d be incredibly grippy.
Keep scrolling to shop more Amazon finds inspired by Oprah’s outfit, including more brown cargo pants, purple three-quarter-sleeve tops, and white sneakers.
Moosehill Wide-Leg Cargo Pants
Amazon
Lepunuo High-Waisted Cargo Pants
Amazon
Dokotoo Striped Knit Pullover Sweater, $32 with coupon
Amazon
JomeDesign Three-Quarter-Sleeve Sweater
Amazon
Sernial White Platform Sneakers
Amazon
Entertainment
Karlie Kloss welcomes third baby with husband Joshua Kushner

Karlie Kloss’ brood just got bigger.
The model has given birth to her and husband Joshua Kushner’s third baby — a girl. Kushner announced the news via Instagram Saturday by posting a photo of the newborn and revealing her name: “Rae Florence 9.18.2025 🤍.”
The former Victoria’s Secret Angel announced her pregnancy news in a March Instagram post debuting her bump.
“Three’s a party 🥹🫶🎉,” Kloss wrote at the time.
The caption referenced her and Kushner’s eldest two children — sons Levi and Elijah — who appeared in the social media upload.
Levi was born in March 2021, followed by Elijah in July 2023.
While awaiting baby No. 3, Kloss continued to show off her budding belly at the Met Gala, WNBA games and more events.
She rocked a black off-the-shoulder gown to ring in Kushner’s 40th birthday at a star-studded bash in June.
“I have loved growing up together, and can’t wait to grow old together,” Kloss captioned a celebratory tribute to the “love of [her] life and best friend” via Instagram.
The Kode With Klossy founder and Kushner have been together since 2012.
The businessman got down on one knee in July 2018, and the duo walked down the aisle in upstate New York three months post-proposal.
The duo went on to have a second wedding ceremony in Wyoming in 2019.
Although the pair primarily keep their romance out of the public eye over the years, Kloss insisted to Net-a-Porter in 2018 that they “have nothing to hide.”
In May, she explained to “Aspire” podcast listeners that their “partnership is so solid” because they met when she was a teenager.
“We’ve grown up together,” Kloss gushed. “He’s always been my biggest champion.”
Entertainment
Prince Harry Made Secret Visit to Another Member of Royal Family During U.K. Trip
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Prince-Harry-092025-a3465016e82d44eb91e21f2d9ad9b0cd.jpg)
NEED TO KNOW
- Prince Harry’s four-day visit to the U.K. included a secret visit to another member of the royal family
- According to Hello!, Harry visited Kensington Palace to pay his respects to Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, following the death of his wife, Katharine, the Duchess of Kent
- Harry “loved catching up with family, friends and colleagues” during his trip to Britain, a source said
Prince Harry’s four-day visit to the U.K. included a reunion with his father, King Charles, after nearly two years, as well as a secret visit to another member of the royal family.
According to a report from Hello! published on Saturday, Sept. 20, Harry, 41, privately visited Kensington Palace to “personally pay his respects and offer condolences” to Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, following the death of his wife, Katharine, the Duchess of Kent. She died on Sept. 4 at the age of 92.
Although Harry was not able to attend Katharine’s funeral on Sept. 16, as he had already left the U.K., a source close to the Duke of Sussex told the outlet that he “loved catching up with family, friends and colleagues.”
“His only regret was not being able to stay longer and see more people, but the meetings in Ukraine had been in the diary for a long time, and it mattered to him to be there in person to see the Invictus Games Foundation’s growing work and the progress at Superhumans,” the source added.
“The whole trip felt like a real success for everyone involved,” the source said. “His passion for his patronages and the causes he cares about hasn’t dimmed one bit — he’s already buzzing to get back and do more.”
Victoria Jones/Shutterstock
The Duke of Sussex made several public appearances during his U.K. trip, including at the WellChild Awards in London on Sept. 8, where he crouched to greet children, wrapped families in hugs and cracked jokes. In Nottingham the next day, he danced into a room at the Community Recording Studio (CRS), laughing and bantering with young activists.
“He’s still the same person,” said CRS’s Trevor Rose. “He wants to feel the energy here. He cares — and that’s the main thing.”
Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!
One of the most newsworthy moments came when Harry arrived at Clarence House on Sept. 10, and disappeared inside for a long-awaited, private meeting with King Charles. He emerged just under one hour later — and experts were quick to point out that this visit could be the first step on the road to reconciliation with his father.
“It’s a massive step in the right direction,” Queen Elizabeth’s former spokeswoman Ailsa Anderson told PEOPLE following the historic meeting. “It’s a building of trust.”
Chris Jackson/Getty
Harry and the King, 76, have been estranged for more than 18 months. As PEOPLE previously reported, the meeting not only served as a chance for the Duke of Sussex to rekindle his relationship with his father, but also with his brother, Prince William.
While the encounter marked a hopeful step forward, royal insiders caution that a long road lies ahead before full reconciliation can take place.
“It shows the way forward,” an insider with ties to both sides told PEOPLE. “It is a good starting point.”
Just a few days after the meeting, Harry made a surprise visit to Kyiv, Ukraine, with his Invictus Games Foundation and spoke with The Guardian while there.
“The focus really has to be on my dad,” he said, while also acknowledging his past revelations in interviews and his memoir Spare. “My conscience is clear.”
When asked if he will ever bring his children to the U.K. despite his security concerns, Harry told the outlet, “Yes, I would. This week has definitely brought that closer.”
“Whatever has gone on in the past, it is good to see the family trying to repair itself or communicate at least,” a source with close ties to the palace added to PEOPLE. “Everyone has to have compassion for all sides.”
After visiting the U.K. and Ukraine, Harry returned to Montecito, Calif., to be with wife Meghan Markle and their children, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4. On Saturday, Sept. 20, Meghan, 44, and Harry stepped out together to the One805LIVE! concert, which supports Santa Barbara County’s first responders and was held at Kevin Costner‘s oceanside estate in California.
