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.” 

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.”

“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.”

Ciao, Kim!

Kim Kardashian pulled out all the sartorial stops once again for Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s post-wedding pajama-themed party — even though she seemingly wasn’t able to attend the fête.

The “Kardashians” star, 44, was spotted strutting her stuff on the streets of Venice, Italy, late Friday night for a photo shoot with her glam team. She wore beige and nude tones of lingerie by Dilara Findikoglu, the same designer who made her sister Kylie Jenner’s controversial wedding ensemble.

The Skims mogul accessorized her sultry getup with Lorraine Schwartz jewels.

Despite finding an outfit for the elegant loungewear theme, it appears Kardashian was unable to flaunt her look to fellow partygoers in person, as she and Khloé Kardashian jet set out of Italy early Saturday.

Kylie, 27, Kendall Jenner and their mother, Kris Jenner, were able to make it to the afterparty Saturday evening, as they were seen riding in a water taxi with their own individual interpretations of the theme.

The Kylie Cosmetics founder, for her part, wore a revealing silver crop top by Paul Aaron and white skirt and her supermodel sister, 29, chose a striking vintage Thierry Mugler purple dress.

Their momager, 69, wore a gray and white circle-patterned set and black feather boa for the event, which seemed fitting of the dress code.

Kim made it to Friday’s nuptials, though, where she was seen in a vintage Versace gown designed by the Italian fashion house’s late founder, Gianni. Crafted from chocolate-covered metal mesh and lace, the look was adorned all over with brown sequins and seed beads.

The “American Horror Story” alum amped up the glam even further with her jewelry, piling on two jaw-dropping Moussaieff diamond necklaces with pear-shaped earrings and a duo of massive rings.

She was joined by family members, including Kylie — who wowed in an icy blue Dilara Findikoglu corset dress — and Khloé, 40, who popped in bubblegum pink Tamara Ralph Couture.

For Thursday night’s wedding welcome party, Kim picked another vintage Versace gown —  a skintight snakeskin number with a slinky chainmail back, plunging lace-up neckline and embellished straps.

And earlier that same day, the mom of four arrived in Venice wearing a tiny black Maison Margiela bandeau top teamed with a Balenciaga maxi skirt and python boots. How’s that for casual travel attire?

When you have pets or accident-prone kids, finding the best area rug can be challenging. Not only should it feel soft and look great, but it should also be durable and easy to clean. Tough, right? It’s a good thing we’re rug experts and found the Joanna Gaines x Loloi Banks Rug that ticked all those boxes and more.

It’s machine washable, vacuum friendly, and shoppers with pets say it’s “dog-approved.” The design is also low pile with ultra-soft fibers, and it has a versatile, vintage look that matches various decor styles. And right now, sizes start at just $32 at Wayfair.

Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines x Loloi Banks Ocean and Spice Area Rug

The rug is made of power-loomed 100 percent polyester that’s sturdy enough to hold up to heavy foot traffic. That’s because power loom weaves the short fibers tightly into the rug’s base for a low pile. So, while it’s not fluffy like a shag rug, you won’t get that crushed texture commonly caused by too much use. While it has a low pile, it’s incredibly soft. In fact, it’s one of shoppers’ favorite features. One reviewer gave it five stars and called it “the softest rug [they’ve] ever walked on,” while another said that it “feels great underfoot.”

In addition to its smoothness, the rug is easy to maintain thanks to the machine-washable design. Area rugs up to 7.6 inches by 9.6 inches and runner styles can be cleaned in most home washing machines on a delicate, cold cycle, and then hung or laid flat to dry. You don’t have to clean it every time a kid (or an adult) spills something or a pet has an accident, though. It can be vacuumed with gentle suction and no beater bar to remove dirt and debris, and it can be spot cleaned with water or a mild detergent if the area is stubborn.

While it feels nice and is easy to clean, it’s also easy on the eyes. It has a vintage-inspired design with shades of muted tans and earthy blues for a pop of color that won’t overwhelm your space. The antique-looking pattern also helps disguise dirt tracked in by guests, pets, and kids. Shoppers love the old-world quality, too, with one customer saying the rug looks vintage without a “fake distressed look,” and one person loved the design and feel so much that they bought five for all around their home. 

If you’ve had trouble tracking down the ideal area rug for pets, kids, and heavy foot traffic, the Joanna Gaines x Loloi Banks Rug could be just what you need. Keep scrolling to see even more pet-friendly rugs from Gaines’ collection that we found at Wayfair.

Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines x Loloi Sinclair Machine Washable Pebble and Taupe Area Rug

Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines x Loloi Gigi Grey and Ivory Area Rug

Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines x Loloi Millie Sky and Gold Area Rug

Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines x Loloi Lenna Rust and Charcoal Area Rug

Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines x Loloi Mona Cocoa and Stone Area Rug