First Female Funeral Director was from Philadelphia!

Henrietta S. Bowers-Duterte (1817-1903) was the first female undertaker in the United States of America. She became an undertaker in 1858 after her husband, a coffin maker died. Born free Henrietta often hid slaves in coffins to ensure their safe passage through the city of Philadelphia. Her undertaking business became one of the most successful businesses in Philadelphia burying both blacks & whites. She is now interred in Philadelphia's Eden Cemetery, the oldest black-owned cemetery in America!

Read more about Henrietta here.