"You Need Nerves of Steel": Gravedigger's 20-Year Journey

Armands Ancāns never intended to become a gravedigger. Living in Jēkabpils, he needed a job but didn't want to work in construction or at a sawmill. His mother jokingly suggested trying out a funeral home. At age 19, he gave it a try—and it turned out to be a good fit.

Now, 20 years later, the job has become a part of his life. However, being a gravedigger involves much more than digging a hole and carrying a coffin. It starts with a phone call informing of a relative's death. The gravedigger must then pick up the deceased and transport them to a morgue or the State Center for Forensic Medicine.

This work demands not only physical strength but also strong nerves. Armands' experience shows that with the right attitude and support, one can perform this profession for many years.