Meet Our

Founder

Hello, friends!

Meet Michaelene, the face and mom behind Pollen.

Michaelene Dowers brings her experiences as a mother, plus considerable talents, education, and certifications to Pollen’s curated bereavement literature for children and to Quietus Bee’s continuing education courses in funeral service alongside her specialized consulting. For death care professionals in need of guidance in helping children or in culturally or socially sensitive situations, Michaelene offers appropriate, impactful variations on decedent care.

With nearly a decade of experience as a funeral director in Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, California, Indiana, Oregon, and Idaho, Michaelene is experienced at navigating the many variations in funeral service law and protocol found throughout the United States. She currently holds certifications and/or licenses as a funeral director and embalmer in these same states. Other qualifications include an associate’s degree in mortuary science from Cypress College, a B.A. in religious studies from Grand Canyon University, an M.A. in emergency/crisis management from American Military University, and an M.A. in thanatology (study of death and dying, grief, loss and bereavement) from Marian University. In 2023, Michaelene received her Fellow in Thanatology from ADEC and is now in a PhD program in Mind-Body Medicine focusing on end-of-life care and trauma at Saybrook University. Michaelene currently works as an adjunct professor at multiple mortuary colleges at both the associate and bachelors degree levels, as well as being a visiting lecturer in funeral service at other colleges nationwide.

Memberships & Certifications

Certified Funeral Service Practitioner: American Board of Funeral Service Practitioner

Member of: Fédération Internationale des Associations de Thanatologues – International Federation of Thanatologists Associations

Member of: Southern CEMETERY, CREMATION & FUNERAL ASSOCIATION