She’s the life of the party.

A 55-year-old death-obsessed “funeral crasher” from Islington in London, England, travels the world visiting cemeteries and has been to over 200 send-offs for deceased strangers. 

Jeane Trend-Hill, who also works as an actress, photographer and artist, spends most of her free time tidying graves and photographing cemeteries. She’s such a regular at gravesites that cemetery workers at her favorite haunts ask her to attend funerals of the deceased who don’t have any family or friends. 

“I’m proud to be that person that goes to strangers’ funerals when there is no one else who can attend,” Trend-Hill told South West News Service. 

Trend-Hill’s fascination with the macabre started when she was a child, although she didn’t begin funeral hopping until 2012, when she stumbled upon a church during a service for the dearly departed. 

“I accidentally walked in on a funeral at a church but raised as a Catholic I knew not to leave once there. Even though I didn’t know the person, I was deeply moved,” Trend-Hill explained. 

“Shortly after, a cemetery worker reached out and asked if I’d attend a funeral for a veteran. Now I’ve attended nearly 200 funerals for people I don’t actually know — although I have lost count of the exact amount.”

Trend-Hill’s ability to lift mourners’ spirits earned her the nickname “rent-a-mourner” from her family.

“It’s a name they gave me and it’s a bit fun. Of course, I’d never actually make anyone pay for my attendance at a funeral,” she said. 

Trend-Hill knows firsthand just how difficult losing a loved one can be. She lost her 56-year-old father when she was just 14 years old and she lost her 57-year-old mother when she was 20. 

She’s been drawn to cemeteries and crematoriums ever since. 

“The first thing I do when I get somewhere is see where the closest crematory is,” she said. “I did a PhD in mortuary science and became a cemetery historian.”

Trend-Hill, who describes cemeteries as “outdoor art galleries,” is passionate about refurbishing graves. She restored the plaque for British architect Arthur Beresford Pite and unveiled it while dressed to kill in a Victorian mourning dress. Trend-Hill takes pleasure in paying respects to the dead.

“I realized that everyone has a story to tell, everyone has lived a life and should have someone around to remember them when they die.”

Trend-Hill also hopes to make death seem a little less grave for the living.

“Death has never worried me. I hope I can make death feel less scary for people,” she said.

“It’s my way of giving something back.”