Phaedra Parks Reveals the Tragedy that Inspired Her to Become a Mortician

Moving into the funeral business isn't the typical career trajectory for most folks, let alone a busy, high-profile lawyer. But when tragedy struck, Phaedra Parks suddenly became interested in learning more about mortuary sciences, a passion she has been open about on The Real Housewives of Atlanta.

“I went through a very terrible time about two years straight. My law partner died and two of my friends committed suicide,” Phaedra told Page Six, noting that she even embalmed her grandmother in 2012. “I became so depressed that it sparked something in me, to really research and start hanging out at the funeral home, just to figure out the process.”

And if fans are wondering how she manages to squeeze in her mortuary gig along with her work as an attorney, she broke down her schedule. “I practice law five days a week, and if I’m embalming a body it’s usually overnight,” she explained. “It’s the quietest time of the night that you’re doing the embalming work. The funeral business is really an overnight and weekend business. Saturday is the funeral day for people of color, usually. And of course, the court houses and law firms are closed on Saturdays.”

With Phaedra (who earned her mortuary science degree in 2014) being so vocal about her side job, even celebrities have noticed. Bette Midler recently spoke to Phaedra about the RHOA mom someday doing the singer's funeral — but she's not the only star Phaedra has her sights set on. "You know, I loved, I had the pleasure of meeting Patti LaBelle," she explained to The Daily Dish. "I would love to do her funeral. Oh, honey, I would change her out four or five times. I would have her up like she was singing. They wouldn't even know if she was alive or gone to glory."

No word on whether Phaedra's mortuary business will be a topic during Part 2 of the RHOA reunion, airing Sunday at 8/7c. Check out a preview, below.

Your First Look at Reunion Part 2