Better Than a Dating App: A Match Made in the Mortuary
The charming little town of Pinhalzinho, Brazil—population just around 2,800—was the perfect setting for an adorable meet-cute … in the local funeral home. Yes, this is a love story that blossomed amid funeral flowers, masses of mourners, and dozens of corpses.
Meet Daniela Signor, a 33‑year‑old funeral crasher with a heart full of hope, and Apollo Scariot, the 31‑year‑old deathcare professional who stole it.
Love at First Sight
Back in April 2023, Daniela attended a funeral—one of many she’d been to before. But this time, her eye wandered from the casket and found Apollo, who was directing the service. Alas, Apollo was so focused on the tasks at hand that he barely noticed her.
Not one to give up, Daniela came up with an unusual plan to meet Apollo: she would attend funerals roughly every three months, all in hopes of catching his eye . To an outsider, this might seem unusual—after all, funerals aren’t common dating venues—but Pinhalzinho was such a small town that her consistent presence wasn’t unexpected. Daniela blended in with the other guests, and no one was ever aware that she didn’t actually know the deceased.
“I don’t like funerals. At all,” Daniela admitted. “I used to think, ‘I’ll give the family a hug just so I can see him,’ you know? But he wasn’t always there.”
Catching the Undertaker’s Attention
Despite her hit-or-miss, slightly stalky approach, Daniela’s persistence eventually paid off. After nearly two years—and dozens of services—Apollo finally noticed Daniela among the mourners. When they began talking, she confessed her elaborate plan, and he was taken aback. “Wait, how did I never notice you before?” Apollo wondered.
Soon what began as intentional glimpses became heartfelt conversation. By summer 2024, they began dating—and in May 2025, they were married.
Wedding Entrance to Remember
Their wedding was far from ordinary. Daniela made her grand entrance in a hearse—the very same vehicle Apollo used for his work. Painted on the back window was a playful banner:
“’Til death do us part.”
Guests were initially stunned, but during the ceremony, the couple shared their unique love story. “Everyone at the wedding was shocked,” Daniela recalled, “but during our vows, we explained everything—we read out our story. Then people understood why I arrived in the hearse.”
Apollo admitted he never expected the attention, saying, “Funerals are simply a part of our story… We decided to arrive in the hearse from my company because it’s part of our story—how we met.”
A Send-Off You Can Smile About
Daniela and Apollo’s wedding might not be your typical ceremony—but it’s a story that reminds us how human, creative, and deeply meaningful the journey through grief and closure can be.
To the funeral directors, staff, and care teams reading this: remember, your work isn’t limited to sorrow. You are witnesses to resilience, love, and unexpected joy. And sometimes, you are even a part of setting the stage for a love story that begins at a farewell and ends in a happily ever after.
So the next time someone mentions attending “too many funerals,” maybe you can say:
“Well, sometimes they lead to the start of something beautiful.”
