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Mary Jumbelic, M.D., is an author from Central New York, and former chief medical examiner of Onondaga County. As a board-certified forensic pathologist, she has performed thousands of autopsies during her 25-year career.
She received awards for her work from the National Transportation Safety Board and the New York State Senate and has been recognized by the National Organization of Women as a trailblazer.
In retirement, she has published many nonfiction stories, accounts of her life both in and out of the morgue. Her work has garnered awards in literary contests and been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. Her first book, Here, Where Death Delights, a Literary Memoir, came out in November 2023.
She teaches at the Downtown Writer’s Center in Syracuse and is assistant editor at Stone Canoe.
Her motto is = She speaks for the dead. They speak for her.
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Here, Where Death Delights: A Literary Memoir is a work of non-fiction in the autobiographical writing, death, grief, and mortality subgenres. It is suitable for adult readers owing to the vivid descriptions of death, dying, and dead bodies throughout. Penned by author Mary Jumbelic, M.D., in this unique work, the author chronicles her lifelong obsession with death following the loss of her father at age 13. This traumatic event propelled her into adulthood prematurely, leading her to grapple with the unanswered questions surrounding her father's passing. Her journey to understanding death led her to pursue a career as a forensic pathologist, where she spent 25 years analyzing corpses and providing closure to grieving families. Through her experiences, she confronted her own grief and trauma, ultimately becoming an advocate for injury prevention and a voice for the deceased. Dr. Jumbelic's memoir is a poignant exploration of loss, resilience, and the human capacity for hope in the face of mortality.
Dr. Mary Jumbelic's raw and honest narrative delves into the complexities of grief, trauma, and the human experience of mortality, offering readers a profound and thought-provoking experience from cover to cover. Her journey from a grieving young girl to a seasoned forensic pathologist is both inspiring and heart-wrenching, with a close personal narrative style that pulls no punches and really lets us access Jumbelic’s exploration of personal trauma as well as processing the trauma of others. The memoir offers profound insights into the human psyche's response to death and the ways individuals navigate loss and trauma, which are both educational and enlightening when reflecting on my own experiences of grief. Dr. Jumbelic's story is a testament to the resilience and the transformative power of facing one's demons head-on, coupled with a gorgeous literary style that elevates the prose and allows for emotion to breathe through it. Overall, Here, Where Death Delights is an accomplished work that prompts readers to reflect on their own relationship with mortality and find solace in the universal journey toward acceptance and healing. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
