What is Helle Woods?

Helle Woods is on a mission to destigmatize death through digital media that  bridges the gap between the living and the dead. Through her web series, and other media, she’ll expand your understanding of the death industry, how it works, and why it matters with a comedic twist.

Death is something we all think about, know is inevitable, and yet the “normies” wanna pretend like they’re the exception. Just because you don’t talk about it, doesn’t mean it’s not gonna happen… Death is comin’ for you whether you’re ready or not. Helle is here to bust open the tomb to explore the existential through entertainment.

Creator, Dana Santapaola, is a funeral professional who believes that her role is to guide families through the transition of the loss of their loved ones and their new normal, with compassion, presence, understanding and ideally a sense of peace. She wants people to know they are not alone in that fear. Dana, and her Team of Crypt Keepers, created Helle Woods to challenge the viewer by asking: What is the point of life if there is no end?


We hope that all who enter this seemingly spooky space, leave less fearful than when they walked in. It does not matter what happens after life. What matters is that you know your life matters before it ends.

Meet Helle Woods

Helle Woods is a polymath, licensed Mortician, an established spokesmodel, and beyond! As both Muse and Menace, she befriends the deceased, and mortal fools alike.

A misunderstood macabre maven of the mortuary, wrestling with her humanity, in a world so… unalive.

Growing up in an emotional graveyard, she had to learn to breathe life not only into herself but also into those around her that she (secretly) cares for. She prefers her stainless steel room of solitude. Trusting only the deceased to hear her deepest thoughts and secrets. After all, you can’t betray someone from 6-feet-under. But is this enough for this heart-felt-mortician? Or does she long for something more… alive?

Behind the Veil

Get Acquainted with Our Crypt Keepers

  • Dana is a licensed funeral director and embalmer with a flair for the fabulous and a passion for the morbidly magnificent. She’s basically a retro pinup with a mortician’s license, blending her love of all things vintage with a mastery of the macabre. With a lifetime of experience in various creative forms, Dana approaches her role with the precision of a sculptor and the passion of a storyteller—ensuring every farewell is as unique as the life it honors.

    A champion of transparency, Dana believes that the living deserve cold, hard facts—minus the cold morgue vibe. She’s passionate about giving families the truth, offering unvarnished, practical advice so they can make informed decisions without all the fluff (unless we’re talking about her impeccable 1950s bouffant).

    When she’s not ensuring that the deceased are going out in style, you can find Dana striking poses in classic pinup attire or obsessing over mid century films. Outside of her work, she can be found wrangling her pack of beloved pups, exploring offbeat and downright spooky travel destinations with her favorite people, volunteering with non-profit organizations, and making sure she’s as much a fixture in her community as she is in the funeral parlor. Whether it’s globe-trotting to strange locales or being a staple in her community, she’s always where the action is—living life on her terms, with a darkly glamorous smile and a heart of gold… albeit one with a slightly morbid sense of humor.

    A little dark, a little light—Dana’s artistry in life and death knows no bounds.

  • Hailing from Staten Island, NY, Christine is the creative force you didn’t see coming—until she captured you in her lens. A master photographer with an eye for both the eerie and the exquisite, Christine has spent years perfecting her craft. From moody portraits to sprawling scenic shots, every image she creates is imbued with an uncanny magic that draws you in. Her secret? Elaborate set designs, the perfect play of light, and an almost supernatural connection with her subjects.

    But don’t let her serene shots fool you—Christine isn’t afraid to dive deep into the darker side of societal issues, using her art to hold a mirror up to today’s world. When she’s not behind the camera, she’s busy crafting strange and wonderful pieces for her "Let’s Get Weird Creations" sculpture line or capturing unforgettable moments through her highly sought-after event photography business.

    Outside of her art, Christine lives life as a wife to her husband Kevin, a role model to her daughter Rylee, and a bunny-treat dispenser to her furry companions, Bubbles and Cosmo. In the world of the living and the peculiar, Christine brings the weird, the beautiful, and the meaningful into sharp focus.

    If you dare to explore Christine’s other eerie creations beyond the graveyard of Helle Woods, creep on over to:
    www.christinecruzphotography.net


  • Louie’s been haunting the world of graphic design for decades unknown, crafting visuals with his unique twist and a wink to his inner geek. From creating logos that bite back to branding with just enough edge to raise eyebrows, his work lives at the intersection of dark humor and geek culture.

    Louie is the brains—and maybe a bit of the brawn—behind his brand, Geek Boy Press, where he’s spent the last twenty years spinning designs with a nod to his nerdy side. His secret weapons? An encyclopedic knowledge of pop culture, a love of all things bizarre, and a truly obsessive commitment to perfection.

    When he’s not conjuring designs or running his own geeky empire, Louie’s hunting down slices of the perfect pie, building something dangerously intricate out of Lego, or diving headfirst into his next adventure. With Louie, expect the unexpected—and maybe a few pie crumbs along the way.

    For a taste of Louie’s creations beyond the shadows of Helle Woods, sneak over to:
    www.geekboypress.com