The work of Funeral Service Workers is essential in providing support and managing the intricate details involved in honoring the deceased and assisting grieving families. Their responsibilities are multifaceted and demand a unique blend of compassion, organizational skills, and professionalism.
Here's a breakdown of their key responsibilities:
Directing and Arranging Funeral Services:
- Meeting with families to offer comfort, guidance, and information regarding funeral service options.
- Assisting families in making decisions about funeral arrangements, including the type of service (traditional funeral, memorial service, cremation), and their preferences.
- Determining the locations, dates, and times for visitations (wakes), funeral or memorial services, burials, and cremations.
- Arranging for the removal and transportation of the deceased from the place of death to the funeral home.
- Preparing obituaries and coordinating with clergy, pallbearers, and other service participants.
- Making arrangements with cemeteries or crematories for burials or cremations, including scheduling the opening and closing of graves.
- Coordinating the shipment of bodies for out-of-state or international final disposition.
- Preparing the sites for all services, ensuring they are presentable and meet the family's needs.
Care of the Deceased:
- Preparing the remains for viewing, which may include embalming (a temporary cosmetic and preservative process), dressing, and casketing.
- Performing restorative art to reshape or enhance the appearance of the deceased for viewing.
Administrative and Legal Tasks:
- Securing the necessary information to complete legal documents, such as death certificates.
- Filing death certificates and other legal papers with the appropriate authorities.
- Assisting survivors with details for filing claims for death benefits, insurance claims, and notifying relevant agencies like Social Security or the Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Managing financial aspects, including providing cost information and handling payments.
- Some workers help clients pre-plan their own funerals.
Support and Counseling:
- Providing emotional support and counsel to the bereaved during the initial stages of grief and throughout the funeral process.
- Offering resources and information, such as support groups, to help grieving friends and family adapt to their loss.
Operational and Managerial Duties (depending on the role):
- Funeral home managers oversee the general operations of the funeral home, including managing staff, finances, marketing, and public relations.
- Maintaining funeral home facilities, merchandise display rooms, crematories, and vehicles.
Key Skills and Qualities:
- Compassion: Treating clients with empathy, care, and sympathy during their time of loss.
- Interpersonal Skills: Communicating tactfully and effectively with grieving families, explaining service options, and discussing sensitive matters.
- Organizational Skills: Managing numerous tasks, details, and schedules for multiple clients, often within a short timeframe.
- Time-Management Skills: Prioritizing and efficiently handling various responsibilities.
- Business Skills: Understanding financial aspects and the ability to manage a funeral home effectively (for directors and managers).
- Attention to Detail: Ensuring accuracy in paperwork, arrangements, and the care of the deceased.
- Discretion and Professionalism: Maintaining confidentiality and a respectful demeanor.
Job Outlook and Education:
The job outlook for funeral service workers is projected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations. The aging population and the consistent need for funeral services contribute to job stability in this field.
The typical education requirement for funeral service workers is an associate's degree in funeral service or mortuary science. Some positions, particularly management roles, may prefer or require a bachelor's degree. These programs typically include coursework in:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Microbiology
- Pathology
- Chemistry
- Embalming and restorative art
- Funeral service law and ethics
- Grief counseling
- Funeral directing and arranging
- Business management and accounting
In most states, licensure is mandatory for morticians, undertakers, and funeral directors. Licensing requirements vary by state but generally include completing an accredited mortuary science program, passing a national and/or state board exam, and serving an apprenticeship or internship.
Funeral service workers play a vital role in their communities, providing essential support and guidance to families during times of loss. Their work demands both professional competence and genuine compassion.