A funeral director plays a vital role during challenging times in people’s lives. They coordinate the funeral of those who have passed. This includes discovering and following through with the deceased families’ wishes, transporting the deceased, and ensuring all individuals involved in the ceremony are on time and educated on their role and responsibility.
Watch a video to learn what a funeral director does.
How to Become a Funeral Director
According to O*NET OnLine, the large majority of funeral directors obtain an associate’s degree and some have earned a certification. An associate’s degree in mortuary science would include courses on the study of deceased bodies, business courses, and teach embalming techniques.
Job Description of a Funeral Director
Each day, funeral directors perform many tasks. They may meet with family members of a recently deceased individual to start planning funeral service arrangements. They may help set-up and prepare for a funeral service, or coordinating the logistics of a service about to take place. This includes transportation for mourners, educating the pallbearers, working with any religious figures that may be involved at the ceremony, and much more.
In addition, funeral directors also walk families through some of the key decision points necessary before a service takes place, such as what wording to use in a ceremony, who may speak, what type of casket they would like, and where to display any remembrance items such as photos or the like.
Mortician, Undertaker or Funeral Director Career Video Transcript
As a mortician, undertaker or funeral director, you will be a bridge for those who wish to make plans for their future death, as well as those who have recently survived the death of a loved one and wish for closure. Morticians and undertakers may help clients resolve insurance claims, apply for veterans’ funeral benefits, arrange transportation for mourners, decorate the sites of all services, and find resources on overcoming grief among many other diverse tasks.
Funeral service managers conduct the general matters of running a funeral home, such as allocating expenses, handling marketing and public relations, and managing staff. For many who aspire to become a funeral service worker, the key to success is by obtaining an associate’s degree in mortuary science
Funeral directors and embalmers are legally required to obtain a license everywhere, except Colorado. As a mortician, undertaker, or funeral director, you will be a member of a robust, growing industry that provides vital services to those who need them.
Article Citations
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Directors.
National Center for O*NET Development. 39-4031.00. O*NET OnLine.
The career video is in the public domain from the U. S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
