Careers 101 - Funeral Director

The Funeral Director career is a fusion of many responsibilities.

Depending on the location of your employment, your position may involve the business of funeral rites, which can entail the embalming, cremation or burial of the deceased.

Another responsibility of the job is the planning and arranging of the actual funeral ceremony.

Funeral Directors, or Morticians as they're sometimes referred to, may be called upon to perform the duties of dressing (something chosen by the family), application of makeup to enhance the appearance (for the viewing) and placing the deceased in the casket.

To walk a family through their grief process while they are making incredible financial decisions takes patience and understanding.

A Funeral Director may wear many hats:

• Part counselor
• Part clergy
• Part account executive

These responsibilities, and many others, takes a person with strong character, a cool head, and a kind heart.

The educational requirements must be met and state board examinations are a requirement to practice in this field in many states.

Course study at a college for funeral sciences are: (This may vary college to college, but most are very similar)

Public Health and Technical:

Principles of Embalming, Restorative Art, Microbiology for Embalmers, Principles of Embalming, Chemistry for Embalming, Clinical Embalming, Pathology for Embalmers.

Social Sciences

History of Funeral Service, Death and Human Development, Funeral Service Psychology and Counseling, Sociology of Funeral Service, Comprehensive Review.

Business Management

Principles of Mathematics, Funeral Home Directing, Small Business Management, Accounting I, Funeral Home Management and Merchandising, Accounting II.

• Legal, Regulatory and Ethical Law
  
• Professional Ethics, Business Law; Mortuary Law; State Rules.
  

General Education

Communication Skills, Introduction to Science, Health Education, Anatomy, Introduction to Microbiology, Introduction to Pathology, , Introduction to Chemistry,

The aim of many schools is for students to demonstrate proper technique in:

• Being of service to the living in making funeral arrangements, establishing calling hours, counseling, and other areas of funeral service.
• Ability to demonstrate the proper technique in the safe preparation of human remains, including precautions, handling communicable disease infected tissues, embalming both autopsied and unautopsied remains.
• Ability to communicate with the clergy of various faiths to present a dignified funeral experience for the bereaved.
  
• Ability to interact with other professionals and the general public in a manner which benefits both funeral service and the public as a whole.

A funeral director's job is to guide the family in making these most difficult decisions. especially If the deceased didn't make their wishes known before hand.

A good funeral director will provide a comprehensive guide in the discussion of burial or cremation.

It's a topic most people don't want to think about and that leaves it up to the families to discuss. These "discussions" can get very emotional.

Here's a brief guide to what options/advice could be provided.

Cremation versus Burial

• What are their personal beliefs?
• Spiritual or religious philosophies?
• Environmental philosophies?
  
• Convenience or simplicity?
• Cost factors?
• Cremation is a centuries old funeral rite, that is again growing in acceptance and preference. In communities where space is at a premium, more and more people are choosing cremation over burial.

• Many cultures insist on open-casket 'viewings' as a significant part of the funeral services.
• There is also, quite often, a different atmosphere in a service where the deceased was cremated versus a casket funeral.
• A good funeral director will make sure that, which ever choice is made, there is a service that fits the wishes of the family and friends making the arrangements. Some people want a solemn restrained memorial, some people want to make it more a joyful and almost festive time, celebrating the life of the person they love.
  
• Do they want their guests in black? Do they want them all to go "Hawaiian?"
• Indoors? Outdoors? Food? Drinks?

Don't forget, It's their funeral!

Many Funeral Homes are family-run, family-employed businesses. However, there are larger national chains being established where employment is available.

Employment opportunities for funeral directors are expected to be good, particularly for those who also embalm. However, mortuary science graduates may have to relocate to find jobs