Job Description for Funeral Directors
Funeral directors, also known as undertakers or morticians, have the challenging task of handling the details of funerals with empathy and compassion. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 30,000 people were employed as funeral directors in 2008.
Other People Are Reading
-
Function
-
Funeral directors prepare the remains of the deceased and coordinate ceremonial activities in accordance with the family's instructions and religious needs. They may also prepare and direct the shipment of bodies for burial outside of the geographical area.
Training
-
Colleges offer programs in mortuary sciences that last two to four years and include courses in pathology, restorative art and business management. Specialized training in embalming is required for funeral directors, and most directors are licensed.
-
Features
-
Funeral directors make arrangements for obituary notices, coordinate clergy and pallbearers, schedule viewings of the deceased, decorate for services and arrange for transportation needs of the family and the deceased.
Considerations
-
Funeral directors submit documents to state agencies to generate a death certificate. They may also assist families with paperwork including Social Security Administration notification, insurance policies or pension transfer.
Fun Fact
-
According to the Wyoming Funeral Directors Association, researchers found burial grounds of a Neanderthal man dating to 60,000 B.C. with flowers and antlers beside the corpse as gifts and concluded it was a sign of a burial ritual.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of neiljs
