Funeral service is one of the most rewarding careers a person can choose and can be seen repeatedly by the effect this service has on those grieving and in need.
How do I get started on my career in funeral service?
Funeral service could be just the career for you! To be certain, you should speak to people in the field: licensed funeral directors or mortuary school faculty members.
Your guidance counselor may be able to help too. (Don’t forget to ask about scholarship programs that you may qualify for.) In addition, here are some additional Web sites that may be of interest to you in your fact-finding mission:
Why funeral service?
Providing support and comfort to people following the death of a loved one is both a noble and rewarding career and one that is like no other. It is the funeral director who is there to provide compassionate and personal care to those who are grieving the loss of a family member or friend.
A career in funeral service will earn you the admiration of the people in your community. You’ll enjoy the personal fulfillment and self-respect you want and deserve. Most importantly you will be making a real difference in the lives of those you touch. It is because of this that a career in funeral service is truly six feet above all the rest.
Who needs a funeral director?
Everyone and anyone planning (or preplanning) a funeral. In New York State, only a licensed and registered funeral director may make funeral arrangements for the care, movement, preparation and burial or cremation of a deceased person.
What does a funeral director do?
Funeral service is a multi-faceted profession. The successful funeral director is one who is well rounded, excels in certain sciences and is, by nature, a caring person who possesses good interpersonal, business and management skills, as well as a diplomacy that is often learned through the arts. Some in the field say it requires a person who has the desire to work respectfully with the dead and compassionately with the living.
First and foremost it is the funeral director’s job to help create a meaningful funeral, arrange the details and handle all operations. The funeral director provides quiet support to the family during a time of great emotional stress and attends to all aspects of the funeral service in a professional and caring way. Time spent with the family is the most critical part of learning what type of funeral service is desired.
When a death occurs, a funeral director will:
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 Transfer the body from the place of death to the funeral home.
Prepare the body for final disposition (burial or cremation), which usually includes embalming.
Help families tailor the services to meet their emotional and economic needs.
Contact clergy and arrange an appropriate time and place for the services.
Write, and then distribute, obituaries to the media.
Contact the cemetery/crematory, sexton, florists, fraternal organizations and memorial gift organizations.
Work cooperatively with organ donation teams.
Prepare all legal documents (death certificates, burial transit/cremation permits, medical examiner certificates, reports of death, social security and all Veterans Administration benefits and, in some instances, filing insurance paperwork).
Provide an emotionally and spiritually comforting environment for visitation and life celebration services.
Transport family and friends in a funeral procession to the place of final disposition. |
As you can see, the life of a funeral director is not often one that is conducive to regular business hours. However, the responsibilities of a funeral director are varied, and as such, allow one to do many different things during a normal business day. This makes for an interesting profession and one that you will not tire of easily. Funeral service is one of the most rewarding careers a person can choose and can be seen repeatedly by the effect this service has on those grieving and in need.
What are the education/training requirements in New York State?
For further information, contact NYSFDA at: 800-291-2629 or 518-452-8230.
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