Funeral Director Essay

(http://www.bls.gov/)About 6 colleges and universities offer programs that culminate in a bachelor’s degree. In addition, many specialized, stand alone funeral service institutions offer two-year programs, although some are 4 years in length. Mortuary science programs include courses in anatomy, physiology, pathology, embalming techniques, restorative art, business management, accounting and use of computers in funeral home management, and client services. They also include courses in the social sciences and in legal, ethical, and regulatory subjects such as psychology, grief counseling, oral and written communication, funeral service law, business law, and ethics.

The article, “10 Burdens Funeral Directors Carry”, written by Caleb Wilde expresses the unique struggles of those working the funeral business. They face numerous challenges through trying to aid and support those mourning a loved one. This often over looked and underappreciated field offers a salient as well as specific service desperately needed by each community. By encountering: depression, psychosis, isolation, stress, workaholism and death itself funeral directors make numerous personal sacrifices to continue to provide honor and respect to the dead.

Being a funeral director takes having a strong stomach and skill dealing with grief. There are many different ways people mourn. Religions have different rites as well as celebration of someone’s life. Every culture and civilization has three common threads dealing with death and their final internment. There are three main steps when someone dies. First is the preparation of the body, then some type of ceremony, and finally internment.

director promptly so that the funeral can file it with the state or local registrar

The education and training required to become an embalmer differs from any other job you can think of. They have their own schools, called mortuary science schools. Most embalmers are required to have an associate’s degree, although some are required to have a bachelor’s degree. This means they’ll endure up to four years of mortuary science school. There are sixty accredited mortuary science schools in America but the top three are: 1. Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science 2. Worsham College of Mortuary Science 3. Dallas Institute of Funeral Service

Ask Questions: Don’t be afraid to ask the funeral director as many questions as you need to make you feel at ease. Feel free to bring a list to your meeting if that helps you gather your thoughts. Most are also readily available by phone to answer additional questions.

Funerals, like all industries, are changing with the times. The fact that funerals can be referred to as an industry shows just how much they have changed. At one time a funeral was a ritual that offered support to a community by allowing them to fall back on beliefs. Funerals now are less impactful. A funeral today is deritualized and rationalized. They are more of an obligation than a ritual for support.

The story of the origin of this thriving business dates back to some 34 years after the establishment of one of the first, if not the first funeral undertaker or mortician, who was appointed for the town of Boston, Mass., by the Boston Board of Health in June 1816.

Seeming how we aren’t allowed to know or talk about these things there are certain things that a funeral director should know in order to help someone of the LDS religion. For the most part unless money does not permit them they will usually perform a burial for their loved one.

The funeral directors have to approach each person who has lost someone with an open mind and a sympathetic tone. They must be aware that anything they say could upset the person even more and lead them into a worse state than they are in already. They must try to provide their service in the most suitable way for the person suffering. This could in turn affect the funeral directors themselves. The emotional impact that they must suffer when dealing with someone who is bereaved could be major. They must be aware and open to each client who is dealing with a loss; this could include them listening to the person, helping the personal with personal matters and tending to what they need. The assistant manager at the Cemetery explained that anger was prevalent within the newly bereaved and that something we may view as minor may be seen as a major issue to them, so an effort to understand must be evident. Funeral directors will come across many different people who grieve in different ways, trying to differentiate between each person will be a difficult task and can be extremely emotionally

In 1965, Goffman defined stigmas as any attributes that sets people apart and discredits them or disqualifies them from full social acceptance. Funeral directors have so many stigmas put on them. The two stigmas are handling the dead and profiting from death and grief. There are many ways to manage stigmas. The two ways to manage the stigmas are symbolic redefinition and professionalism. In symbolic redefinition language is one of the most important symbols used by all humans. Morticians and funeral directors use this technique to help reduce the sigma’s that are associated with their job. By redefining themselves as a “grief therapists”, or as a “bereavement counselors”. The primary duties are making funeral arrangements, facilitate the services,

In pursuing this further, there are several aspects to this topic; such as, preplanning, financial planning, cost, and the surviving family members. Funeral planning is something we all will have to do at one point in our lives, but where should we begin? It is a good idea to start with the preplanning of the funeral. Preplanning is crucial; it provides piece of mind, especially for surviving family. As said earlier, discussing one 's mortality is an extremely uncomfortable topic; however, by preplanning a funeral, it will relieve the family of having to make important decisions during a period of immense stress and grief. Furthermore, preplanning gives time to explore the options for a ceremony and allows time to discuss the financial aspects. It also gives a chance to choose a funeral home that best suit ones needs and budget.

In most circumstances the person who takes on this task is the religious leader or funeral direction. However, if you are having an informal service this could be a close family member or friend. The Master of Ceremonies handles several different task including writing the eulogy. Make sure you provide whoever conducts the service personal information about your loved one so they can make it personalized and meaningful. Even if you have someone to speak at the service, give everyone an opportunity to speak or tell a story about the person who passed. This helps everyone work through the grieving process and remember who the person was before they passed. Make sure you tell the performing the serivce you want this included.

Planning a funeral is probably something you don't have to do very often. The first time is usually when an close loved one dies and you are overwhelmed with grief and sorrow. Funeral planning can be stressful and difficult during such a time. Planning a funeral in advance alleviates some of the pressure, but if your loved one didn't make arrangements, the decisions may be yours alone to make. Here are some tips that may help.

     The funeral home is usually the buyers first point of contact, therefore the funeral home has first chance at selling all related services and supplies.