The Effect Of Choosing A Mortician

You’ve probably heard the old saying. “Only two things in life are certain: death and taxes” It’s true: at some point, we all will die. Although you may think death is an unpleasant subject, it is something that everybody must cope with. People are different all over the world, but death is one thing that everyone has in common. ( Stair, choosing a career in mortuary science and the funeral industry 6)

     One of the duties of a mortician is to embalm the corpse for show. "If

With my parents always working, certain responsibilities have fallen on me. When I was younger, this is something that wasn’t clear to me. Those expectations have really been there my whole life. They stem from my older sister who suffers from learning disabilities. Since my sister is not able to attend college, my parents expect me to work hard and do my best in achieving the best education possible. I believed that my sister was just like anybody else, so that led to me treating her like everybody else. Therefore, it was not clear to me why my mom always needed to rely on me instead of my older sister. That approach and thought was completely wrong, this would only lead to frustration for me, my sister and my mother. As I grew, I slowly began to understand, I learned how to approach my sister to avoid making her upset or angry. I know now that I have to speak slower and explain what I am saying when having a conversation with her so she can understand. I know that I must help her with any issue, instead of waving her off. My favorite moments with her are when she, at times, goes off on tangents and I can provide her the audience she needs to be able to express her

Painful as it may be, such experiences brings home the finality of death. Something deep within us demands a confrontation with death. A last look assures us that the person we loved is, indeed, gone forever.” (108) Cable finishes his essay by asking, Tim if his job ever depressed him. Tim in reply says, “No it doesn’t, and I do what I can for people and take satisfaction in enabling relatives to see their loved ones as they were in real life.” (108) After reading this essay I feel as though sometimes we don’t understand death so therefore we do not talk much about it. By reading about what goes on after your loved one dies and is sent to these places to be prepared and ready for burial, it helps to understand why morticians and funeral directors do what they do. Knowing that someone enjoys taking the responsibility in providing that comfort in a sorrowful time makes me appreciate these people in these occupations a bit

Sometimes I wonder just how messed up I’ll be for not having a mother around growing up. Other times I am less pessimistic. Regardless, the lack of a stable relationship with a dominant female figure has altered my personality and how I interact with others.

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.

Cremation and burial services are among the most common choices for American post-mortem body disposal (NFDA, 2017). Though the population of the United States is continuing to grow, observing increases in funeral rates, the number of active funeral homes has significantly decreased within the past ten years (NFDA, 2017). This could be due to the extreme shift in American practices, from a traditionally religious population to a more environmentally aware and loosely religious society (Fleming, Farquhar, Brayne, Barclay, 2016; Pew Research Center, 2015). Because of the general shifts in the prioritization of traditional practice, funeral homes should be better equipped -especially in cremation services- to suit the needs of the evolving disposal preferences of all demographics through observation of holistic

My mom is a very perceptive woman. She’s always had a way of explaining the world and the people within it. It came as a great shock to myself when I learned she was extroverted, as I had always known her to exhibit introverted mannerisms. I had assumed she would be the watchful and quiet one, but she’s usually the life of the party. That’s when I started to ask her about her life. She’s experienced enough things to warrant a jaded perspective of the world, yet she still holds some appreciation. I owe her much more than just giving her a mutual respect and completing my chores. I attribute my perspective on the world to my mom. My personality was shaped from her open mind and helped me find my passions in life. I’ve always had a strong sense of who I am, what I want to do in life. I know that I’ll always be welcomed back to her regardless of any mistakes I may

As and 18 year old, facing death daily changed my outlook on life. I realized death is universal, afflicting people of all ethnicities, socioeconomic status, and ages. My daily tasks such as assisting on autopsies, summarizing nurse’s hospice notes and documenting evidence at the scene taught me the importance of prioritizing tasks and collaborating with other professionals. The most important skill I learned was to communicate with honesty and compassion. By listening to the next of kin empathetically and asking thoughtful questions, I demonstrated the respect the deceased would experience throughout the autopsy process. I have used this ability to listen and convey information with compassion throughout my volunteer experiences on a medical brigade to rural Honduras and while educating patients at the C.A.R.E. Clinic, range of my experiences also enabled me to see how the longevity of life is often dependent of patient finances. I saw chronic conditions progress into life-threatening conditions in Honduras, at the C.A.R.E. Clinic, and in urban emergency departments. My belief that everyone deserves quality medical care regardless of finances made me decide to major in economics as part of my double major. Finally, I will add to the cultural diversity at WMU because of my upbringing in a rural community. I bring a unique perspective of cultural backgrounds because my hometown bordered the Prairie Island Indian Community and many farms employed migrant workers. Throughout my education, tribal council members came to teach students about the culture of my Mdewakanton classmates through lectures, dance, and song. I have seen the importance of all cultures in community coming together whether through financial donations or time to help solve community needs through the creation of the C.A.R.E

(Lamers 535). You would be required to fill in any open wounds left on the body

Criticisms of American funeral practices have been made publicly aware since the 1920’s, and actually go back to ancient times in the scope of human’s ceremonies for the dead. Since the first published argument against modern funerals various authors joined the movement publishing their disparagements of customs for the deceased; that in essence contend the grandiosity and lavish displays are merely a social and psychological representation of the monetary opportunity of funerals (DeSpelder & Strickland, 2015, p. 306-307). Even further, regarding the encompassing funeral industry as exploiting grieving loved ones for their financial gains, while disregarding the actual needs of modern society (DeSpelder & Strickland, 2015, p. 307).

Corr, C. A., Corr, D. M., & Bordere, T. C. (2013). Death & dying, life & living. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

1. Watch “The Undertaking” where this video examines a family who works in the funeral industry as a window into American feelings on death and dying. Then, respond to the following questions: How do funeral rituals describe by the Lynch family show our cultural values about death and dying? How would a sociologist create a research question to systematically evaluate the claims that the Lynch family makes about death and dying? The funeral industry arguably exists to serve micro-level relationships, consoling individuals who have just lost others central to their social existence. How is the funeral industry connected to institutions at the community and

It’s assumed that people have knowledge of what is appropriate planning for life after death, but nobody is ever prepared; and that is why preplanning is necessary. Death and dying is a part of life nobody likes to discuss, plain and simple, it makes us uncomfortable. This is a major contributor to why no one plans ahead. Nobody likes to think about death, it isn’t a pleasant thought to most of us. However, unfortunately, in our lifetime, avoiding a funeral is inevitable.

One of the most embarrassing things that could happen to me frightened my mom to death. Purging is said to make you lose weight. The banging on the restroom door startled me knowing I would be caught. From that point on she took extra care of my health. Looking after what I ate, when I should exercise etc. When I was fourteen, my parents and I made a deal that if I lost twenty pounds, I would be able to get my first tattoo. She supported me with it, thus, me losing the weight. Not everyone grows up with manners. I have a high tolerance for respect. Growing up going to church every Sunday due to my mom helped me adapt to maturity. Not that I’m highly bipolar, but I do lose my temper really drastically. I’ve been taught by my mom to forgive and forget. Through the worst of her times that people have put her through; she forgives. She tells me I have the blood of my dad seeing as how I will always hold a grudge towards someone no matter what.