What Do Morticians and Funeral Directors Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Morticians and Funeral Directors perform various tasks to arrange and direct funeral services, such as coordinating transportation of body to mortuary, interviewing family or other authorized person to arrange details, selecting pallbearers, aiding with the selection of officials for religious rites, and providing transportation for mourners. They also obtain information needed to complete legal documents, such as death certificates or burial permits.

Other tasks include:

• Consult with families or friends of the deceased to arrange funeral details, such as obituary notice wording, casket selection, or plans for services.
• Perform embalming duties, as necessary.
• Oversee the preparation and care of the remains of people who have died.
• Contact cemeteries to schedule the opening and closing of graves.
• Remove deceased remains from place of death.
• Arrange for clergy members to perform needed services.

We asked Morticians and Funeral Directors how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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68% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 87% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Morticians and Funeral Directors clean funeral home facilities and grounds. They manage funeral home operations, including the hiring, training, or supervision of embalmers, funeral attendants, or other staff.

A typical day for a Mortician, Undertaker and Funeral Director will also include:

• Oversee the preparation and care of the remains of people who have died.
• Maintain financial records, order merchandise, or prepare accounts.
• Obtain information needed to complete legal documents, such as death certificates or burial permits.
• Provide information on funeral service options, products, or merchandise, and maintain a casket display area.
• Offer counsel and comfort to bereaved families or friends.

We asked some Morticians and Funeral Directors a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	100% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	70% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	84% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	80% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	11% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	88% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Morticians and Funeral Directors also close caskets and lead funeral corteges to churches or burial sites. They may also plan placement of caskets at funeral sites or place or adjust lights, fixtures, or floral displays.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Morticians and Funeral Directors Contact cemeteries to schedule the opening and closing of graves. They might also Receive or usher people to their seats for services.

In addition, they Arrange for clergy members to perform needed services.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Plan, schedule, or coordinate funerals, burials, or cremations, arranging details such as floral delivery or the time and place of services.

To some Morticians and Funeral Directors, it is also their responsibility to Inform survivors of benefits for which they may be eligible.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Mortician, Undertaker and Funeral Director, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business..

They also like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/personal-care-and-service/funeral-service-occupations.htm

http://nfda.org/

http://www.nfdma.com/

http://www.cremationassociation.org/