Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Directors

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Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Directors

Careers / Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Directors

Summary Description


	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.

Sample Job Titles

1.	Certified Mortician

2.	Director

3.	Embalmer

4.	Funeral Arrangement Director

5.	Funeral Arranger

6.	Funeral Arrangment Director

7.	Funeral Counselor

8.	Funeral Director

9.	Funeral Director / Embalmer

10.	Funeral Director and Embalmer

11.	Funeral Director and Mortician

12.	Funeral Home Manager

13.	Funeral Location Manager

14.	Funeral Planner

15.	Funeral Planning Counselor

16.	Funeral Pre-arrangement Counselor

17.	Funeral Pre-arrangement Specialist

18.	Funeral Pre-Need Consultant

19.	Funeral Prearrangement Counselor

20.	Hospital Mortician

21.	Licensed Embalmer

22.	Licensed Funeral Director

23.	Licensed Mortician

24.	Location Manager

25.	Mortician

26.	Operations Manager

27.	Undertaker

Job Tasks

	Obtain information needed to complete legal documents, such as death certificates or burial permits. Gather information in order to provide services to clients.

	Oversee the preparation and care of the remains of people who have died. Direct funeral or mortuary activities.

	Consult with families or friends of the deceased to arrange funeral details, such as obituary notice wording, casket selection, or plans for services. Discuss service options or needs with clients.

	Plan, schedule, or coordinate funerals, burials, or cremations, arranging details such as floral delivery or the time and place of services. Direct funeral or mortuary activities.

	Perform embalming duties as necessary. Embalm corpses.

	Arrange for clergy members to perform needed services. Direct funeral or mortuary activities.

	Contact cemeteries to schedule the opening and closing of graves. Arrange facility schedules.

	Provide information on funeral service options, products, or merchandise and maintain a casket display area. Discuss service options or needs with clients.

	Close caskets and lead funeral corteges to churches or burial sites. Handle caskets. Direct funeral or mortuary activities.

	Offer counsel and comfort to bereaved families or friends. Provide counsel, comfort, or encouragement to individuals or families.

	Inform survivors of benefits for which they may be eligible. Provide counsel, comfort, or encouragement to individuals or families.

	Discuss and negotiate prearranged funerals with clients. Discuss service options or needs with clients.

	Maintain financial records, order merchandise, or prepare accounts. Maintain financial or account records. Order materials, supplies, or equipment.

	Provide or arrange transportation between sites for the remains, mourners, pallbearers, clergy, or flowers. Provide escort or transportation.

	Plan placement of caskets at funeral sites or place or adjust lights, fixtures, or floral displays. Arrange items for use or display. Direct funeral or mortuary activities.

	Direct preparations and shipment of bodies for out-of-state burial. Direct funeral or mortuary activities.

	Manage funeral home operations, including the hiring, training, or supervision of embalmers, funeral attendants, or other staff. Train service staff. Supervise service workers. Perform human resources activities.

	Clean funeral home facilities and grounds. Clean work areas or facilities.

	Arrange for pallbearers or inform pallbearers or honorary groups of their duties. Direct funeral or mortuary activities.

	Receive or usher people to their seats for services. Usher patrons to seats or exits.

	Participate in community activities for funeral home promotion or other purposes. Promote products, services, or programs.

Work Activities

Importance	Work Activity

Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Performing Administrative Activities — Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates — Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment — Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Coaching and Developing Others — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Selling or Influencing Others — Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.

Staffing Organizational Units — Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.

Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.

Developing Objectives and Strategies — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

Monitoring and Controlling Resources — Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.

Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

Developing and Building Teams — Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Nature of the Work


	(Abstract from Career Articles)

	Funeral Service Workers
	Funeral service workers organize and manage the details of a funeral.

	Read More >>

Working Conditions


	(Abstract from Career Articles)

	Funeral Service Workers
	Funeral service workers are employed in funeral homes and crematories. They are often on call and long workdays are common, including evenings and weekends. Most work full time.

	Read More >>

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Interesting Fact

Before becoming an actress and comedian, Whoopi Goldberg worked as a bricklayer, a bank teller, and even as a makeup artist at a funeral parlor.

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