What Does a Funeral Director Do?

Seeing to the details of a funeral is really difficult if you’re closely related to the deceased. For this, it would make things a lot easier for you to get a professional to organize the funeral service and all the related paperwork for you and your family. This is basically what a funeral director does. He or she is a professional trained to help families of the deceased in making arrangements according to their needs and the burial traditions that they follow.

Training, qualifications and licensing

A funeral director went through training in order to conduct the business of funeral rites. He or she is typically a graduate of mortuary college. Also known as an undertaker or mortician, the funeral director is responsible for a range of tasks pertaining to funerals.  These tasks include preparing the dead for viewing, casketing the human body, customizing and enhancing the appearance of the deceased and embalming the body. The funeral director also oversees the burial or the cremation of the deceased.

In many countries, one has to obtain a license in order to operate as a funeral director. In the United Kingdom, for instance, funeral directors have to be part of the British Institute of Funeral Directors. This membership is open to those who hold an NAFD Diploma in Funeral Directing. In the United States, there are also a number of professional organizations that regulate the industry. The American Board of Funeral Service Education is the agency that awards accreditation to educational institutions that offer mortuary science programs.

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Expanding responsibilities

Aside from handling the deceased, some morticians have expanded their service offerings to include responsibilities that are normally handled by a clergy. Over time, their jobs have grown more intensive. They are now involved in various aspects of the funeral service as opposed to merely organizing the event. Some morticians act as representatives for the deceased family.  Some take the responsibility of hiring the ministers particularly for households that have no church memberships. They also handle the transfer of the body from the church or where the funeral is located to the funeral home.

Choosing a funeral director

Since you’re going to rely heavily on a funeral director during the funeral process, it is important that you pick the best funeral director for the task. First and foremost, the funeral director must be someone whom you can related to and whom you can trust.  He or she must be a great listener with the knowledge and the expertise to get things done on your behalf.  The funeral director must be trustworthy and thorough in his or her explanations.  Additionally, the funeral director must be affiliated with an established funeral service company to ensure that all your needs are properly met.

Pricing and service packages should also influence your choice because even funeral services can cost a lot and you want to get the best value for your money.

You may not have a lot of time to go over your options for a funeral director but you need to make sure that you’re getting your money’s worth. Go over the service details before you sign up for anything. You may be going through an emotional rollercoaster ride with the passing of a beloved person.  Having the right funeral director assisting you during this difficult time could make the experience of saying goodbye to your loved one more bearable.