Comments on: 4 Tips For Kicking Butt In The Funeral Profession (That You Didn’t Learn In Mortuary School)

By: Krystal Penrose

Krystal Penrose — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 04:39:08 +0000

In reply to Chris Pederson. Thanks for sharing Chris, it's good to establish new ideas about what a funeral director can do for you. Things are changing!

By: Chris Pederson

Chris Pederson — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 17:37:30 +0000

I really like how you said that a funeral service should ask the families that come in about what they think an ideal service should look like. If I was asked this then I would start to feel a whole lot better about planning everything. I’d feel as if the funeral service actually wants to help me and not just take my money.

By: Amy Gagne

Amy Gagne — Fri, 31 Jul 2015 09:39:33 +0000

In the article it states, It’s not a career, it’s a calling…..that is one of the most accurate quotes to describe the mentality needed to be successful in this field. I’m part of the 3/4 of mortuary graduates who have taken departures from this profession before being in it for 10 years. The reasons are as others have stated. It is difficult to enjoy and participate in your own life with family and friends when with one ring of the phone and you have to leave what you’re doing behind to go on a call that at the minimum last an hour or many more if you’re an embalmer. The calls come any time. Three in the morning is quite common, as is anytime time throughout the day and night. Doctors, veterinarians, and clergy experience that as well. One of the times I left the profession in need of a break I had spoken to a veterinarian about his hours and asked how he handled being on call all the time. His response was, “I just accepted that this was my calling. It’s what I do. When I leave the office and see people at the store I don’t cease being a veterinarian. If they have a question or need help with their animal I try to help them whether I’m off or not.”
So many jobs out there you can clock out and you cease being a courier, bus driver, secretary, waitress, fabricator, mechanic……..and switch over and be just be a mom, dad, or spouse. Although, when you’re on-call, funeral director is who you are, shared with the other roles in your life.

By: Nan Bree

Nan Bree — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 00:41:28 +0000

Don't also forget these other tips:1) You're a piece of [blocked] on the shoe of the boss2) The boss has a line of people who would be happy to take your job3) You're a dime a dozen (especially if you ask for more money)4) No one tells you to get married....no time for your spouse or kids, oh well you should have stayed single5) If you want respect in your field, work at McDonalds or the circus following elephants and scooping their shit.

By: Paul DeMitri

Paul DeMitri — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 18:20:22 +0000

Another thing they don’t tell you is be prepared to give up your weekends, nights and holidays for no differential. Don’t plan on spending time with your wife or kids if you have time to have any.

By: DB

DB — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 18:24:39 +0000

Work/life balance? In the funeral business? That’s funny. I worked for a firm where the manager lived in the funeral home. She wasn’t married, and felt if she lived and worked in it 24/7/365, you should too or you weren’t dedicated. Maybe one of these days when there’s no qualified licensed personnel for funeral homes to hire, they’ll be forced to change their old school modes of operation and realize employees have a life too.

By: Glenn Davis

Glenn Davis — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 16:59:25 +0000

Number one, be prepared to give up your life, stay single if possible, try never to work for a family owned business (you will always come last) and my last bit of advice is become a cop or a fireman or a teacher, you will get a pension. I hate to sound negative but I have been doing this for almost 40 years and really there is nothing else I would rather be doing