Top Things to Know About Funeral Directors

In these uncertain times, it can be tough having to deal with the thought of losing someone close to you. When death comes knocking at the door, there is little or nothing anybody can do about it. With the challenges and restrictions posed by the coronavirus pandemic, having to organise a funeral can be tougher than one might expect. This is where the services of funeral directors come in handy.

Who Are Funeral Directors?

Funeral directors are simply people tasked with arranging the details of funeral rites. A funeral director has often been known by the following names:

• Undertaker
• Mortician
• Funeral Home Manager
• Licensed Funeral Director
• Funeral Arrangement Director
• Funeral Arranger

No matter what you choose to call them, funeral directors London, or where ever they are based, perform the same basic functions.

Duties of Funeral Directors

In the simplest of terms, funeral directors carry out the following duties:

• Preparing the body of the deceased
• Organising transport of the deceased
• Ensuring that all paperwork is submitted to relevant authorities
• Communicating with the family of the deceased
• Ensuring that people can view the deceased before the funeral
• Providing relevant publicity with the approval of the deceased’s family
• Making arrangements for floral tributes to be delivered to the family premises before the funeral
• Ensuring a range of coffins are available for the deceased’s family to choose from
• Organising the interment
• Ensuring social distancing guidelines are respected during the funeral
• Ensuring that family members and guests have the opportunity to offer tributes during the funeral
• Ensuring that a program brochure is available for guests during the funeral service
• Arranging relevant training for junior staff
• Making future funeral plans with people who might be interested in this arrangement
• Providing some entertainment for guests after the funeral
• Arranging some catering for guests after the funeral

In executing their duties, funeral directors keep to the codes of practice that regulate their conduct and help ensure standards are maintained.

Funeral directors ensure that communication lines are open to the family of the deceased, as nothing can be done without prior approval. From deciding the exact date for the funeral, the specific locations, the Order of Service, the funeral director must ensure that family members approve of every little detail. It is also critical that family members decide the type of funeral that will be carried out in the first place. Cultural and religious practices must be respected. It is left for the family of the deceased to decide whether they want a traditional burial, entombment, or cremation, as the case may be. The deceased may have specified these details already, so the funeral director must consider these facts.

Skills Required

The job of a funeral director is not an easy one. With the right set of skills, funeral directors can meet customer demands. Funeral directors are usually seen to:

• Be thorough, ensuring every detail is well captured
• Be open to criticism
• Be able to work under pressure
• Be patient
• Be empathic
• Be sensitive
• Be able to work with teams
• Have a basic understanding of the English language
• Be conversant with technology.

Funeral directors have the requisite knowledge and skills to succeed amidst the challenges posed by the ongoing pandemic. No matter the weather, customer satisfaction remains the top priority. Families can rest their weary heads, knowing that they are getting quality services at affordable rates.