AIBU to ask if you are a funeral operative, how did you know..

[DuvetHugger]

That you wouldn't react badly to seeing your first deceased person?

The reason I ask is that my partner has applied to be one, despite never seeing a dead body. What if he freaks out, decides its not for him?

Why do you think he would freak out? That wouldn't be a normal reaction, funeral operator or not.

I have never seen a dead body but I don't think I would 'freak out'. I doubt your partner would either given that he's applied for the job?

My ex husband was a police officer, when he joined the police he had never seen a dead body but they took them to the morgue (if that's the right word) as part of their training. The first body he saw was a person who had hung themselves, I won't go into details but it was all very distressing. My husband was a bit shaken up by seeing the body and I don't think it was pleasant, but he accepted that it was part of the job and got on with the rest of his day.

I expect your partner would be the same and I expect it's something you do get used to.

I don't mean freak out as in run around the room screaming. I mean - be affected by it, be distressed. He has admitted he also doesn't know how he would feel.

It isn't a big issue, it just got me wondering how others reacted.

I don't think this is something you can predict, you just have to try it and see how you react. Its pretty normal to feel faint in your first day as an abattoir worker, a lot of people try it for one day and don't return. I imagine its not so different for people who have to handle corpses.

Not a funeral op but have seen a few dead bodies. My first one was my dad and I wasn't as effected by it as I expected. I was more interested to be honest. I spent time after googling about the various stages after death.

I image it would be distressing if there is a traumatic end or visible injuries.

Not in the funeral business, but I had to deal with the deceased a lot in my old job (hospital porter).

No one knows how they will react. My first experience was helping to get a body out of a fridge, and ready for viewing. The other staff (nurses) were lovely, and spoke to the patient like they were alive.. explained what they were doing etc. When we lifted the patient's head to place a pillow underneath, a load of fluid came out of her mouth. It was a shock, but hopefully, things like that, that could happen, will be explained.

What helped me, was thinking of the body as a suitcase that the person no longer needs. They have unpacked, and left a shell. It wont hurt you, or get you in any way. Saying that, it is natural to be repelled by death and bodies. If your DP does react badly, that does not mean he is a bad person or that something is wrong with him.

Any sort of funeral care is an extension of the care that a person gets in hospital. They are well looked after, and the staff take great care of them.

I wish your DP luck with his application.

I go to the lot of funeral homes for my job

All the people who work at them have always been lovely and it seems like a great career to be in

The bodies are not scary and they seem to be used to dealing with them

All the best for getting the job

Out of all the places I go funeral homes are my favourite, they are just relaxed and easy going places

I saw my Nan (who raised me from age 5) and it just….wasn’t her.

I had to ID my best friend when I was 19, same again…wasn’t him.

We all sat with my Grandad recently whilst he passed, once he had it…wasn’t him.

if he’s fine with it and treats people with respect I wouldn’t worry too much.