As promised Funeral Director here (waves)

[oohnarna]

I am ready for your questions!

I will do my best to answer, I have a few bits I am doing at home but will answer regularly throughout the evening as much as I can.

I heard a news piece today about the cost of funerals, average £4k.

Why so much?

I don’t have a question (that I can think of right now) but I just wanted to say that the funeral directors we dealt with when my grandad died (somewhat unexpectedly) were some of the kindest most compassionate people I’ve ever met. The job you do is so important and I for one thank you for doing it

Thanks for doing this oohnarna - the Crematorium thread was so enlightening.

First off from me - why/how did you end up being a Funeral Director? And is it what you wanted/thought it would be?

Do most people leave wedding rings etc on the deceased, or is it more common for family to remove them?

I know someone died recently and it was three weeks before the funeral. How is the body stored in the intervening time?

I want to do your job, always have, how did you get into it? Any advice about where to start for me?
Thanks x

I assume you are female how do you find doing your job as a woman?

Quirky - funerals are expensive for lots of reasons - a few being:

Lots of competition so lots of investment in top facilities and equipment, vehicles and staff training etc. That has got to be paid for somehow.

Of the 4K there will be third party costs to which we have no control over, crematorium fees for example can cost up to £1000 if not more. Doctors charge money for paperwork when cremation, minister fee etc.

I got into it because I saw the job advertised and wanted a change. I have been doing it for 11 years. I am actually a manager now so over see all the funeral arrangers, driver bearers, ambulance teams and directors. I have done all aspects of the job though.

Never had an issue being female, very rarely now do you get requests to a 'male FD'

Most funeral homes will have a mortuary where the loved ones are kept. So they are in a cold environment. Some families choose to have loved ones embalmed so that can help with presentation and preservation.

But where do funeral companies advertise? What qualifications and experience is needed would you say?

Advice to get into it? Keep looking on funeral home websites for jobs. You generally don't need qualifications to arrange funerals. Most of the time admins experience is important due to all the paperwork, a caring nature and attention to detail. Oh and smart and presentable.

Start at the bottom and get yourself in there, most people don't come straight in a direct funerals.

Ooooh what an interesting thread!!

Most advertise online or in shop windows. Some places may even take you in as a volunteer. I would just pop in and ask if they have any vacancies !

The big companies such as dignity, funeral partners and the Coop will likely advertise online.

What do you think about celebrants? Is there money to be made?

No qualifications needed. Although there is a diploma in funeral arranging and in funeral conducting that you could do yourself if you wanted. Most people do that once they are in the business.

S**t loads of money to be made as a celebrant !!

If you are good obviously

Some celebrants are good, others not so much and every service is the same. I personally like to still support the local churches who will now do a more personal service and less religion of wanted.

When you dress bodies do you put under wear on them?

We dress in whatever the family ask. But yes we would ask for underwear.

What would you think of a family who don’t organise a head stone for a deceased parent?

Hi Oohnarna, what happens after you die? Do you believe in the afterlife / soul moving or staying around?

How does working in this business make you feel about death and your own mortality? Are you moved by the funerals or have you developedal an emotional distance?