The Many Faces of Funeral Service

The Many Faces of Death Care

The funeral industry, like most other industries, is constantly changing, growing and adapting to the world we live in. Over the last few decades funeral service in Canada has become much more diverse, bringing new faces from all different cultures to the frontlines of helping families when they need it the most. Funeral service involves more than just a funeral director. In fact, there are many different people who play a crucial role in the death care process. We want you to get to know all of them. 

Pre-Arranging Director

As families, and society in general, become more educated on funeral service and what is involved with the planning process, prearrangement has become more popular. Pre-arranging directors meet with people who either want to arrange for themselves or others before a death occurs. Sometimes this involves pre-payment and specific personalizations to the service. 

Cemetery Counsellor

Cemetery counsellors meet with families and help them choose a burial location or plot. They also are in charge of helping families find the right monument, headstone or columbarium space. In addition, these busy professionals schedule all events at the cemetery with the family, like internments or graveside services. 

Receptionist / Answering Service

These are, most often, the very first people you speak to when calling about the death of a loved one and they play an extremely important role. This individual is specially trained to obtain the necessary information, provide immediate answers to questions a family may have, while managing the shock and grief associated with experiencing the recent death of a loved one. 

Transfer Staff

For many, transfer of the deceased is a virtually unknown part of the death care process. However, transfer staff are the people responsible for bringing the decedent into the care of the funeral home, from the place of death. As can be imagined, this is not an easy job, but it is one of the most important jobs in all of funeral service, requiring the highest standard of professionalism.

Receptionist

The receptionist is typically the first person you see when you enter the funeral home. These individuals are hospitality driven and take pride in greeting families, whether it be their first time at the funeral home or a return visit for arrangement purposes. In addition the receptionist also welcomes those who attend a service at the home, often ushering visitors to the location of the service. 

Administrator 

The administrator is the person responsible for contacting doctors, hospitals, hospice and other related community business for the purpose of coordinating transfers, creating Death Certificates and handling the overall logistical needs of the funeral home. This is a behind the scenes role that really allows everything to work, in many cases, people in this role do much more as well. 

Manager / Owner

Like any other business, funeral service businesses have people who are responsible for overseeing the entire operation and ensuring that everything gets done in a timely fashion. Whether this individual manages or owns the business, it is rare for them to only do one job. These are the funeral professionals who often wear more than one hat in the pursuit of a high standard of service. 

Funeral Director

In many ways, funeral directors are the face of funeral service. They are the people who meet with the family, collect vital information and provide guidance through the entire death care process, from planning until long after the service. These individuals coordinate with many people, inside and outside of the funeral home, to ensure everything is completed and perfect.

Embalmer

Embalmer’s are some of the more technically skilled professionals in funeral service. These people do more than embalming bodies. Their responsibilities may include bathing and dressing the deceased, removing any jewelry, placing special items with them in their final disposition. In addition, these individuals use their skills to remove medical devices like pacemakers. 

Crematorium Operators

In North America, cremation is now the most popular death care option chosen by families. As a result, being a cremationists has become an in-demand job across the continent. These skilled individuals are responsible for cremation and processing cremated remains. With the trend continuing to grow annually in Canada, there will be an increased need for more cremationists. 

Reception Host(ess) / Funeral Assistant

Many families across Canada are electing to have a reception or even a party after the service is complete. This has brought about the need for expert service staff to provide guests with a great experience. They coordinate with the kitchen to serve food, snacks, coffee, tend the bar and clean up after receptions. With personalization becoming more popular, service staff are becoming important. 

Presider or Clergy

Generally, this is not an employee of the funeral home, but rather someone from within the community that works closely with the funeral home to officiate funerals and memorials. In addition, this person will usually be made available to assist with any further religious requirements some families may have and will stand as the point of contact between the business and affiliated places of worship. 

Cemetery Foreman

These individuals coordinate all of the work that takes place in the cemetery. From directing the horticultural teams, working with the grave diggers and liaising with funeral homes, these professionals make sure that cemetery operations around country run smoothly. They also work with cemetery counsellors to help provide families the proper support, up to and including planning burial events. 

Grave Diggers / Groundskeepers

In addition to maintenance of the cemetery grounds, these professionals are an integral part of the burial and interment process. They coordinate and complete the burial of the deceased and in some places, they oversee the internment process or scattering of cremated remains - this all of course depending on the services offered by the individual cemetery, often varying by area.
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