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Funeral Director / Mortician
Role & responsibilities
Arranges logistics, prepares remains according to regulations, and guides clients through ceremony planning with compassion.
Key strengths
- Empathy22% (Job)
- Ethics16% (Job)
- Organization14% (Job)
- Stress tolerance14% (Job)
- Communication12% (Job)
- Attention to detail12% (Job)
- Patience10% (Job)
What this means for you
- Empathy – Understands others' needs and responds sensitively.
- Ethics – Upholds ethical standards and trustworthiness.
- Organization – Keeps plans, schedules, and resources aligned.
Typical tasks
- Consult with families to plan funerals or memorial services.
- Handle preparation, care, and presentation of remains.
- Coordinate logistics such as venues, transportation, and documentation.
Daily work
- Coordinates embalming, preparation, and viewing logistics
- Meets families to arrange services and discuss legal documents
- Oversees ceremonies and manages aftercare follow-ups
Education & entry routes
Helpful but not mandatory
- Thanatology certificate
- Funeral service management course
Alternative pathways
- Grief Counselor
- Preneed Sales Consultant
- Cemetery Operations Manager
Work environment
- Team size
- Funeral home teams of 5–20 staff.
- Typical employers
- Funeral homes, mortuaries, and memorial service providers.
- People contact
- High—direct support for families and coordination with clergy or officials.
- Stress level
- High due to emotional demands and time-sensitive arrangements.
- Working hours
- On-call work with evenings and weekends common.
Entry & progression
Common entry roles
- Funeral Service Assistant
- Apprentice Mortician
Next career steps
- Funeral Home Manager
- Regional Services Director