What Does a Funeral Director Really Do?

Published: Nov. 27, 2014, 6:58 a.m.

Have you ever wondered what a funeral director does? What tasks occupy his time on days when no funeral is on the schedule? If you’ve never given thought to what goes on behind the scenes in a funeral home, then you might be in for a surprise.

Some of the duties of a funeral director are obvious, like helping families plan a funeral based on their loved one’s last wishes. Do you know about the other services they provide?

If you’ve ever asked yourself the question: what does a funeral director do, then listen to this episode of Forever in their Hearts, where host Erik Reynolds talks with Valerie Martell, Director of Operations for Martin Brothers Funeral Services who provides the answer.

Funeral directors do not just work with grieving families. The Funeral Service Association of Canada* explains that the role requires as much technical knowledge as it does customer service skills. This interview provides further insight a career in the mortuary science field.

What to Expect when You Meet with a Funeral Director

Erik and Valerie kick off the episode by discussing what you should expect when meeting with the funeral director for the first time.

Valerie explains about when this meeting takes place after losing a loved one, and then goes on to provide a general overview of what that’s like for the family.

If you have never talked to a funeral director, then you might be surprised at all the little details they cover when planning a service to fulfill a departed loved one’s last wishes.

What Kinds of Things You Can Ask a Funeral Director

Next in talking about what does a funeral director do, Valerie explains the types of questions you can ask a funeral director. She also discusses answers to these questions:

- Is there a time limit for when I meet with the funeral director?
- Will I be charged a fee for each meeting with a funeral director?
- Do the services of a funeral director have an expiration date?

Now ask yourself these two questions: Have I pre-planned a funeral based on my last wishes? Have I ever consulted about services with a funeral director? If you answered “No” to either question, then it’s time to consult with the director of a Vancouver funeral parlor.

What Service Means to One Vancouver Funeral Home

Then Valerie segues into what these services mean to Martin Brothers Funeral Home based on her own experiences of working as a funeral director.

When families know who they can trust with the care of a funeral or memorial service for their departed loved one, it helps relieve stress and allows them to grieve and begin healing from their loss.

There are so many little details that a funeral home director takes care of for a family mourning the loss of a loved one. What’s stopping you from finding out how Martin Brothers can help your family?

The episode wraps up with Valerie sharing some final insights about her job as a funeral director for Martin Brothers in Vancouver.

Do You Have More Questions about Funeral Directors?

Are you curious about what does a funeral director do outside of memorial and funeral services? Do you want to know how a funeral director can help your family move through the different stages of grief after losing a loved one?

After listening to this interview, please leave any questions or comments you have in the area below. We value your feedback and look forward to discussing what you have to say on the topic.

Martin Brothers Funeral Services has more than 100 years of experience in providing thoughtful, dedicated services to families dealing with loss. If you are ready to take care of funeral pre-arrangements, have additional questions about their services, or are dealing with a loss, please contact them at their Vancouver office.

Martin Brothers Funeral Services

Vancouver: Funeral Services Centre
3398 Dunbar Street
Vancouver, BC Canada V6S 2C1

Telephone Number: 778.330.7799
Toll Free Number: 1.800.382.2901
Fax Number: 778.330.7633

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MartinBrothersFuneralChapelsBcLtd
Twitter: https://twitter.com/martinbrothers1

*http://www.fsac.ca/Is_Funeral_Directing_For_You_368625.html