Career summary

Details for Funeral Attendants


Description

Perform variety of tasks during funeral, such as placing casket in parlor or chapel prior to service; arranging floral offerings or lights around casket; directing or escorting mourners; closing casket; and issuing and storing funeral equipment.

Tasks

  • Perform a variety of tasks during funerals to assist funeral directors and to ensure that services run smoothly and as planned.
  • Greet people at the funeral home.
  • Offer assistance to mourners as they enter or exit limousines.
  • Close caskets at appropriate point in services.
  • Obtain burial permits and register deaths.
  • Direct or escort mourners to parlors or chapels in which wakes or funerals are being held.
  • Place caskets in parlors or chapels prior to wakes or funerals.
  • Clean and drive funeral vehicles, such as cars or hearses, in funeral processions.
  • Carry flowers to hearses or limousines for transportation to places of interment.
  • Clean funeral parlors or chapels.
  • Arrange floral offerings or lights around caskets.
  • Provide advice to mourners on how to make charitable donations in honor of the deceased.
  • Issue and store funeral equipment.
  • Assist with cremations and the processing and packaging of cremated remains.
  • Act as pallbearers.
  • Transport the deceased to the funeral home.
  • Attend to the needs of the bereaved, such as by offering comfort, counseling, or after-care programs.
  • Perform various administrative tasks, such as typing documents or answering telephone calls.
  • Supervise funeral processions and assist with cemetery parking.
  • Deliver floral arrangements or other items to family members of the deceased.
  • Perform general maintenance tasks for funeral homes, such as maintaining equipment or caring for funeral grounds.
  • Embalm, dress, cosmeticize, and casket the deceased.
  • Manage funeral home finances, including receiving payments, making bank deposits, or performing general bookkeeping duties.
  • Obtain doctors' signatures on death certificate and complete other paperwork, such as insurance claims forms.
  • Meet with family members to plan the funeral.
  • Prepare obituaries for newspapers.

Interests

  • Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
  • Social - Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
  • Enterprising - Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Education, training, experience

  • Education - These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
  • Training - Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
  • Experience - Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.

Knowledge

None found.

Skills

None found.

Related careers

None found.