Funeral Worker

Overview

Funeral Workers prepare bodies for viewing and burial, arrange and conduct funerals, and perform other specialist funereal services.

Day-to-day

• interviewing families and associates of the deceased to assist with funeral arrangements such as the selection of coffin, type of service and publication of death notices
• advising on funeral costs and welfare provisions
• collecting bodies from mortuaries
• ensuring death certificates have been issued, burial and cremation certificates processed and that other legal requirements are met
• preparing bodies for viewing and burial by washing, draining body fluids, applying padding and cosmetics, dressing bodies and placing them in coffins
• liaising with clergy and cemetery and crematorium staff
• coordinating the movement of coffins and funeral cars, arranging floral displays and collecting attendance and tribute cards
• arranging the placement of coffins at funeral sites, and placing and adjusting floral displays and lighting
• keeping records and accounts of transactions and services performed
• may arrange the construction of memorials and the disposal of ashes.

Considerations

• physically demanding
• requires driving
• stressful
• working outdoors.