Mortician / Undertaker / Funeral Arranger

Perform various tasks to arrange and direct individual funeral services, such as coordinating transportation of body to mortuary, interviewing family or other authorized person to arrange details, selecting pallbearers, aiding with the selection of officials for religious rites, and providing transportation for mourners.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Funeral Arrangement Director; Funeral Arranger; Funeral Counselor; Funeral Director; Funeral Family Service Assistant; Funeral Location Manager; Funeral Prearrangement Counselor; Licensed Funeral Director; Licensed Mortician; Mortician

Tasks

• Oversee the preparation and care of the remains of people who have died.
• Obtain information needed to complete legal documents, such as death certificates or burial permits.
• Perform embalming duties, as necessary.
• Consult with families or friends of the deceased to arrange funeral details, such as obituary notice wording, casket selection, or plans for services.
• Remove deceased remains from place of death.
• Contact cemeteries to schedule the opening and closing of graves.
• Plan, schedule, or coordinate funerals, burials, or cremations, arranging details such as floral delivery or the time and place of services.
• Close caskets and lead funeral corteges to churches or burial sites.
• Provide information on funeral service options, products, or merchandise, and maintain a casket display area.
• Offer counsel and comfort to bereaved families or friends.
• Direct preparations and shipment of bodies for out-of-state burial.
• Discuss and negotiate prearranged funerals with clients.
• Maintain financial records, order merchandise, or prepare accounts.
• Provide or arrange transportation between sites for the remains, mourners, pallbearers, clergy, or flowers.
• Arrange for clergy members to perform needed services.

Knowledge

• Customer and Personal Service
• English Language
• Administrative
• Administration and Management
• Psychology
• Personnel and Human Resources
• Computers and Electronics
• Sales and Marketing
• Biology
• Philosophy and Theology
• Public Safety and Security

Skills

• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Reading Comprehension
• Writing
• Critical Thinking
• Active Learning
• Monitoring

Abilities

• Oral Expression
• Oral Comprehension
• Speech Recognition
• Speech Clarity
• Problem Sensitivity
• Information Ordering
• Near Vision
• Written Comprehension
• Written Expression
• Fluency of Ideas
• Deductive Reasoning
• Selective Attention
• Originality
• Inductive Reasoning
• Category Flexibility