Over the past couple days I’ve been thinking about the question “what makes a good funeral director?”  I wrote down 50 plus characteristics.  Then I tried to find 10 that I thought were more essential than the others.  Below are those 10. But, these 10 “essentials” are very much opinion.  In reality, the answers are quite […]

Most of us who attend mortuary school were required to take a class called “Restorative Art”.  The Restorative Art and Science textbook states, “Restorative art is defined as the care of the deceased to recreate natural form and color.  In our attempt as funeral service practitioners to restore the deceased human remains to its most […]

Every business has its pitfalls … traps that can ensnare our lives and our relationships with ourselves, our family and our friends.  Here are ten traps in the funeral industry that can hurt the personal lives of its workers. One.  Perfectionism Mistakes are always magnified by a high level of emotional intensity.  If you’re not […]

One.  We’ll Disappoint You I suppose every friend will disappoint you once in a while; but funeral directors will probably do it more often.  We might miss your birthday party, we might have to leave in the middle of dinner. Death has this way of keeping an untimely schedule.  And as death’s minions, we’re tied […]

  There’s a fine line between being a funeral director and being a narcissist.  We’re called to be directors, to display confidence, knowledge, authority and strength during people’s weakest moments.  But this environment that asks us to lead can too often enable us to self-enhance.  We talk over our heads, project authority in situations that […]