Morticians, Undertakers, & Funeral Arrangers

funeral enterprising family direct mourners personal service pallbearer legal documents transport body contact cemeteries

Funeral Arranger, Funeral Director, Licensed Funeral Director, Mortician

What they do:
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.
On the job, you would:
  • Obtain information needed to complete legal documents, such as death certificates or burial permits.
  • Consult with families or friends of the deceased to arrange funeral details, such as obituary notice wording, casket selection, or plans for services.
  • Perform embalming duties, as necessary.

Knowledge

Business

  • customer service
  • management

Math and Science

  • psychology
  • chemistry

Arts and Humanities

  • English language
  • philosophy and religion

Safety and Government

  • law and government

Skills

Basic Skills

  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • talking to others

Social

  • understanding people's reactions
  • changing what is done based on other people's actions

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Abilities

Verbal

  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say

Ideas and Logic

  • notice when problems happen
  • order or arrange things

Attention

  • do two or more things at the same time
  • pay attention to something without being distracted

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include data, detail, and regular routines.

They do well at jobs that need:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Concern for Others
  • Integrity
  • Dependability
  • Self Control
  • Adaptability/Flexibility

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Office suite software

  • Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
  • Microsoft Office software Hot Technology In Demand

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint Hot Technology In Demand

Data base user interface and query software

  • HMIS Advantage
  • Twin Tier Technologies MIMS

Education

Education: (rated 3 of 5)
associate's degree or
certificate after high school
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Training
Find Licenses
Apprenticeship.gov

Job Outlook

Average
New job opportunities are likely in the future.
Local Salary Info
Find Jobs

Explore More

You might like a career in one of these industries:

See more details at O*NET OnLine about morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers.