A funeral director often wears many hats and will be there to support you in a variety of ways as your grieve the loss of a loved one. Arranging a funeral is not easy when you lose someone you were close to, but the process can be made simpler and less stressful by leaning on the experience of your funeral director. They will guide you through the practicalities of arranging a funeral and support you as you walk through the steps of saying goodbye.
People often don't fully understand the scope of a funeral director's role, so having an understanding of the support they can offer as part of their job can help set your expectations and allow you to have the best experience possible when carrying out the difficult task of making the final arrangements for a deceased friend or family member.
A Funeral Director's Role Before a Service
Many of the tasks carried out by a funeral director are not compulsory and you can decide to what extent you want to enlist their help and support. Before a funeral service a funeral director can arrange transportation of the deceased and can arrange the publication of death notices with various media outlets, if required. They can also explain how to register a death and will liaise with the cemetery or crematorium to plan the logistics of the funeral service.
A Funeral Director's Role During a Service
During the funeral service your mind will be on the difficult task of saying goodbye, so your funeral director can oversee the service on your behalf to ensure it's carried out as you had planned. This may involve ensuring mourners are seated and have order of service sheets, confirming music selections and directing mourners to the burial or cremation site after the service. If anything is causing you concern during the service, you should feel free to approach your funeral director and ask for their assistance.
If you find yourself struggling to cope after the funeral service, your funeral director may also be able to recommend emotional support services in your local area, such as a bereavement support group or grief counsellor, so don't be afraid to pick up the phone and ask for help.
When arranging a funeral, your funeral director will discuss each step in detail with you, but if there's anything you're not clear about at any stage, ask them to go over it with you again. They understand that it can be difficult to absorb new information when you are grieving, so they expect questions along the way.
Share23 March 2021
Welcome to my blog. My name is Molly, and a few years ago, I lost my husband to heart disease. He had only just turned fifty, and it wasn't anything we were expecting. Through my intense grief, I had to host and organise a funeral. I wanted to include religious elements from our pasts, but I also wanted to be true to the non-religious but spiritual beliefs of my husband. I think many people are in the same position, and if you are, I want to help you. This blog focuses on making funerals meaningful. It provides tips, ideas, facts and more. I hope it inspires you.