The main role of a funeral director is to help families with the numerous details of arranging final disposition of their loved ones. These tasks can vary greatly, but generally include the following:
Planning which services a family needs. This will depend on the family and the individual. A funeral director can help the family weigh all the options available to them and help them choose what best fits their needs.
Completing all legally required paperwork. Naturally, there is paperwork to fill out. In most states, only a licensed funeral director can process that paperwork. They’ll know exactly what needs to be done and can explain it as you go.
Updating the family during the process. Funeral directors can keep the family notified to be sure they know exactly what’s happening throughout the entire process. This gives the family peace of mind and lets them know they’re loved one is being cared for even when they aren’t there.
Helping procure a death certificate for estate distribution needs. Having a death certificate is important for many reasons and often needed for legal purposes. The funeral director can help take the guesswork out for you and assists in determining how many copies you’ll need and what you might need them for.
Coordinating with healthcare facilities and doctors. When necessary, the funeral director can help coordinate with these facilities or doctor at the time of need to take a loved one into the care of the funeral home. In addition, they coordinate with the doctor to ensure the death certificate is signed for estate and account purposes.
Coordinating insurance distributions. When it comes to pre-need funeral insurance or other insurance policies, it can be the first time someone has ever had to deal with this. A funeral director can help make sure that you have the documentation the family needs and that payment for prepaid services is made by the insurance company.
Funeral directors help comfort and console grieving families by lessening the burden of making these arrangements. Although we can never fully understand the loss the family is experiencing, we can listen, support, and assist them with arranging a service that represents the person and their life. Being a funeral director can be emotionally and physically challenging. It is an occupation that most people would not choose. I consider myself blessed to be a funeral director and thank God every day that he gave me the skills, abilities, and stamina to minister to people during one of the most difficult times of their lives.
