Published: August 28th, 2006
The Chronicle Herald
FUNERAL DIRECTORS AND EMBALMERS
Compassion a must in this business
Jonathan and Emelie DeMont own and operate Lohnes Funeral Service in Windsor. The couple say you need to be dedicated, compassionate and caring to be successful in the industry. (Ian Fairclough / Herald)
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Nature of the work
Funeral directors co-ordinate and arrange all aspects of funeral services. Embalmers prepare human remains for funerals and burials. They perform cosmetic and restorative work on the remains and supervise the embalming staff.
Funeral directors meet with the family of the deceased regarding the nature of the funeral service and funeral costs. They must oversee the preparation of the remains and work with the family to plan and schedule funeral services and complete legal documents. Funeral directors also require good business skills. They manage funeral home operations, hire and direct staff, and maintain financial records.
Skills
Funeral directors and embalmers should be comfortable working with the deceased. They must be understanding, sympathetic and able to comfort people in times of distress. Patience, emotional stability and maturity are essential. Tact and consideration are required at all times, even when called at irregular hours.
Employment Requirements
Licensing by the Board of Registration of Embalmers and Funeral Directors is mandatory for this type of work.
Embalmers must complete a one-year funeral services course and a 14-month apprenticeship program. Funeral directors must complete either a 12-month apprenticeship under the direction of a licensed funeral director or a funeral services course and a six-month apprenticeship. The Funeral and Allied Health Services Program at Nova Scotia Community College trains students for both professions.
After graduation, funeral directors and embalmers must pass both a written exam and a clinical exam at the end of training.
This exam is administered by the Board of Registration of Embalmers and Funeral Directors.
A valid driver's licence is usually required.
Work Prospects
Employment levels are fairly stable from year to year, as the level of funeral activity does not vary significantly with economic conditions. Job openings are likely to be limited due to the small size of this occupational group in Nova Scotia and the limited potential for growth.
The average age within the group is 46 years, and all employment opportunities in the coming years will be related to people leaving due to retirement or other reasons.
Consumer tastes determine the type of funeral or memorial service performed. An increasing preference for cremation could result in decreased demand for embalmers.
Labour Market Information
Outlook: Fair
Employment in 2005: 190
Estimated average annual number of job openings: 5
Average Earnings in 2005: $22.75 hourly
Where are they employed?
Annapolis Valley 20%
Cape Breton 10%
Halifax 20%
North Shore 29%
Southern N.S. 22%
Seventy-five per cent of those in these occupations are male. Over 20 per cent are self-employed. The majority of funeral directors and embalmers are employed on the North Shore and southern Nova Scotia.
Quote:
"It's not a job for someone who doesn't care. You have to care about people, and treat them all the same and give your best service," says Jonathan DeMont, operator of Lohnes Funeral Service in Windsor along with his wife Emelie. "You have to maintain your professional conduct. You can be compassionate, but you can' show your emotions. If you don't have the mindset for it, it's not the job for you."
She added that as a funeral director you are always on duty. She said last year the couple received a call from the hospital late on Christmas Eve Day about an individual who had passed away.
"When you're in this business, you're here all the time."
On the Job is a weekly column looking at employment options in Nova Scotia.
Information on 300 occupations for Nova Scotians can be found at the Education D
epartment's Career Options website, novascotiacareeroptions.ca.
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