Funeral Directors - How Their Role Has Changed
Today, more than ever before, the role of funeral directors has to evolve in order to keep up continual changes in cultural expectations. The profession has come a long way since its beginnings, way back in the eighteenth century. Gone are the days of heavy mourning, the black-plumed horses and somber ceremony.
Over the past couple of decades, society has begun to think about death in new ways, and the role of the funeral director has adapted to meet these new needs. As it stands now, funeral homes are seen as much more of a ‘one stop shop’, offering the full range of services, from floral tributes to lasting keepsakes.
For an increasing amount of people, whilst grief is obviously still at its core, the funeral of a loved one is an opportunity to celebrate their life, rather than focus on mourning. Strictly black attire and solemn hymns have begun to give way to subtle introductions of color and pop songs liked by the deceased. The funeral director has needed to follow this cultural drift and offer a broader range of services.
Since the idea of pre-payment was introduced twenty or thirty years ago, pre-paid funeral plans are now as common as post-paid ones. A growing number of people also go beyond this, not only paying for their own funeral in advance, but also planning the ceremony itself, so the family approaches the funeral director knowing the full wishes of their loved one.
To deal as efficiently as they can with a death, funeral directors also need to know about the shifting business of life. As well as dealing first-hand with grief, they can offer counseling, help with legal matters and financial guidance, and signpost families to support groups and aftercare services. Rather than the ‘body-centered’ service of the past, today the profession is significantly more knowledge-based.
As we moved into the twenty-first century, so we saw a rise in the number of dispersed families. When it comes to handling the death of a family member, many people therefore simply welcome convenience. The funeral director’s role has evolved in response to this, using the Internet to streamline its services and make them more accessible and efficient.
From a financial point of view, funeral directors have seen profit margins on facilities usage and the sale of coffins reduce quite significantly. This has given rise to many expanding their range of services and products, including online obituaries and creative keepsakes such as necklaces made from the cremated remains.
Funeral directors will need to persist with adapting their services for many years to come. However, whatever changes the future may bring, their role will remain sensitive and practical. Those are the core qualities that must underpin everything else that they do, and any funeral directors which neglect them would soon find themselves out of business. So, whilst there will always be a need for them to adapt and evolve, do not ever expect funeral directors to approach the planning of a funeral in the same way as a wedding organizer plans a wedding.
With origins dating back to 1853, E.F. Box are one of the oldest funeral directors within the UK. They offer a range of funeral services across a variety of faiths, beliefs and ways of celebrating life.