Funeral Director Apprentice

SCI Shared Resources•Campbell, NY

About The Position

Provides customer service to client families following the loss of a loved one, offering personalized and professional support. Learns how to implement family or legal representative choices concerning funeral arrangements, final disposition, and memorialization, and interacts with families to address their death-care needs. The apprentice learns to arrange and conduct funeral and memorial ceremonies, create funeral contracts, handle legal and financial documentation, and coordinate interment or cremation. The role also involves caring for the deceased respectfully, assisting with funeral services and visitations, providing aftercare when needed, completing records and office work, and helping maintain vehicles, facilities, property, and supplies. Work takes place indoors and outdoors in all seasons and weather conditions, may involve travel between locations, and requires professional dress when interacting with families. Working beyond standard hours may be necessary as needs arise.

Requirements

High school diploma or general equivalency degree (or diploma).
Completion of or current enrollment in a degree training program at an accredited mortuary college or technical school specializing in funeral service or mortuary science.
Typically, at least 6 months of experience in a funeral home, crematory, or cemetery.
Meet licensing requirements in the applicable state or province as required by law.
Valid driver’s license.
Knowledge of computers and software, including MS Office products.
High level of compassion and integrity.
Good communication skills.
Problem-solving skills.
Ability to multitask and set priorities.

Responsibilities

Learn to arrange and conduct funeral and memorial ceremonies professionally and in accordance with company policies and procedures.
Learn to negotiate and create acceptable funeral contracts.
Handle contracts, legal documents, and collection of monies or insurance according to company policies.
Inform client families about special recognition and services for veterans and ensure selected services are delivered.
Confirm authorization to proceed with service arrangements.
Verify identification of the deceased and authorization for embalming.
Learn to arrange interment or cremation of human remains.
Follow company and regulatory requirements.
Care for the deceased respectfully, including removals and transfers, lifting, dressing and casketing.
Coordinate and assist with funeral services and visitations, including delivery of flowers, caskets, urns, photos, and family keepsakes; setting up, caring for, and storing chairs and other items.
Assist with services by coordinating parking, ushering, driving funeral vehicles, and assisting at chapel, church, and cemetery services.
Participate in special functions.
Provide aftercare in the absence of a Family Service Counselor, including delivering documentation and stationery and providing information about insurance, health benefits, pensions, and pre-arrangements for next of kin.
Share potential pre-need referrals with Family Service Counselors.
Accurately prepare documents related to services, cremations, maintenance, and other data entry.
Assist with general office duties, including preparing reports as needed.
Assist with maintenance of vehicles, facilities, and property.
Receive caskets and other funeral home supplies and place them into inventory.
Ensure refreshments are available where allowed by law.
Perform other duties as assigned.