An undertaker is a person who works at a funeral home. They help with preparing the body for a funeral and in planning the funeral service too. The term undertaker is used interchangeably with funeral director or mortician, as they all refer to the same role.
What an undertaker does can vary from funeral home to funeral home. At smaller funeral parlours, the undertaker may conduct the entire process; from collecting and preparing the body, including embalming, to working with family members to make the funeral arrangements. At larger homes, this may be split between a larger team who each have a special focus.
Preparing the deceased
An undertaker involved in preparing the body for burial or cremation will communicate with the family to fully understand their wishes. They will then prepare the deceased for the funeral, which could include cremation, embalming or beautification.
Planning a funeral event
They will guide you through planning the logistics of the event, from transport through to hospitality, to make sure you have a meaningful and personal service for your loved one. Expressing the wishes of your family and the person you have lost to your undertaker means they can collaborate with you to make the event as special as your loved one.
For some unique ideas on how you can personalise a funeral service, click here.
Personalising the Ceremony
Undertakers will help you to pick out the flowers and arrange a speaker or celebrant for the service. Experienced funeral directors are skilled in helping you to navigate the complex emotions of losing someone close, as well as handling the bulk of the paperwork that comes at this difficult time. It can be a relief to have the weight of this administrative burden taken off your shoulders, allowing you and your loved ones more time and space during the grieving process.
Advance Planning Services
An undertaker may also provide pre-planning or advance planning services. This means that for those who wish to, you can speak with the undertaker and let them know what your wishes are for your own funeral service. This can be a source of comfort, to know you have control over your own service.
At a funeral home, the undertaker’s role is varied, however their primary focus is always the same; to assist families in conducting a heartfelt funeral service for their loved ones and helping them through an emotionally challenging time.
Finding an undertaker near you
Your Funeral Choice offers a free search tool to allow you to find and compare local funeral directors. To find an undertaker who feels right for your family, click here.