June 6, 2020

When a loved one passes away, we pick up the phone, call a funeral home, and enlist the services of a professional funeral director—almost as a matter of instinct.

But have you ever stopped to think about what it is the funeral director really does?

In some ways, it is not wrong to think of the director in the same way you might think of a wedding planner or a party coordinator: The funeral director’s job is to keep several balls in the air at once, coordinating different vendors, keeping the family calm and informed, and ensuring that the event itself goes off without a hitch.

The difference is that a wedding planner usually has months, even a year or more to make sure the big day is a smash success. A funeral director must ensure a smooth, tasteful funeral service that is in accordance with the family’s wishes—and the funeral director has a very short span of time in which to do it.

The funeral director brings immense organizational skills, then, but also important connections to local vendors: Whether you need floral arrangements, a caterer, a musician, or something else altogether, the funeral director can make it happen, quickly and seamlessly.

The funeral director has important practical, legal, and social knowledge—like how best to get the body of the deceased to the funeral home, whether any municipal representative needs to be contacted, and so on.

But perhaps the most important role played by the funeral director is communicating with the family members—keeping them informed and walking them through key decisions, all while being mindful of their grief and sensitive to their needs. This alone makes the funeral director’s job absolutely key.

If you would like a FREE funeral decisions planning guide please contact us at 12700 Southeast Raytown Road | 816-761-6272
longviewfuneralhome.com