20 suggestions for funeral directors- exam 3 Flashcards
Make the funeral as meaningful and personal as possible to both the deceased and the bereaved.
- The job of the funeral director
The value, expectations, religious preferences, and style of the family.
- Inquire and stay aware
The grievers how they want the deceased to be remembered.
- Ask
As customers, they are likely to be unaware of choices of services and the sequence of funeral activities available to them.
- Explain their options
Not only do they need to feel important, but somewhere along the line you might need their assistance or influence.
- Try to broaden involvement to include other family members besides the immediate ones.
Omitting, ignoring, or pushing children aside can be damaging for the present and for future situations.
- Encourage the bereaved to include affected children in funeral rituals.
The cultural values, expectations, philosophical and religious tenets ,and customs and socioeconomic norms that operate in their clients’ communities.
- Funeral directors should understand
Attempt to answer them as fully and honestly as possible.
- At all times, invite the bereaved to ask questions
Help them determine and clarify their own needs for the funeral, whether it be assembling photographs, selecting musicians, or choosing grave goods.
- Listen carefully to specific needs of the grievers.
For talking, remembering, touching, reflecting, praying or even arguing. They don’t have to be swept along in an arbitrary ritual “timetable”.
- Offer and allow grieving families more than one opportunity to spend private time with the body.
This can defuse resentment or contribute to a strong need for participation.
- Invite mourners, particularly mothers whose children have died, to help you prepare or dress the body.
At a very profound level, it is ultimately “their” funeral to direct, not yours.
- Respect any choice made by the bereaved.
Listen. Validate. And help them to feel normal, as long as it does not appear to preclude resolution of the grief process.
- Encourage grievers to express their feelings- but don’t force it.
And will have different needs based on their personal relationship with the deceased.
- Recognize and be alert to the fact that various family members will react different to the funeral event.
Make appropriate suggestions and recommendations based on your knowledge.
- Be sensitive to the fact that you might be one of the few people to observe and understand the needs and dynamics of the whole family and its support system.
