Leading funeral proceedings, understanding the needs of others and keeping composure are traits each of our funeral directors here at Kenna and Turner posses. Phillip Cuthbert shares his story about why he does what he does and rewarding nature of being a funeral director.
I have always been curious about what happens when people die; therefore, when the opportunity arose to do my work experience at a Funeral Director, I grasped the opportunity with open arms. I thought it would be incredibly interesting.
I enjoyed it so much that I decided it was what I wanted to do as a career. I have always been able to exude calmness to help people through one of their most stressful times and make things easier. Doing this for people day in and day out makes my job incredibly rewarding.
It always starts with a decent cuppa! Then, if we are not straight out to a funeral, I will check through emails and prepare for what needs to be done for upcoming funerals and meetings.
We often have a lot of enquiries and arrangements to sort through, which can be time-consuming, so I often try to make my way through them.
As a small firm, we all have the responsibility to help manage all forms of duties. These include organising arrangements with families, celebrants, florists, and doctors.
We also have to ensure the funeral vehicles are immaculate, tend to the Deceased and then, of course, conduct funerals.
It can often be difficult dealing with grieving relatives, particularly in cases where the death is sudden or untimely.
Currently, the Covid-19 pandemic is adding extra challenges regarding the additional safety measures we must follow to ensure all staff and attendees are safe. These measures are also putting immense restrictions on the families at a time when they simply want to be together to grieve and say goodbye to a loved one.
The family should always be at the centre of everyone’s focus to ensure their voices are heard, especially when they wish to share thoughts and memories of their loved one.
We can put them at ease and comfort them by really taking the time to listen to the family. This is crucial to make the funeral that bit more special and personal for them.
Years of experience help me keep a calm exterior when dealing with emotional clients.
I always like to lend a kind ear and let them take as much time as they need when making arrangements. I have experienced grief myself, I know how difficult and stressful making funeral arrangements can be. Henceforth, I always try to remain respectful, understanding, and patient.
It sounds silly, but an immaculately polished hearse and limousine never fail to make me very happy! It shows our dedication to the job and professionalism is at the forefront of how we conduct ourselves.
Also, it is lovely when a family recognises your endeavours with a thank you note.
The part of the job I find most difficult is getting called out of bed in the middle of the night to collect a deceased person. This is becoming more difficult as I get older. This aspect can be more challenging when you know the deceased and are grieving too. Having the additional responsibility of remaining professional and ensuring the funeral runs perfectly can be mentally and emotionally draining.
If you are looking funeral directors in Wirral, then please don’t hesitate to contact our professional, compassionate and dedicated team on 0151 638 4444