Death is a concept that first begins as arbitrary. At some point in our lives, it becomes more concrete as we experience loss. Growing older, we come to understand that it is inevitable, something we can’t escape. But this knowledge never makes discussing it any easier.
Most of us are fortunate enough to not have to deal with mortality, up close, on a daily basis. The notion of it is always looming, true. Still, it can be put to the side until we find ourselves in a position of personally making funeral arrangements for a deceased loved one in Clearfield.
There are some people who cannot say the same for their daily existence. Why? Well, to put it simply, it’s because these individuals work within the business models of mortality. Their everyday routines often revolve around the reality of human mortality.
Let’s explore the many careers that work closely with death.
Funeral Director
Also known as an undertaker or mortician, funeral directors play central roles in the world of the dead. Their job description is quite lengthy, and is often dependent on their location. But some of their main responsibilities include filing for the death certificate, running a funeral home, and assisting in wake service and funeral matters.
Many funeral directors are trained in embalming. Not only that, but they have to be knowledgeable about the ethics and morals that have to do with dealing with mortal remains.
Embalmer
Funeral directors can be embalmers and vice versa. However, funeral directors typically handle the logistics of someone’s passing and the funeral. Embalmers, on the other hand, work with the cadavers more closely. Their training includes learning more about anatomy and thanatology, which is the study of death.
This prepares them for the responsibility of embalming the body. They remove all bodily fluids so that they can replace these fluids with formaldehyde-based chemical solutions. After, they are also in charge of cosseting and casketing the bodies.
Coroner
Coroners must be university educated. Their program has to be related to the matter, like criminology or biomedical sciences. This background allows them to do their job properly. That is, examining the remains of the deceased and legally pronouncing them deceased. Coroners also have to determine the cause of death, which can either be natural or unnatural.
Oftentimes, coroners spend a few years as physicians before they are appointed as coroners.
Bereavement Counselor
Bereavement or grief counselors are trained individuals who assist those suffering through losses. Their role is critical in the world of death, because they help the living with moving forward.
Each client is unique, which is why counselors have to work closely and extensively with every person. This allows them to identify what an individual needs in order to cope with whatever they are going through.
Cemetery Worker
Cemetery workers or gravediggers differ from other professions in that they don’t need much training for the job. “No specialization,” though, doesn’t mean that their jobs are any easier than the ones mentioned above.
Their responsibility mainly has to do with the maintenance of the cemeteries. They also have to measure out and mark grave spaces, as well as prepare them for any upcoming burials. It doesn’t stop there, though.
Gravediggers need to have the right attitude and mindset when working in this profession. After all, it isn’t only dead people that they have to interact with. While they don’t often deal with the living, they still need to be tactful and respectful both to the dead and the living.
It takes a special kind of person to continuously work in the industry of mortality. Yet while the industry may be challenging in more ways than one, the service that these professional provide to the living loved ones, friends, and family of those who have passed is an invaluable one that is a reward unto itself.
