Friday, January 1, 2010

What Are An Undertaker's Responsibilities In A Funeral Service

By Ynez Alvarez

Undertakers or funeral directors are perhaps the most important people, other than the family and clergymen to be associated with the funeral service. These people are assigned the duty of arranging the whole funeral, managing all the related issues as well. The job of undertakers is of such nature that they have to be on call anytime during the day and on any day in the year.

A number of decisions need to be taken in the event of a person's death, which the bereaved family may not be able to take because of the sudden catastrophe that befalls them. An undertaker is often required to take such decisions. His responsibilities include deciding the particular time, place, and way in which the funeral service will be organised. Moreover, the undertaker helps you to face the loss that has befallen you, by remaining at your side and taking care of every aspect of the funeral service, which enables you to show the deep regard and love you have in your heart for the departed.

A funeral service has to be planned keeping in mind the schedule and venue, and these need to be decided first and then communicated to friends and relatives of the deceased. After taking this decision, the undertaker helps to shift the body to its resting place, which may be the funeral home or any other place. In case of a burial service, the right coffin in which the body is to be laid is usually picked by the undertaker.

The whole proceeding of the funeral service, from arranging the flowers to choosing the headstone, including making preparations for clergy, music, food, transport and hymns, is done by the undertaker. The wish of the family is always taken into account in all these preparations so that the deceased receives a funeral service the way he or she would have wanted to.

Last but not the least, some undertakers even help you in bringing the dead from other places, embalming the body and can also help in conducting the funeral service in another country, depending on your need.

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