HOW TO GET THERE
Typical pathway
A common path is to finish secondary school and then complete postsecondary education in funeral service or a related program, with training needs sometimes varying by province and employer. Students often gain early experience through part-time or entry-level work in a funeral home, helping with transfers, services, office tasks, or client support under supervision. Some people also learn through on-the-job training and mentoring, especially if they later move into funeral home operations or embalming tasks. Strong communication, organization, and respectful customer service are important throughout.
THE WORK
What you may do
Legacy duties
- Consult with the family of the deceased regarding the nature of the funeral service, the disposition of the remains and funeral costs
- Transfer, or arrange for the transfer of, the remains from the place of death to the funeral home
- Inform survivors of benefits for which they may be eligible
- Issue death notices to newspapers
- Oversee the preparation of the remains, plan and schedule funeral services, co-ordinate burials and cremations and complete legal documents
- Discuss and negotiate prearranged funerals with clients
- Manage funeral home operations including hiring and directing staff, maintaining financial records, preparing accounts and ordering merchandise
- Supervise embalmers, funeral home attendants and other funeral home staff
- May perform same duties as embalmers.