What Do You Call the People That Work at Funeral Homes?

What do you call the people that own and work in funeral homes in Pinckney, MI? What do you think of when you hear “undertaker”? What about “mortician”? If you picture a creepy man in a black suit standing by an open casket in a dark funeral home, you’re not alone.

These titles uphold stereotypes of funeral professionals. Keep reading to learn the differences between morticians, funeral directors, embalmers, and undertakers. The terms undertaker and mortician are more antiquated but are pretty much synonymous with funeral director. Most funeral directors do not like being referred to as morticians or undertakers as those names are most associated with death and unpleasantness.

In fact, the term funeral director really didn’t start taking hold until the early 1900s when industry professionals actively set out to change their name from undertaker to something new. Funeral Director is the most modern, and correct, term for a professional in the industry. A funeral director is a funeral or cremation professional that helps arrange, plan and coordinate a funeral or cremation services. From funerals and visitations to memorials and wakes, funeral directors do a lot. They also commonly help prepare the body for a funeral or cremation, including placing the body in the casket or cremation container.

Funeral directors also have to be licensed according to local laws. This is especially true in states where the funeral director is legally responsible for making sure the crematory or funeral home is complying with all health, mortuary, and vital statistic laws of the area. So where do embalmers fit in? An embalmer is the funeral professional that is responsible for making sure the body is ready for burial.

As the name denotes, embalmers perform the act of embalming, meaning they remove all body fluids and replace them with embalming liquid to slow down the body’s decomposition for a funeral service. In most states funeral directors and embalmers require different licenses and training courses. However, it is common for some people to be both depending on their professional interests, their business models, or local ordinances.

The next time you’re in a funeral home for a service or are making plans for a loved one’s recent passing, you will know what to call the industry professional that is helping you. While none of the terms are technically incorrect, its generally accepted that funeral director is the preferred title as it is the most modern and gives the respect due for these hardworking professionals.

Borek Jennings Funeral Homes is here to help if you want to learn more interesting funeral home facts, or do you have questions about your options when it comes to Pinckney, MI funeral homes. We have years of experience in the funeral home industry and are happy to answer any questions you may have or help you in your time of loss. Please stop by and visit us or give us a call today to learn more about what we can do for you.