Be a Funeral Director, you’ll make a difference they said…

I’m well aware you are in a place you don’t want to be, talking to someone you don’t want to be talking to, about something you don’t want to be talking about. Trust me, I know. I wish you didn’t have to do any of those things either. But then there’s reality. 

Sometimes I’m a referee because someone got grandpa’s pocket knife or grandma’s cookbook. Or maybe he was married to you first but had kids with his second wife…. either way, now’s not the time or place. Let me give them a dignified service, afterwards you can do whatever… but until we’re done, be adults.

Sometimes we’re nothing short of an artist. Some people have a gift for certain things. I know what mine is. Humbly. Sometimes we spend soooo many hours getting someone ready for a viewing because that accident was a bad one… and you just want to see them one last time. I would too. And in one or two cases, I’ve failed… it just wasn’t there. And for that, I’m so sorry. 

Sometimes we’re looked at as the money hungry undertaker. Trust me, the overheads are astronomical. A complete professional staff readily available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year is taxing. It’d scare you. Literally. 

Sometimes you’re angry at me, I get it… and it’s okay, I understand. When I’m walking out of the hospital with a baby in hand and two security guards don’t like me much either. I’ve learned that the smaller the coffin, the heavier it is. If you don’t speak to me when I see you around town it’s okay… again, I understand.

Sometimes there’s dark circles under our eyes because we’ve been up for a couple days. So if we just say “hi” and move on, we’re trying to get home for a little sleep. Please understand. 

And sometimes we are left taking care of our own. Our own family, our own friends, and our own brotherhood… with honour, and with the utmost dignity and respect, as always.

So yeah, be a Funeral Director… some days we make a difference.