Funeral Services Assistant

Funeral Attendant

This support role performs a variety of manual and office tasks in preparation of, during and after funeral services to ensure services run smoothly and as planned. Duties include setting up rooms for ceremonies, copying memorial materials, greeting and escorting friends of the family, driving family members and cleaning vehicles. Funeral Attendants also assist with the preparation of the deceased and casket. The ability to work beyond standard business hours, including weekends and holidays, is required.

Job Responsibilities

Funeral Services

• Prepare casket and deceased for visitation or funeral services such as dressing casket, adjusting deceased clothing and jewelry, and transporting casket through hallways. May assist with lifting deceased
• Prepare rooms for a variety of services including but not limited to setting up and cleaning chairs, tables, icons, guest books, flowers, keepsakes, casket, and urn
• Greet visitors, provide programs, answers questions, and provide funeral services information
• May serve as pallbearer
• May drive families to cemetery site
• Following services, removal, cleaning, and proper storage of company property as well as packaging, loading, or delivery of family mementos, keepsakes, and flowers

Office Assistance

• Courteously answer phones, screen callers, and take 'first call' information
• Notify staff members when appointments arrive and escort guests to appropriate room
• Maintain reception area and refreshments including making coffee, disposing of trash, replenishing supplies, and straightening, cleaning, or vacuuming
• Review a variety of documents for accuracy
• Data entry of document information into proprietary systems
• Receive deliveries
• Make copies, scan, fax, fold/prepare memorial materials, and perform other mailroom task

Driver and vehicle maintenance

• Transport, pick up, and deliver documents, family mementos, flowers, and similar articles safely to destination that may include family's residence, care center, or funeral home
• May transport the deceased to funeral home
• Wash, vacuum, and clean vehicles to ensure vehicle is presentable
• Fuels vehicles as necessary; following safety guidelines and expenditure processes

Minimum Requirements

Education

• High School Diploma or equivalent

Certification/License

• Valid state issued driver's license with an acceptable driving record

Experience

• No prior work experience required
• Funeral industry experience preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to follow instructions given over the phone or in person
• Ability to use personal computer and type
• Ability to work and communicate effectively with others
• Ability to work with kindness and compassion for the deceased and their families
• Ability to maintain composure in challenging situations
• Good verbal and written communications skills
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Ability to work with colleagues to accomplish tasks
• Ability to work evenings and weekends
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds; push/pull up to 200 pounds

Work Environment

• Work indoors and outdoors during all seasons and weather conditions
• Professional Dress is required when in contact with families
• Drive company owned vehicles, with and without passengers, in surrounding community with varying traffic conditions

Work Postures

• Frequent, continuous periods of time standing, up 6 hours per day
• Climbing stairs to access buildings frequently

Physical Demands

• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds; push/pull up to 200 pounds
• Physical effort requiring manual dexterity is required, includes paperwork, calculators, computers and phone usage

Work Hours

• Working beyond "standard" hours, including weekends, nights and holidays
• Local travel