I just graduated high school, and and now probably just going to go to the local community college here in town. I’ve always loved music, especially classical, and therefore am likely to take as many classes related to that as possible. However, as a more practical, sort of fall-back option, I’m also thinking about taking some classes in mortuary science, so that in about a two year term from now I can be a licensed embalmer. My question is, do any of you know anyone else in this profession? If so, any feedback on the general pay, and also, of course, the “content” that is associated with such a job? Just though I’d bounce the idea off of some of you guys, since I don’t really know any morticians myself personally.
that’s a rather grave profession. hahaha!
It’s definitely a recession-proof industry. I remember years ago Entrepreneur Magazine had a special report on the mortuary business, which, if you run it right and in a good location, can be a very solid and profitable business. On the other side of that, a lot of funeral home chains have struggled the last few years, supposedly due to competition. I can only assume that “competition” means dumping your loved one’s body in a ditch somewhere - I didn’t understand the article or reference, other than that another part of my retirement portfolio went down in value. Don’t know any morticians, sorry. Did you consider going to visit some funeral homes and speaking to the morticians there about the career? Most folks appreciate the opportunity to give career guidance in their own field. I would call first and ask for an appointment, to show you respect the mortician’s time. Just thoughts.
Sfingle, I worked in the Funeral industry for 3 years, for a large corporate firm. I loved the work, it is still one of my favorite jobs I have had, not that there is really a lot of jobs to choose from but anyways… It is an admirable profession, a true labor of love. There is an ugly side to the business, one that I grew to hate and one that eventually ended my dream of Mortuary School. The business is highly political, more so than one would think. The business is only driven by the mighty dollar. The people who truly care for the business are always the underlings (embalmers, removal staff, crematory operators, etc…). There is nothing that a Funeral Director will not do to save their ass, even if it means putting yours in the fire. Since you are dealing with the last ceremony someone will endure, small details are more important than anything going on in your life. There is hardly ever time to do anything after work, especially if you are on the removal staff, or if you work for a firm that has embalmers doing removals. Be ready to pull all nighters on a regular basis. I don’t mean just working late, I mean working for 72hrs in a row without sleep. The pay is terrible, the average embalmer down here makes about $13 an hour, Funeral Directors don’t exactly make a large wage either. If you are going to be an embalmer, be prepared to dress, apply cosmetics, repair accident trauma, lift, pull, and get dirty. You will encounter everything about the human body that is imaginable. You will have to poke, prod, cut, suture and model the remains. Blood, feces, urine and other bodily fluids are a daily thing. Be prepared to encounter a body that has been sitting in a house without air conditioning for weeks, it is a smell and sight you will never forget. If you become licensed to operate a crematory, you will encounter remains that will be burned down to fragments of bone. In the mean time, repositioning is needed. Nothing of the business is glamorous. I don’t mean to throw you off, but these are things that you must realize before entering the field. It is not for the weak stomached, or the lazy. The work is hard, the days are long, and the pay is terrible. I loved it all the same. If you have anymore detailed questions, feel free to PM me.
i would say go for it its always good to learn a trade anyway a friend of mine went to mortuary school worked in a funeral parlor he left after a few years without getting the proper qualifications after doing some contruction work for his dad and some bar work he is know working at taco bell
GO FOR IT! The more oddball trades you are able to do, the easier your life will seem and you will never lack for work or friends. Take in as much as you can at your age and fear no learning in any situation. It may be your future. Learn to weld too. Don’t drink the embalming fluid…
The for the responses guys, especially cstokes4. The bad sides of the field were exactly what I was looking for, so I don’t jump into anything I don’t fully understand or appreciate. Luckily, however, on the politics note, my father was actually good friends with the owner of a mortuary very near by, so I imagine that connection might help a bit. I believe I should be able to stomach the gruesome and foully-odored parts of the job, but I was not aware of the intense work schedule, so that will be something I’ll have to mull over a bit. Also, out of curiosity, how did you come to work there, and what position did you hold exactly, if you don’t mind me asking?
@Bart: It’s cool to roll it up into to a doobie and smoke it though, right? Lol!
That what they mean by 'One-hit-wheelchair- bud"?
All I know about the trade is that you must never, under any circumstances, use Worcestershire Sauce as enbalming fluid. You have been warned.
@Sfingle: If you can work for a private family owned firm, go for it. They are by far the best to work for. It is something I love having on my resume. I still want to go to mortuary school.
@Bart: I think we might be on to something here, hmmm… @cstokes4: Alright, as long as you, someone who has actually worked in a mortuary, I will take the encouragement very seriously. Thanks.
As someone here mentioned, go to the parlor and ask to speak to someone. There you can get a real feel for the business. You might even be able to talk them into letting you ride along on a removal. Small firms will do things like that. Hell, maybe you could get a part time job there to get the feel of the business.
My buddy, and his sister both went to mortuary school. She didn’t stay with the career and he did. I think it’s good career. I’d ride with him at times to pick up bodies from homes, and he showed the funeral home, and all. He eventually started his own mortuary and embalming buisness.
I’ve heard that it’s a dying art.
Thanks again for the feedback guys. And the occasional puns (yes you midnightmosesuk and saucy_jack!) Lol.
Ive been to a lot of autopsies and seen just how incredibly weird the human body is when being dissected, drained etc - it is completely and totally grim. If you have the slightest problem with these issues I would think very lomg and hard before committing.
Double what CStokes says.
Yeah, career topic wise, it might be great, but me personally, I don’t think I’d wanna deal with dead bodies all day. Though it might be better than live ones…
A very good friend and client of mine owned a mortuary house. He was called out late one night to go and fetch 3 bodies from an accident scene. When he arrived there, he found his wife and two young daughters were the casualties he had to pick up. This happened about 25 years ago and he still suffers from the shock.