According to people in this career, the main tasks are...
| Task | Importance |
|---|---|
| Obtain information needed to complete legal documents, such as death certificates or burial permits. | 95% |
| Consult with families or friends of the deceased to arrange funeral details, such as obituary notice wording, casket selection, or plans for services. | 91% |
| Perform embalming duties, as necessary. | 91% |
| Oversee the preparation and care of the remains of people who have died. | 91% |
| Contact cemeteries to schedule the opening and closing of graves. | 90% |
| Remove deceased remains from place of death. | 90% |
| Arrange for clergy members to perform needed services. | 89% |
| Provide information on funeral service options, products, or merchandise, and maintain a casket display area. | 88% |
| Offer counsel and comfort to bereaved families or friends. | 88% |
| Maintain financial records, order merchandise, or prepare accounts. | 86% |
| Plan, schedule, or coordinate funerals, burials, or cremations, arranging details such as floral delivery or the time and place of services. | 86% |
| Close caskets and lead funeral corteges to churches or burial sites. | 86% |
| Manage funeral home operations, including the hiring, training, or supervision of embalmers, funeral attendants, or other staff. | 85% |
| Inform survivors of benefits for which they may be eligible. | 85% |
| Direct preparations and shipment of bodies for out-of-state burial. | 85% |
| Provide or arrange transportation between sites for the remains, mourners, pallbearers, clergy, or flowers. | 84% |
| Plan placement of caskets at funeral sites or place or adjust lights, fixtures, or floral displays. | 82% |
| Discuss and negotiate prearranged funerals with clients. | 81% |
| Clean funeral home facilities and grounds. | 79% |
| Arrange for pallbearers or inform pallbearers or honorary groups of their duties. | 76% |
| Receive or usher people to their seats for services. | 75% |
| Participate in community activities for funeral home promotion or other purposes. | 71% |
