5 Things We Love About Funeral Directors
Article by: Jessica Fowler, ASD – Answering Service for Directors
ASD posted this article on their blog in honor of Valentine’s Day but we loved it so much we thought it needed to be shared even though V Day has passed!
5 Things We Love About Funeral Directors
At ASD, we are incredibly grateful to work with the funeral service community. We feel lucky to be able to interact on a daily basis with such dedicated and caring professionals. According to Family-Member Owner Kathy Kelley, ASD’s decision to work exclusively with funeral homes many years ago was prompted by the Czachor family’s appreciation for how directors treated ASD and their callers.
“No one else cared about the quality of the person answering the phone. They just wanted a name, number and didn’t want to be bothered unless it was an absolute emergency but funeral directors were just nicer and wanted to be more available. They really cared about how we treated their callers,” Kathy says. “That’s why our family decided to start working exclusively with funeral homes.”
In honor of Valentines Day, ASD – Answering Service for Directors, the leading answering service for funeral homes, wanted to acknowledge the dedication and compassion funeral professionals exhibit every day. There are countless reasons for why we feel fortunate to work in this profession and why we feel funeral directors are the best clients any company could have.
Here are just some of the many things we love about funeral directors:
Dedication
Funeral directors do not simply work, you live your profession. You are willing to sacrifice your own personal and family time to remain available to your community 24/7. As the leading funeral home answering service, ASD sees firsthand the commitment funeral professionals have to families in the community. We hear your tired voice gathering information after a 3am phone call. We listen when you have to exit a party or ballgame to handle business. While the rest of the business world shifts to automation, funeral directors continue to extend themselves to the public in order to remain a constant resource for their community.
Sensitivity
ASD recognizes that for most funeral directors, selecting this vocation isn’t a choice—it is a calling. And for many, the reasons cannot be counted or explained because they are intangible: a moment of peace for a distraught widow or a few seconds of laughter from a child who is confused by death. These are things that cannot be measured or put into words. Even when dealing with feelings of their own grief, funeral professionals continually put the needs of others ahead of their own. They are driven to do work that brings comfort and peace to others and we at ASD can think of nothing more commendable than that.
Sense of Humor
One of the most common prank calls ASD receives is from funeral directors prank calling other funeral directors to report the passing of “Myra Mains” (aka “my remains”). There is no denying that funeral directors are some of the most hilarious people on the planet which is why blogs like Confessions of a Funeral Director and littlemissfuneral have gained so many followers with their unique brand of wit (in addition to their touching firsthand stories). The ASD team always has a blast attending funeral home conventions because we know to look forward to many entertaining and hilarious interactions with our clients. If you hear a good funeral joke, be sure to share it with one of our Call Specialists the next time you’re checking out – they love hearing them!
Loyalty
ASD is blessed to still have the privilege to work with many funeral homes that began using us as early as 1972. Over the past 40 years, we have grown our company to add new features, services and options and we are so grateful that so many of our clients have stuck by us all of this time. More than any other sales initiative, word of mouth and the loyalty of our current clients has been the most crucial component of ASD’s success. To show our appreciation, ASD will send you a $150 check for every funeral home you refer to us. We want you to know how much we appreciate your endorsement, loyalty and trust.
Generosity
Over the past several years, ASD has worked to expand our social presence and connect with more of our clients in a more personal way. What we have learned from this venture is how charitable funeral professionals are and how much they give back to others. From collecting items for veterans, to presenting checks to local organizations, to holding free informational seminars—there are so many examples of funeral professionals helping others. We love sharing stories about the generous spirit of the funeral service community, so please feel free to tell us about your outreach efforts. We would love to share your stories so that others are aware of the great work you’re doing. Please email your stories to jess.fowler@myASD.com.
