To Love and to Serve: The Funeral Director’s Dilemma
Virtual Funeral Professionals Peer Support Meeting in March
WHEELING, IL— A funeral professional may be called upon as an event planner, a chauffeur, a makeup artist, an advisor on grief and accounting, and much more – wearing many hats during working hours. A funeral professional may also be a spouse, partner, companion, and parent. Finding time to wear all those additional hats can mean stress and strife in addition to love and joy.
This month’s virtual Funeral Professionals Peer Support Meeting focuses on the challenges of a life dedicated to both service to others and love of a partner. Join the conversation Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at 8pm ET / 7pm CT / 5pm PT.
It can be hard to have a successful personal life when your professional life depends on 24/7-availability. On March 19, Dwight EA Thompson facilitates a discussion on the unique challenges funeral professionals face to strike a balance. Prior to becoming a therapist specializing in couples counseling, Dwight spent 12 years as a funeral director and embalmer and understands the particular needs of a funeral professional in a relationship. Dwight brings his unique perspective to the March peer support meeting to talk about emotional tolerance and bonding between funeral professionals and their partners. That’s why, special to this meeting, partners are invited to join their funeral professional and participate in the conversation.
“I think people who grow up in the environment understand it, or at least have a special resilience to it,” offers Dwight. “It can often be an alien experience however for a partner who doesn’t—or hasn’t had that experience. There is no emotional tolerance for this type of life, where endured absences define a large part of life.” So, bring your partner and take some time to connect over this conversation.
Take time to talk to your fellow funeral professionals who share your experience balancing date-nights with on-call schedules. Invite your partner and join Dwight for funeral professional peer support on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at 8pm ET / 7pm CT / 5pm PT via Zoom link at cremationassociation.org/peersupport. No registration is required, simply follow the link to join.
About Funeral Professionals Peer Support
Funeral Professionals Peer Support Group is committed to providing support, healing, education and knowledge to funeral professionals. They promote wholeness and wellness by uniting funeral sector professionals through a Canada-wide network of regional organizations offering support, information and resources within their community.
About CANA
Founded in 1913, the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) is an international organization of over 3,700 members, composed of funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, industry suppliers, and consultants. CANA members believe that cremation is preparation for memorialization.
