The Hope and Disappointment of Mismatched Expectations
Join the Virtual Funeral Professionals Peer Support Meeting in December with Jolena Grande
WHEELING, IL— When you pick a career as important as funeral service, you imagine all the people you can help and the good you can do for your community. But when something gets in the way of achieving those visions, the disappointment of unmet expectations can be difficult to overcome. Jolena Grande facilitates this month’s virtual Funeral Professionals Peer Support Meeting to reflect on the ideals of funeral service, the realities of this challenging work, and how we can find a balance between what we expect and what we experience. Join the conversation Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 8pm ET / 7pm CT / 5pm PT.
It’s estimated that the average person will spend more than 90,000 hours of their life at work. That translates into more than 10 years devoted to service, meeting expectations, and rising to challenges. So, when you feel like you’re giving your all, but not getting it back from your boss or having to pick up your coworker’s slack, it can lead to disappointment and burnout. That’s why this month’s peer support meeting will focus on meeting the expectations of both employees and their managers—and finding a middle ground.
“We found an exponential increase in the number of people that said, ‘This is exactly what I’ve always wanted to do,’” emphasizes Jolena. “They’re not just looking at their paycheck. They’re looking at everything that embodies the work-life experience. They want an owner or a manager that understands that balance and walks it themselves. They want an owner and manager that communicates the importance of unplugging. They don’t want to be bothered on their days off. They don’t want to answer texts at 6 o’clock in the morning. And they want to see their owners and managers taking time away from work and enjoying that work-life balance.”
Jolena Grande, CFSP, joined the Cypress College faculty more than 25 years ago, and has more than 30 years of professional experience as a California-licensed funeral director, embalmer, cemetery manager, and crematory manager. In December, she brings her experience from the profession and the classroom together to find common ground in the expectations of managers and employees.
Join the conversation to forge a path forward from disappointment with Jolena Grande and your colleagues from all walks of experience. The virtual funeral professional peer support meeting is Tuesday, December 17, 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.
