I found this article online at TheBlogFactory.net. There is no author listed, but whoever wrote it made some very good points.
Over the past couple of decades, society has begun to think about death in new ways, and funeral directors have had to meet these new needs. As it stands now, funeral homes are seen as much more of a ?one stop shop?, offering the full range of services, from lasting keepsakes to floral tributes.
For a growing number of people, whilst loss and grief are obviously still at its core, the funeral of a loved one is an opportunity to celebrate their life, rather than mourn the loss of it. Traditional black attire and solemn hymns have begun to give way to subtle introductions of color and pop songs liked by the deceased. Funeral directors have needed to follow this cultural drift and offer a broader range of services.
Since the idea of pre-payment was introduced twenty or thirty years ago, pre-paid funeral plans have steadily been on the increase. A growing number of people also go beyond this, not only paying for their own funeral in advance, but planning the actual ceremony, so the families can tell funeral directors the exact wishes of their loved one.
To deal as efficiently as they can with a death, funeral directors also need to be aware of the shifting business of life. In addition to dealing first-hand with grief, they can offer counseling, legal assistance and financial guidance. Rather than the ?body-centered? service of the past, today the profession is significantly more knowledge-based.
From a financial perspective, funeral directors have seen profit margins on facilities usage and the sale of coffins reduce quite substantially. This has led to many expanding their range of services and products, including online obituaries and creative keepsakes such as necklaces made from the cremated remains.
Funeral directors will have to persist with adapting their services in the future. However, whatever changes the future brings with it, their role will remain sensitive and practical.
Source: TheBlogFactory.net
