Kari the Mortician explains different job positions around the funeral home that do not require you to be a licensed funeral director or embalmer. @KaritheMortician kari@Karinorthey.com
I started out as a parking lot attendant and then became the doorman. Eventually, I moved on to become a removal tech, until I hurt my back in a car accident. I'm now the office manager. So, yes there are lots of opportunities. (And, yes, I really do miss doing removals.)
Hi Kari I am retired age 62, worked hard and saved so life is good. I have a green thumb and grow produce and mowing, I was contracted to maintain mowing etc at local cemetary that i mowed as a kid and now 50 years later i keep it pristine, I enjoy making it extra nice for services. It is a reflection of our community.
I've learned early on that it was necessary to be a Jack of all trades & master of none as a FH employee. I've learned how to pick up cigarette butts in FH parking lots to directing services with 500+ attendees. Hours were long & work was physically & psychologically demanding, but it helped build my character & flexibility.
During my college years I worked as a "Night Man" at a mortuary, which involved nearly every task in the mortuary except working in a hands-on way with the deceased. I loved this job and found it to be so interesting because I met so many different types of people and observed many different cultural and religious traditions for funerals. My friends were envious of me because I was better paid than they were at their food service jobs, plus my work was so much more interesting and sometimes challenging. I loved those years and found them to be very influential on my own development. Lots of life lessons were available to see there.
In our little town on South Dakota our funeral home director does everything. But he does have an on-call person that fills in to pick up the bodies if the director should have personal plans...but so different from bigger cities. Always enjoy your videos Kari. Have an awesome day!🌹
Kari, thank you for the information. I am 63 and looking for a position where I can be of service to people and not just hidden behind walls away from people. I will contact some Funeral Homes in my area.
Removal positions are easy to get but the pay is usually not very good considering some of the situations you are required to deal with....very rewarding work though.
I was offered a job at a crematorium here in Los Angeles last week . I would have considered it if the pay wasn’t so low and the schedule wasn’t all over the place .
The pay wasn't great for me in the beginning, but I took my 1st FH job which was part-time, but the hours were actually full time. With family support I was able to manage for a year while I was in mortuary college. Many won't take jobs like these on account of the pay & hours & will pursue something else.
Love my job at the funeral home . I ve only been there for a week and have learned soooooo much behind the scene stuff with a huge amount still to learn yet. Thank you for the suggestion to invite the local funeral director to coffee and lunch. People would be surprised to learn that there are a zillion jobs to do behind the scene of the job to do..
Cousins of mine are funeral home workers, one is the embalmer, who does excellent work, has worked on most of our relatives, but others are family attendants, one even just washes the cars.
Hi Kari Northey. That's awesome information for someone wanting to work in type of job. I recently lost my dad on November 6th 2021. He was 78 and he had Alzheimer's Disease and my mom passed away on March 5th 2020. She was 73. I hope you have a wonderful week and weekend.
James, my condolences to you. Cherish the memories you have of your folks and may God give you strength and comfort. I too am an orphan even though I’m 62.
Thanks Kari, Very informative and I would really like to get involved with our local Funeral home. I went to school for Cosmetics, that would be right up my alley! And no customer would complain! Just kidding.
Thank you Kari. Watching your videos give me a while new perspective on death since loosing my husband and son. Thank you for giving me comfort knowing there are very caring people out there in your industry. God bless you.
Thank you Kari,. Great video. I was thinking maybe just doing some basic things in a funeral home. Still be able give a great service to the deceased. Act of great Mercy
I worked as the flower shop bookkeeper/floral arranger at a large memorial park (cemetery, mortuary, crematory, flower shop) in the early 80s and then, at the request of the owner, worked part time as pre-need sales secretary. Working with those sales people was a nightmare. I lasted a few months and went back to full-time bookkeeper/floral arranger. Learned a lot, but ultimately, couldn't stay in the industry and moved on to other office positions before starting my own business in 1988. I'm still fascinated with the industry, though.
Hello Kari Thx for your sharing your knowledge with us. Family member's fiancee recently committed suicide. Hard to watch and feel the sadness post death. Support groups ? P. S. Family v happy with Funeral home. Thx for listening
Just got a job as an admin assistant at a funeral home! Originally I got a job as a body pickup specialist but they didn’t let me start working because I wasn’t 21 and their insurance said no. I start on Monday at a different funeral home that I like better :) as an admin assistant they said it’s a loose role so I not only do computer work to help the actual admin, but I also do anything the funeral directors need so I should also get to assist with some services and such :) very excited and hoping it’ll help my chances for mortuary school!
I have always said my dream job would have been working at a funeral home, in any capacity. I am retired from years of working in nursing, but working with the dead is an interest that has always appealed to me. Thank you Kari, love your videos! 💕👍🏻🌹
I am 61 and seriously considering going to mortuary school. But listening to your video I'm thinking that there are many other opportunities in the funeral business that I could be good at and could do now. I have my MBA - not that that means anything. I think it was a waste of time. But I helped dress both my Dad - & advised on his mouth - he ended up looking amazing. Then recently my Mum & I did her makeup. Wished I'd been able to participate in her embalming as I know the features are mostly set then. I am very artistic with a good eye for balance and what is pleasing to the eye. I've. 30 years in high tech & I'm looking to get in the funeral business! My funeral friends who took care of my father & then my Mother think I'd be very good at it. We'll see.
Hello 👋👋 Kari I'm thinking about going to work at a funeral home I've always wanted to every since I was very little always been fascinated with that type of stuff
Thanks for the video I didn't realize there was a lot of jobs in the funeral home that doesn't require a degree. If interested in working in the funeral home should you call to see if they have any positions available and what they are. How would you approach the funeral home on positions available. What is the name of the thing they rest the casket on at the cemetery before lowering the casket in the grave
I do everything but embalm. I can not make an incision on a body and i can not close a jaw because it involves a puncture. I can not do either of those things. I am comfortable using eye caps and I am an excellent make up artist. I have my own technique unique to my process that I developed years ago using minimal product and achieving a beautifully finished peaceful look. All my people look like angels. That is my specialty. I dress, casket and make arrangements. Fight with insurance companies and wake up all hours of the night to go do a removal. Technically I know how to do it all but legally I can not. It's a good job and I am really good at it. After 30 plus years I should be. I could not see myself doing anything else. I've had so many funeral homes try to poach me over the years because they want my prep talent. Give me an embalmed body and i will show you some mortuary magic.
You know what I think I’d be n awesome removal tech for the simple fact I care about how folks are treated when they die I really genuinely think that they should be treated as if they were alive in a hospital
