Morticians are professionals who are engaged in preparing dead bodies for burial and handling the funeral arrangements. Though this is the main job, this professional has several other responsibilities too.
Most of us are aware of what funeral directors do. However, many people might be completely unaware of the term mortician, and what he does. Actually the job responsibilities of morticians and funeral directors are somewhat similar.
Duties and Responsibilities
A mortician receives the dead body only after an autopsy is complete. Their most important task is to embalm the body by following the rites of the family of the deceased. Embalming the body involves cleaning the wounds on the body if any, and also applying a preservative solution to prevent the body from decomposing before the funeral process.
They directly interact with the family members of the deceased and explain the funeral process. Since the family members are going through a lot of grief and are disturbed emotionally, the mortician needs to be extra polite and sensitive.
- Morticians give freedom to choose the time and location for the funeral service.
- They assist in the transportation of the body to the funeral location.
- For the funeral planning, they give the family two options―either a burial or a incineration of the dead body. They also ask the family members whether they want an open or a closed box (casket) for the funeral.
- At most funerals, flower arrangements are to be made, and it is also necessary to send invitations to people. Morticians use their skills and experience in these areas, and assist the family members in every possible way.
They are also responsible for ensuring that the funeral proceedings take place in a peaceful manner, and there is no undesired event at the location. The job of a mortician requires lot of hard work, patience, presence of mind, good communication skills, and ability to work at any time of the day or night.
Salary Range
The salary largely depends on the qualifications, number of years of work experience, and location of the job. It is higher in large cities as compared to small towns. At major locations like New York or Los Angeles, the salary ranges between $40,000 to $50,000 per year. A mortician working for funeral homes can expect to earn between $30,000 to $45,000, on an average. On the other hand, those working in the health care industry as embalming professionals can make anything between $35,000 to $55,000 per year.