Funeral Directors Research Articles

Strategic changes in talent development and leadership management in the funeral service industry in Hong Kong

PurposeThis paper identifies the strategic changes and explores the solutions for talent development and leadership management to address the challenges faced by the funeral service industry in Hong Kong.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with seven key personnel (funeral director, salesperson, coffin shop owner, and mortuary transporter) engaged in the funeral service industry in Hong Kong. Thematic coding was used to identify and organize emerging themes from the data.FindingsFour overarching themes were identified: (1) Perception of the funeral service industry in Hong Kong; (2) Recruitment, retention, and talent development; (3) Prospects of the funeral service industry in Hong Kong; and (4) Other novel challenges. The findings reveal continuous, radical, and complex challenges that may exceed the capacity of any leader to develop workable solutions.Originality/valueThe funeral service industry is facing radical challenges in modern times. A death-denying attitude is observed, which has severely undermined the study of the funeral service industry.

Causes and Countermeasure of Job Burnout of Funeral Workers from the Perspective of Public Management in Anhui Province, China

Background and Aim: The purposes of this study were 1) to study the causes of job burnout of funeral workers from the perspective of public management in Anhui Province.2) to study the countermeasures of job burnout of funeral workers from the perspective of public management in Anhui Province and 3) to study the recommendations of job burnout of funeral workers from the perspective of public management in Anhui Province. In this study, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 8 funeral practitioners from 4 funeral institutions in Anhui province (taking 4 funeral institutions in Hefei, Anhui Province as examples). Materials and Methods: Through interviews with key informants who represented a range of roles within the funeral industry and a focus on four funeral agencies, the study carefully investigated the funeral industry in Anhui Province. Eight people—funeral directors, cremators, embalming surgeons, funeral attendants, and people who handle remains—provided insights between 2023 and 2023, offering a thorough picture of the dynamics and practices of the industry in the area. Results: (1) The causes of job burnout of funeral workers from the perspective of public management in Anhui Province on the whole are under great pressure. The social prejudice against the funeral profession and the oppressive working environment. (2) In terms of personal characteristics, funeral workers have significant differences in their work stress responses due to differences in gender, age, working hours, and specific work content; In terms of education level, marital status, and position, there is no significant difference in work stress response of funeral workers. (3) From the analysis of various dimensions of work stress sources for funeral workers, the five dimensions of workload, colleague relationship, work environment, family relationship, and social 2influence have significant predictive effects on the overall work stress response. Conclusion: Funeral workers in Anhui Province experience severe job burnout as a result of social prejudice, oppressive working conditions, and a variety of personal issues. Workload, colleague relationships, the work environment, family dynamics, and social influence all have a significant impact on work stress, and reactions vary by gender, age, and job type.

Exploring Funeral Directors' Experience and Perceived Impact of Providing Funeral Services During COVID-19 Restrictions.

The importance of ritual/ceremony following bereavement is well documented, however restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the freedom to bury loved ones according to beliefs/traditions. This study explores the experiences of staff providing funeral services during COVID-19 and considers the implications for supporting bereaved families. Fifty-eight staff (male, 72.4%; n = 42) from 17 counties in Ireland, completed a self-report survey assessing perceived impact of COVID-19, confidence providing services, and challenges and supports for practice during this time. Quantitative findings suggest moderate confidence in service provision and low perception of negative impact from COVID-19, while qualitative results highlight a contrast between a feeling of under-recognition at a policy level and a sense of being appreciated by the public. This study highlights the evolving role of the funeral sector in Ireland in supporting the bereaved, and the potential to capitalise on a genuine interest in contributing more to support beyond the funeral.

Costly Causes of Funeral Dissatisfaction and Satisfaction—Responses to an All-Japan Survey

Background: Previous research shows that grief causes medical and psychological problems for a substantial minority of the bereaved, which places stress on modern medical and social welfare systems. Other research demonstrates that funeral dissatisfaction correlates with medical and psychological problems, but does not address what aspects of funerals cause greatest satisfaction or dissatisfaction. We examined anonymized survey responses describing aspects of funerals causing the greatest anxiety or relief to bereaved Japanese individuals—and in turn affecting medical/welfare costs for the entire society. Method: A research team centered at Kyoto University collected over 1400 questionnaires from recently bereaved Japanese, of whom more than 300 volunteered anonymous comments about their funeral experiences. This article categorizes and analyses these qualitative data. Results: We classified their comments into 10 themes: Hospital Interaction; Pre-arrangement; Timing good-byes; Attendance; Friends/relations; Rituals; Crematorium; Ceremonial meals; Costs; Follow-up. Conclusions: The greatest disappointment appeared in attendance, connection to friends and relations and rituals. When lacking, insufficient, or ill-handled, these leave long-standing bad memories and dissatisfaction that aggravate mourners’ psychological and physical ailments. Our research highlights the psychological effects of cremation, and the value of itemization and explanation of funeral costs. Funeral directors can significantly reduce dissatisfaction by awareness of and sensitivity to these issues, thus contributing to national health and welfare.

Preserving the integrity of personhood in people with advanced cancer: An in-depth qualitative study among patients, relatives, and care professionals

Background: Every advanced cancer diagnosis brings enormous challenges to patients and their relatives on numerous levels: be it physical, practical, social challenges, or on a more personal level. While specific aspects have been researched before, an overarching approach is lacking. Aim: To understand the lived experiences of people with advanced cancer, to identify gaps along the cancer care continuum, to identify potential opportunities for meaningful interventions and to develop a theoretical framework for practitioners and researchers. Design: A qualitative study using in-depth interviews with patients, relatives, and care professionals. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a conventional content analysis. Setting/participants: Fifty-four interviews with 17 patients from a university oncology department and palliative care service, 15 relatives and 22 care professionals from physicians to funeral directors. All interviewees were recruited by a German university hospital. Results: We developed a novel model describing the diagnosis with advanced cancer as a highly disruptive experience that threatens to challenge the integrity of personhood in cancer patients through four areas: communication, knowledge, relationships, and confidence. We were able to identify factors leading to disintegration in these areas and factors supporting a restoration of integrity of personhood. Conclusions: The developed model provides a more thorough understanding of patients lived experiences. It can help to develop new interventions along the cancer care continuum to support patients in the complex challenges they face. These interventions should focus on supporting the integrity of personhood.

De-Exceptionalizing Pandemic Death in the United States: COVID-19’s Ambiguous and Layered Mourning

ABSTRACT: In the spring and early summer of 2020, mainstream media in the United States announced the “death of ritual” as public officials limited communities from gathering to care for their deceased—whether COVID-19 victims or people who happened to die during this first wave of pandemic restriction. From backlogged funeral homes and crematoria to bodies stacked in refrigerated trucks and families scrambling to find their deceased, headlines seemed to augur an unprecedented condition of interrupted or derailed mourning. But how singular was this moment? On the one hand, funeral directors were telling a different story, reminding us that they’d been here before when the stigma of HIV/AIDS robbed the deceased and their loved ones of expected ritual care. On the other, as scholars of post-conflict societies and missing migrants can attest, COVID-19 was by no means unique in disrupting the pace and order of mourning. This piece challenges the characterization of pandemic death in the United States, especially in the first waves of infection, as exceptional because of what it glosses over: the predictability of which bodies and whose lives routinely pay the highest tolls. Instead, we reflect on the temporality of incomplete and curtailed care by juxtaposing the pandemic’s seemingly singular chronotope—born from the politicized bodies of the living as much as the dead—with the exigencies of uncertain death that surround missing persons of conflicts and borders. Seemingly punctuated events like wars and pandemics that give rise to aberrant death throw timelines into disarray; they also expose what underlies and endures: longstanding inequities to conditions that secure life in the first place. Thus, challenging this notion of presumed exceptionalism, we argue that the US experience of pandemic death and mourning throws into relief—at least temporarily—its systems of domination and invites a closer look at the intertwining projects of memory and political transformation.

Funeral directors’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed method study

ABSTRACT To investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on death rituals among funeral directors (FDs) (N = 134), we administered a questionnaire and conducted three focus group interviews (N = 21). The merged results showed that the FDs perceived significant disruptions to all rituals but mostly to memorials. Infection control, social distancing, the constraints on attendee numbers and difficult prioritisation of who to be allowed into the rituals, highly impacted the grief of the bereaved and their own ability to convey care. Despite low burnout scores, the FDs found their work life stressful, changed and challenging amid the pandemic but still filled with meaning and job satisfaction. Our recommendations include for spacious venues, prioritising efforts for feasible memorials, maintaining stable numbers and distance restrictions, ensuring participation for children and easily left out groups, creating a prioritising guide for quantity restrictions, and offering digital support for funeral staff.

Coffin confessions and contract: Why agreements to divulge secrets post-mortem might be unenforceable

Death and taxes are not only life’s two guarantees but also lucrative industries. The former has historically been dominated by morticians and funeral directors but now ‘coffin confessors’ have entered the market. These professionals are engaged to divulge specified information at the client’s funerary service, normally in an abrasive or humorous manner, for a fee. This article queries whether contracts for such services are unenforceable on the basis of illegality or public policy. It surmises that the only way ‘coffin confessions’ contracts could seemingly be enforceable is if they are performed in a manner that is likely contrary to the client’s instructions.

Nonreligious Afterlife: Emerging Understandings of Death and Dying

Death Cafés are informal events that bring people together for conversations about death and related issues. These events connect strangers from across a range of backgrounds, including healthcare workers, hospice volunteers, and funeral directors, among others. Based on an analysis of focus groups and interviews with Death Café attendees, this paper explores how participants construct and express conceptions of the process of dying and what happens after we die. Ideas about the afterlife have historically been shaped by a religious outlooks and identities. However, nonreligious lifestances have shifted how people understand death and dying. We suggest that notions of continuity of life are not the purview of religious people. Rather, participants in Death Cafés draw simultaneously on many ideas, and reveal ways of conceptualizing life after death—in various forms—without the guidance of religion. Based on conversations with attendees about their outlooks on death (and what may happen after death), our data reveals four main typologies of afterlife imaginaries, which we label cessation, unknown, energy, and transition. Among the diverse perspectives shared, we argue for the emergence of an immanent afterlife outlook.

Women’s experiences of the consenting process for pregnancy remains disposal following early miscarriage

Background and methodologyUK clinical practices around managing pregnancy remains after pregnancy loss involve a process of documenting consent. Women are typically offered options for disposal, which may include cremation, burial,...

Notification, Viewing the Body, and Social and Cultural Considerations After Traumatic Death: A Systematic Literature Review.

We conducted a systematic review of the medical, nursing, forensic, and social science literature describing events and processes associated with what happens after a traumatic death in the socio-cultural context of largely Western and high-income societies. These include death notification, why survivors choose to view or not view the body, forensic practices affecting viewing the body, alternatives to viewing, and social and cultural practices following the death. We also describe how elements of these processes may act to increase or lessen some of the negative cognitive and emotional consequences for both survivors and providers. The information presented is applicable to those who may be faced with traumatic deaths, including those who work in medicine, nursing, and law enforcement, as well as first responders, forensic investigators, funeral directors, and the families of the deceased.

An Analysis of Regulation 363 of the National Health Act (61 of 2003) Regarding the Management of Human Remains from the Perspective of Emerging Funeral Directors

The National Health Act 2003 (Act 61 of 2003) was formulated for the purpose of providing a governing and regulatory framework for a structured, homogenous healthcare system within the Republic of South Africa. In 2013, with regards to section 68(1)(b) read with section 90(4)(c) of the National Health Act 2003 (Act 61 of 2003), the regulations pertaining to the management of human remains were gazetted. Chapter 3 of the regulations, which deals with “Funeral Undertakers’ Premises and Mortuaries”, is the focus of this paper. As emerging businesses, many emerging funeral directors (EFDs) are currently struggling to comply with the onerous regulations of human remains management, with many mortuary premises operating without a valid Certificate of Compliance (CoC). Members of the funeral industry undertook national strikes to voice these concerns and challenges. In March 2022, the National Health Department proposed a new version of the regulations. The government gazette (No. 46048) in which these regulations were published did not refer to Regulation 363 or its repeal and replacement, though this must be assumed because the document matches Regulation 363 in terms of layout and completeness, with only minor differences. This paper assessed if the proposed regulations were a response to the challenges experienced by the EFDs around current regulations. A parallel comparison of the old and newly proposed human remains regulations was conducted via a content analysis, to assess whether the proposed amendments could improve the sustainability of EFDs. The study found that the proposed regulation was more stringent than the current one. The struggling EFDs seem to have no chance of being compliant should this Regulation be tabled. Keywords: Funeral directors, Regulation 363, Human remains, Compliance, Participatory

NENA OZO WA'U TRADITION ON THE EVENT OF DEATH (Ethnographic Study of the Bhoanawa Muslim Community in Rukun Lima Village, Ende Selatan District) Ende Regency)

The aim of this research is to determine the series of processes of the nena ozo wa'u tradition (death delivery) in the Bhoanawa Muslim community and to find out the meaning of the nena ozo wa'u tradition (death event) in the Bhoanawa Muslim community. The method in this research is the qualitative with observation, interview and documentation collection techniques. The results showed that the series of nena ozo wa'u events occurred on the third day after the day of death. The initial preparations for the bereaved family invited the Embu ka, religious leaders (mosque imams), funeral directors as well as family and neighbors. Before carrying out the nena ozo wa'u tradition, the event was preceded by a tahlilan prayer. Prayers are offered for the smooth passage and safety of the soul of the deceased to the afterlife. After the tahlilan prayer is over, the next event is nena ozo wa'u (preparing the equipment that must be taken out). The equipment was delivered to the house of the mosque imam and to the three houses of the caretaker or person who washed the body. 1). Firstly, the mothers who attended the event, began to select and separate the equipment sent by Ka embu such as sarongs (textiles), rice, detergent, bath soap, toothpaste, vegetables, fruit and other equipment available depending on the intentions and sincerity of the bereaved family. 2), sent four people to take them to the house of the mosque imam and the three houses of the caretaker of the body. 3). distributed to families, existing equipment including valuables, clothing or used items left by the deceased/deceased are distributed to families or people in need. The meanings contained in the nena ozo wa'u tradition include religious meaning, the meaning of friendship/brotherhood and the meaning of sharing.

Physical environmental hazards associated with the Swedish death care industry

In this study, the perceptions of Swedish funeral directors were elicited on physical environmental hazards associated with the five life stages of handling cadavers through interviews and questionnaires (The data was collected from 78 respondents across Sweden). We conclude that although the workers in the Swedish funeral industry are at high risk of developing health problems caused by exposure to various chemicals (e.g., formaldehyde ((FA)) based embalming fluids, heavy metals, pesticides, pathogens, insecticides, and fungicides) and the industry itself contaminating air, soil and groundwater, the health and environmental hazards are perceived low by the funeral directors. In the study, funeral homes are classified into four distinguished groups: (a) environmentally ardent and the epitome of sustainability-(G-1) (21 %); (b) environmental- and customer-oriented-(G-2) (64 %); (c) environmentally apathetic and customer-oriented-(G-3) (6 %); and (d) environmentally unconscious-(G-4) (8 %). Results show that most funeral directors under the G-1 & G-2 (32 out of 43) are acquainted with generational environmental goals (GGs) set by the Swedish government and are aware of the choices that promote environmental wellbeing. On the other hand, G-4 is not acquainted with GGs and comprises only small funeral homes (<10 employees). Poor safety culture, traditions, and prioritising economic returns hinder making environmentally sustainable funeral industry choices. The article provides a better understanding of the Swedish funeral industry and suggests appropriate short- and long-term strategies that could curtail the associated physical environmental hazards of the industry.

Hybrid funerals: how online attendance facilitates and impedes participation

ABSTRACT Livestreaming and filming death rites and funeral ceremonies to enable remote engagement proliferated rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and many expect these options to remain prevalent going forward. This paper draws on interviews with a diverse UK sample of 68 bereaved people, funeral directors, officiants and celebrants. It illustrates how, and explains why, people’s experiences and evaluations of hybrid funerals can vary. In a context when in-person gatherings were limited, hybridisation played a valuable role in enabling more people to engage with funerals. However, virtual attendance was often considered less satisfying than in-person attendance because it did not enable people to participate well in the funeral activities that mattered to them or to participate with others as they would in person. Scope for participation was partly contingent on the functionality and use made of technology, including whether and which steps were taken to facilitate engagement and a sense of connection for those joining online. People’s evaluations of hybrid funerals could also reflect their relationships to the deceased and their frames of reference – for example, whether they were comparing virtual attendance to attending in person, or to being unable to attend at all, or to an overwhelmingly large funeral.

Reimagining Death Education at Queen's University

University can be a tumultuous time for many students, bringing new opportunities, responsibilities, and independence into the forefront of our lives. This time of significant life change and can be stressful enough as is, but when you add grief and loss into the equation, things can become quickly overwhelming. Death is not given space in public discourse, resulting in a greater society that is in denial of the realities of loss, how it affects us and the inevitability that we will experience it in our lives. With the supervision of Dr. Dan Vena, I have created an online resource, Conversations with Death, designed to fill the gap on our campus, and provide critical, comprehensive and diverse information under the umbrella of grief, death and dying to stimulate open conversation and curiosity amongst our student body. Through consultations with various industry professionals such as funeral directors, charity organizers, death doulas, professors, and chaplains, I created various sections of this resource including international funeral practices, death positivity, body disposition, helpful grief practices and more. Furthermore, throughout this website there are a plethora of resources for students to investigate, whether this is for grief support or curiosity to learn more. By showcasing this resource, I wish to communicate how critical death education and death positivity are to creating a community on the Queen’s University campus where students are encouraged to be open about their experiences with death and grief while being supported by their peers and the university.

Covid-19 and the mediatization of the funeral industry in Australia and Denmark

This article focuses on the mediatization of funeral practices and customer relations in a business with human care and contact at its centre: the funeral industry. We analyse the impact of Covid-19 on the use of digital media in a comparative study of the deathcare sector in Australia and Denmark. Using surveys within the national funeral industries, qualitative interviews with funeral directors, and news media archives for 2020–2021, we identify four areas of mediatization: adaptations of specific technologies; interactions with the bereaved; transformations of funeral rites; and communications beyond the funeral service. In conclusion, we suggest that the mediatization process is a negotiation of, on the one hand, the need and growing demand for digital media into a traditions-bound business, and on the other hand, the funeral directors’ wish to care for the bereaved families through tactile, in-person relationships and emotional support.

Does the Local Economic Development (LED) agenda have a role in the management of Human remains in Gauteng and Mbombela?

The management of human remains is under scrutiny due to the proliferation of funeral homes in township communities and growing environmental concerns. Operationalising a funeral business requires a certificate of competency (CoC), and it falls under the ambit of the local government, via Municipal Health Services (MHS) (Balfour, 2021). This article infers that since MHS and LED offices are under the same local government (which seeks to drive development within communities), these departments may find a workable solution for this business. However, emerging funeral directors are not knowledgeable about LED’s role in their space, while local economic developers do not know how to engage with this sector. This study aims to establish the reasons behind the challenges of compliance experienced by emerging funeral directors, and the role of MHS and LED offices, which hold the mandate to promote an enabling environment for emerging businesses.

신라 금령총의 장신구 그리고 사람들

The Geumryeong-tomp is a tomb in the Silla period, located at the northern end of Gyeongju. It was first excavated in 1924 and again in 2018. Now in 2022, a special exhibition of past archaeological achievements and research is being held. In this tomb, which was named as a ‘Geumryeong-tomb’ in commemoration of the excavation of golden bell, precious Silla precious metal ornaments such as golden crown and golden belt were also excavated. The Geumryeong-tomb was recognized as the tomb of Prince Shilla. It was because the golden crown and the golden belt were all small items suitable for young people of small size.&#x0D; In this article, I have illuminated the objects and the people who handled them with the material of the Geumryeong-tomb. With the results of the research accumulated until recently, I looked at the Geumryeong-tomb ornaments. Explain the speciality and production technique of the Geumryeong-tomb.&#x0D; Because ornaments are artifacts, people are involved in some way. In this article, I explored the three subjects involved in the use of ornaments: the dead, the funeral, and the craftsmen.&#x0D; Find out why the Geumryeong-tomb’s dead man is an infant. I looked at the funeral director who is the actual leader of this funeral. The funeral ornaments prepared by the funeral organizer were derived and explained his presence. Finally, I looked at the craftsmen who made the funeral items. The main characters on the stage of death and funeral are the dead, the funeral, and the craftsmen. And they are intertwined with relics.&#x0D; The purpose of this study is to explore their correlation and Silla society with the theme of Geumryeong-tomb ornaments. This study explains the archaeological existence of Geumryeong-tomb’s dead man, funeral director, and craftsmen with clues to ornaments.

Funeral Company Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty

Purpose: The aim of the paper was to analyse and present the results of the research concerning customers satisfaction and loyalty. The uniqueness of this article is that it concerns funeral services that are associated with the sad event of the death of a loved one. The study examined the issue of customer satisfaction in funeral services and how it affects customer loyalty. Moreover, attention was also focused on the analysis of loyalty. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research methodology is based on customers surveys and a confrontation with the research literature. In addition, a literature analysis of the study of this phenomenon was carried out. Conclusions: The research showed that customers are satisfied with the funeral company they have previously used. They are willing to use this company again should the occasion arise. On this basis, it can be concluded that they are loyal customers. In addition, customers emphasised the understanding of their needs in the event of the death of a loved one. They also indicated calmness in customer service, good communication and keeping their word and the terms of the contract. It can be concluded that customers expect personalised contact with funeral company and a high level of emotional involvement in the relationship between service providers and bereaved family customers. If there are feelings in the relationship, it is trusting and enduring. Funeral homes can use these opportunities to create a relationship of trust and loyalty with the client. Practical implications: The results of the research deepen the understanding of strengthening customer relationships, with a particular focus on loyalty in such a sensitive topic as funeral home customer service. Customer loyalty is built by funeral directors and the relationship with the customer is deepened. With customer satisfaction, this happens naturally and the funeral company should not emphasise the slogan loyalty because, as mentioned earlier, the subject of death and the purchase of a funeral service is sensitive. Originality/value: The application of the solutions proposed in the article influences the development of knowledge in terms of deepening customer relations, customer satisfaction and customer loyalty when it comes to funeral companies. The article may be useful for companies in the funeral industry.