S2107 - Undertaking and funeral directing

Operational Details
Undertakers and funeral directors coordinate and arrange all aspects of funeral services. Embalmers prepare human remains for funerals and burials. A funeral director consults with the family of the deceased regarding the nature of the funeral service and the disposal of the remains and funeral costs. The director arranges to have the death notice filed with the local newspaper and oversees the preparation of the remains, plans and schedules the funeral service, coordinates the burial or cremation, and completes legal documents.

The funeral director also discusses pre-arranged funerals with clients and may supervise other members of staff and oversee embalming procedures, etc. An embalmer sanitizes and preserves the remains and performs cosmetic reconstruction work on the remains. They may also incidentally offer some bereavement counselling.Aquamation or alkaline hydrolysis or water-based cremation is an eco-friendly alternative to flame or burial. The process uses a combination of temperature, alkalinity, and water flow. After the Aquamation process is complete, the water is then released for recycling and the remaining bone material is dried and processed into a fine powder and placed into an urn or other memorabilia and returned to the family.This industry also includes pet cremation services.
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In recent years, larger franchised operations have become more involved in selling pre-arranged funerals, with plots, caskets, closing fees, etc. This has resulted in funeral homes having the need for sales staff who actively call on clients. Mail outs and telephone solicitation are also part of this activity.

SIC Codes
000000721 - Undertaking/funeral directing