Bringing life to the funeral industry

A career in the funeral industry may not be very appealing to many, but for those who are in the industry, they find satisfaction with what they do.

According to Unit Coordinator at Belgroves, Chaguanas, Sandra Maharaj-Shah, “more people need to get into this industry.”

She added that although many may think working in an industry like this is morbid, it is the most fulfilling job she has ever had and regards it as “a calling.”

Maharaj-Shah insisted “people need to see the funeral industry from a different point of view. Being in an industry like this gives people an opportunity to help others at a time when they really need it.” She added that in this type of industry there is room for personal growth and expansion since there are so many areas to choose from.

“When you work in a company like Belgroves for example, you have the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of fields.”

While Maharaj-Shah has been in the industry for some time now, Maurice Eckstein, a 20-year-old who joined the industry in August 2005, confirmed that the industry is indeed an interesting one.

Eckstein is a Memorial Coordinator. He sits with bereaved families and discuss and help to plan the entire funeral service. He even attends the funeral to ensure that everything goes they way it’s supposed to.

The youngest Memorial Coordinator at Belgroves told Newsday that when he decided to get into the funeral industry, his parents questioned him about it.

“I let them know that it’s much more than getting the dead ready,” he said, “and after I explained about it, at length, they understood.”

“Being a Memorial Coordinator” he continued “is very fulfilling. A salary can never compare to the satisfaction you get, knowing that you have gotten your customer through such a trying period. At the end of the day, I am so satisfied knowing my client is satisfied and knowing that I have found the best way to help them celebrate the life of their loved one.”

He advised, however, that to become a Memorial Coordinator one must have patience since clients may not be able to handle details as adequately as before their bereavment

He stressed, “as a Memorial Coordinator, you must have a drive and compassion. You must be genuine about your compassion and your interest in other people and you must genuinely want to make that time easier for your clients.”

Assistant General Manager of Belgroves, Dave Gopaul, said to become a Memorial Coordinator, one must have a secondary school education, satisfactory computer and interpersonal skills, selling skills, customer relations and an attitude of caring and compassion.

He added that training is provided to those who want to get into the various fields in the industry but stressed that “as long as your purpose is to serve and satisfy all surviving relatives, then the other aspects of the job are quite simple.”

He encouraged young people to get into the field and advised that getting into an industry like this does not mean you bathe and dress the dead. He stressed that the industry employs many people because of the many different departments.

He listed some of the areas: data entry, embalming, accounts, human resources, printing, woodwork and janitorial.

He said for those who want to get into mortuary services there is a science that is required. Persons can pursue an associate degree or a Bachelors of Science Degree in Mortuary Science in the United States of America or in Canada.