Funeral Attendants

What the job really is

Perform a variety of tasks during funeral, such as placing casket in parlor or chapel prior to service, arranging floral offerings or lights around casket, directing or escorting mourners, closing casket, and issuing and storing funeral equipment.

At a glance

• Sector: Personal Care & Service
• O*NET-SOC code: 39-4021
• O*NET job zone: 2 — some preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Greet people at the funeral home.
• Perform a variety of tasks during funerals to assist funeral directors and to ensure that services run smoothly and as planned.
• Close caskets at appropriate point in services.
• Direct or escort mourners to parlors or chapels in which wakes or funerals are being held.
• Place caskets in parlors or chapels prior to wakes or funerals.
• Offer assistance to mourners as they enter or exit limousines.
• Clean funeral parlors or chapels.
• Arrange floral offerings or lights around caskets.
• Clean and drive funeral vehicles, such as cars or hearses, in funeral processions.
• Act as pallbearers.
• Supervise funeral processions and assist with cemetery parking.
• Deliver floral arrangements or other items to family members of the deceased.

Tools and technology

Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Word, Body bridges, Bookkeeping software, Casket carriages, Casket lowering devices, Compaction tampers, Cremation stands, Dump trailers, Funeral church trucks, Hearses

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers
• Funeral Home Managers
• Crematory Operators
• Embalmers
• Home Health Aides
• Personal Care Aides
• Orderlies
• Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 2 (some preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Funeral Attendants — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.