When members of our staff here at Sunset View Cemetery meet someone new and mention working at a cemetery, you can imagine there’s a range of reactions. After all, most jobs have their share of stereotypes and common misconceptions. We receive all kinds of questions from our neighbors in the Bay Area about our line of work. How did we get into it? Do we enjoy the responsibilities? Does it ever get depressing?
While our responses vary, one thing is true across the board: Working in the funeral industry is much more than a job to us. It is our calling, and we are honored to help families in our community through difficult times in life.
Whether you come to us to plan a funeral, burial, or cremation, or perhaps to put your own funeral plans in place, our team is the friendliest and most caring you’ll ever meet.
When it comes to misconceptions about our profession, we understand the reasoning. That’s why we wanted to put together this blog to offer our insight so you can know the truth about who we are and how we can help you during your time of need.
Misconception #1: Funeral directors must be morbid people.
Spend a few minutes with our staff and you’ll discover this is not the case! Even though we deal with death, we got into this industry because – first and foremost – we care about people. When families in our Kensington, Piedmont, and Albany communities are grieving, we grieve right alongside them. When they need advice, we use our years of expertise to offer guidance. When emotions are running high, we have the ability to manage situations with compassion and understanding.
It takes a certain type of person to pursue this profession. You need the skills to help others make decisions while they are suffering. To strike a balance between professional and approachable, decisive yet gentle. Oftentimes, we see families during the most difficult times of their lives and emotions run the gamut, as you can imagine. But to us, being around those who have died and are grieving death isn’t morbid in the least. It’s our ministry and we’re dedicated to making a tough time a little easier for everyone who walks through our doors.
Misconception #2: Funeral directors have an easy job.
We’re often asked what we do all day. How do we spend our time? Is our job busy or low-key? What are the hours like? How is it attending one funeral after another?
Well, first and foremost, working as a funeral director is not a “9-to-5” kind of commitment. We are available around the clock at all hours of the day and night. When someone dies, we come. When a family needs our assistance, we’re at the ready. Many times, we’ll drop what we’re doing to help others because we are so passionate about walking alongside families. Is this easy? Definitely not. But like we said before, it’s more of a calling to us than a job and we can’t imagine doing anything else.
Misconception #3: Funeral directors are all about the bottom line and look for any chance to upcharge.
Many of the families who come to us are vulnerable and it’s well known that those who are emotional tend to overspend – especially when planning a tribute for their loved one. As a local funeral home, you can trust we will know how to treat you – just as we’ve been treating others in our Bay Area communities for generations.
We have the flexibility to do what it takes to meet your needs, all without the trappings of corporate red tape. Surely you’ve had experience with a corporation where you feel like a number, where personal service and attention to detail are out the window. Because we answer only to you, you can rest assured we take our service to you extremely seriously. This includes the guidance we offer when it comes to cost. We want to help each and every family make the best possible decisions knowing the deeply personal nature of a final farewell. For us, it’s about serving the person who died and those who loved them, and we would never take advantage of those who are facing countless decisions during such an emotional time.
We hope you find this information helpful. When our assistance is needed, we hope you’ll pick up the phone to call us. We give our full care and attention to each detail so you can focus your attention on those around you. Our caring staff would be honored to help you every step of the way.
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