This is Justin again. So I've been blessed with a job that I love at a funeral home. I know a lot of people are curious so I'll just tell you a little about it. I work at Ralph Schugar Chapel. You can look at the website here: www.schugar.com We serve the Jewish community of Greater Pittsburgh almost entirely on our own so we are relatively busy for a Pittsburgh funeral home. Pittsburgh has more funeral homes than anywhere in the whole country by the way. Anyway, it is a small family owned chapel owned by a Mother and her Son and Daughter. Then there are five additional funeral directors and myself. We also hire a few part time people to help out when needed. It has been fun to get to know everyone and learn about funeral service, especially from such a unique point of view(Judaism). Kelly and I love the Hallmark film "Loving Leah" which happens to be about a Jewish family. It is fun to see all the things about the movie that are actually accurate.
Anyway at work I pretty much feel like the caretaker there because I am constantly checking that everything is clean and tidy and ready for visitors at any time of day. Jewish funerals need to happen very quickly so things can change around there in a short amount of time. I always have to keep the building ready at all times. The thing I love about it is there is such a great variety of things to do that one day is never the same as the last day. I do cleaning, dusting, restocking, gardening, random maintenance, washing the cars, filing paperwork, data entry into computers, laminating, filling in as a pallbearer, helping prepare for and carry out graveside services, delivering shiva supplies to homes, going to doctors offices all over the city, working the parking lot and making sure the processions are well organized and get off the lot smoothly. I basically help with whatever the funeral directors need me to help with. I really enjoy it. Basically it has been a great experience so far and I'm glad I chose funeral service as a career. I'm excited to start Mortuary School in September.
1 comment:
What a great way to learn about funeral services and what it takes to make funeral home run smoothly. Those are all very important things you are learning and doing. In order to be able to run a business, I think it's important to know every aspect...so it's great that you are starting from the ground up so to speak. And then to have the unique opportunity to serve the Jewish community and learn so much regarding their faith.
Thanks for sharing!
Post a Comment