The Essence of Our Operation: An Insight into Funeral Services
At the core of our enterprise lies the operations office, functioning much like the heart within our circulatory system, intricately connected to every facet of our organization. These dedicated individuals work tirelessly behind the scenes, akin to the beating heart, ensuring the seamless flow of funeral events across all departments and efficiently managing the administrative tasks crucial for a dignified wake. We engaged in a conversation with the key members of Direct Funeral Services' operations team - Htae War (36), Kelvin (41), and Jack (24) - to delve deeper into their roles and experiences.
What Inspired Your Entry into this Field, and How Did You Begin?
Jack (JT): Post my junior college, I explored career options and felt drawn to a meaningful industry during my military service. Witnessing young funeral directors in movies made me choose this path, driven by the belief that I could assist grieving families in expressing their emotions.
Kelvin (KV): The desire to work in the funeral industry has been with me since my youth. While my initial attempt was rejected by my parents at 21, they supported my decision when I revisited the idea in my 30s. I stumbled upon a DFS job posting and, along with enjoying the work, the supportive coworkers kept me committed.
Htae War (HW): During a delivery task, I observed the logistics team handling flowers and found it intriguing. Driven by a desire to help people, I joined the company. The positive experience made me stay, and I've been with the organization for six years.
Comparing Job Demands with Preconceived Expectations:
JT: Initially, I considered the tasks on the day of the funeral as the most crucial. However, I discovered that much more goes into ensuring a successful funeral, and the behind-the-scenes tasks are tougher and more significant.
HW: Coming from Myanmar, the funeral practices there are vastly different. Embalming, dressing, and handling funerals in Singapore exposed me to a new perspective.
Unique Aspects of Your Role within the Operations Team:
JT: While the operations team often works on-site, the operations office primarily focuses on back-end coordination and planning. Everyone in the office starts in logistics, undergoes extensive training to join the operations crew, and then transitions to office duties. When needed, we also join the operations team on-site.
Post-Case Procedures:
HW: Upon receiving a case, an operations crew is dispatched to recover the deceased. The funeral directors confirm the family's desired times, and the staff transports the body to the wake location. Simultaneously, administrative work begins, including booking cremation and inland ash scattering times, assembling the coffin, and preparing safe-entry QR codes and wake notifications.
JT: Upon the body's arrival, we check the white card, confirming details with funeral directors and checking for electronic devices. After embalming, we coordinate with the embalmers regarding grooming requirements and coffin specifications.
Considerations When Transporting the Deceased:
KV: Properly preparing the coffin is crucial, ensuring ornaments align with the deceased's beliefs. Fixing ornaments accurately is a one-time opportunity, and precision is essential.
JT: Ensuring the correct deceased is matched with the appropriate coffin at the designated address is paramount. Respect for the deceased is maintained by refraining from leaning on the coffin and burying the individual in a discreet area.
Personal Lessons and Knowledge Applicable to Personal Life:
KV: I've learned the basics of Microsoft Office and coding for our website, skills I'll carry forward.
JT: Decision-making and effective communication skills have been enhanced, and these are valuable in personal life as well.
HW: Family is now my top priority, and the advice from my manager has shaped me into a better person at home.
Misconceptions About Your Position:
JT: A common misconception is that individuals with less education shouldn't work in this industry. Compassion and a desire to assist mourning families are key qualifications.
KV: People occasionally express fear about working in a singapore funeral parlour due to unwarranted imagination. However, working at a funeral home is subject to the same regulations as any other workplace.
HW: There are no supernatural experiences, and questions about encountering ghosts are unfounded. The reality of our work is far from the eerie perceptions often associated with funeral services.