FUNERAL ASSISTANT

Cotton Funeral; Orange (NJ); On-site; USD 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Cotton Funeral in Orange, NJ, seeks a Funeral Assistant to assist licensed Funeral Directors and the Funeral Home Manager in delivering dignified services. You will help prepare facilities, transport individuals and items, and assist during services, visitations, and burials.

The role requires compassion, professionalism, discretion, dependability, and attention to detail, with availability for evenings, weekends, holidays, and on-call assignments as needed.

Qualifications

• Excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to follow instructions and work as part of a team.
• Professional, respectful, and compassionate demeanor when interacting with grieving individuals.

Responsibilities

• Provide safe, professional transportation for funeral services and related activities.
• Operate company vehicles as trained and authorized.
• Assist with setup and cleanup of funeral parlors, chapels, and service areas.
• Assist Funeral Directors during services, viewings, and burials.
• Support families with care and sensitivity and maintain confidentiality.

Skills

Verbal communication

Interpersonal skills

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Professionalism

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Driver's license

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY

The Funeral Assistant works under the supervision and direction of a licensed Funeral Director and/or Funeral Home Manager to support the preparation and delivery of dignified, respectful, and professional funeral services.

This position requires compassion, professionalism, discretion, dependability, and attention to detail. The Funeral Assistant works directly with grieving families, visitors, clergy, funeral directors, cemetery personnel, and other members of the funeral home team.

The Funeral Assistant helps prepare funeral home facilities, transports individuals and funeral-related items, assists during funeral services, visitations, and burials, and performs setup and cleanup responsibilities.

Because funeral services are based on the needs of families, employees in this position must be flexible and available to work varying schedules, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and on-call assignments as required.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

The Funeral Assistant's responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Provide safe, professional, and respectful transportation as assigned, including transportation related to funeral services, cemeteries, hospitals, medical examiner/coroner facilities, airports, and other designated locations.
• Safely operate company vehicles, including hearses, passenger vehicles, vans, large-capacity vehicles, and stretch limousines when authorized and properly trained.
• Follow all traffic laws and company vehicle policies and immediately report accidents, vehicle damage, mechanical concerns, or safety issues to management.
• Maintain the professional appearance and cleanliness of company vehicles before and after assignments.
• Assist with preparing funeral parlors, chapels, viewing rooms, and other service areas by arranging chairs, lighting, flowers, memorial items, equipment, and other materials.
• Assist Funeral Directors with the setup and preparation of funeral services, viewings, visitations, memorial services, and other events.
• Assist with setting up burial or cemetery services, including placement of flowers, memorial items, equipment, and personalized items as directed.
• Greet families and guests professionally and compassionately upon arrival.
• Assist with parking and traffic flow during funeral services and direct guests to the appropriate viewing room, parlor, chapel, or other designated area.
• Provide appropriate assistance to families and guests while following the instructions of the Funeral Director or Funeral Home Manager.
• Assist Funeral Directors and other authorized staff with family requests and funeral arrangements within the scope of the Funeral Assistant position.
• Maintain a professional, calm, respectful, and compassionate demeanor when interacting with grieving families and members of the public.
• Clean, move, organize, store, and maintain funeral equipment and supplies before and after services.
• Assist with cleanup and resetting of funeral parlors, chapels, common areas, vehicles, and equipment following services.
• Assist with loading, unloading, moving, and transporting flowers, equipment, personal effects, supplies, and other funeral-related materials.
• Maintain the confidentiality and privacy of families, decedents, employees, and company information.
• Follow all company policies, safety procedures, dress standards, attendance requirements, and instructions from management.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with families and guests.
• Report safety hazards, damaged equipment, vehicle concerns, unusual incidents, family concerns, or other operational issues to management promptly.
• Work cooperatively with Funeral Directors, managers, administrative staff, drivers, removal personnel, maintenance/facilities staff, and other team members.
• Perform other reasonable funeral-service and operational duties as assigned by management based on business and family needs.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates must possess:

• High school diploma or GED.
• Valid driver's license and an acceptable driving record.
• Ability to successfully complete required background and driving-record checks.
• Ability to safely operate company vehicles.
• Ability and willingness to drive large-capacity passenger vehicles and stretch limousines when properly trained and authorized.
• Ability to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move at least 75 pounds, with assistance or appropriate equipment when required.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
• Ability to work indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, varying schedules, and on-call assignments as required.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to follow instructions and work effectively as part of a team.
• Ability to remain professional, respectful, and composed when working with grieving or emotionally distressed individuals.

PROFESSIONAL EXPECTATIONS

Due to the sensitive nature of funeral service, Funeral Assistants are expected to demonstrate a high level of professionalism at all times.

Employees must maintain appropriate appearance and grooming standards, communicate respectfully, protect confidential information, follow management instructions, arrive on time for scheduled assignments, and treat all families and their loved ones with dignity and respect.

Personal cellphone use or other activities that interfere with assigned duties, family service, safety, or professional appearance are prohibited while actively performing work responsibilities except as authorized by management.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

The position may require the employee to:

• Lift and/or move at least 75 pounds.
• Push, pull, carry, and maneuver funeral-related equipment.
• Bend, reach, kneel, stoop, and perform repetitive movements.
• Stand and walk for extended periods.
• Enter and exit company vehicles repeatedly.
• Assist with loading and unloading equipment and other funeral-related materials.
• Work outdoors during funeral and cemetery services in varying weather conditions.

Reasonable accommodations may be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable law.

SCHEDULE & AVAILABILITY

Funeral service operations require flexibility based on the needs of families and scheduled services. The employee may be required to work varying hours, including:

• Days
• Evenings
• Weekends
• Holidays
• On-call assignments

Schedules and assignments are determined by management based on operational needs.