Funeral Director and/or Embalmer (or Apprentice)

Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service; Florence (KY); On-site; USD 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Stith Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Florence, KY seeks a compassionate Funeral Director and/or Embalmer (or Apprentice) to join our team. The ideal candidate is licensed in Kentucky or eligible for licensure and can guide families through funeral arrangements with dignity and professionalism.

Responsibilities include meeting families, coordinating services, preparing contracts, embalming and preparation duties as needed, and ensuring all legal paperwork and safety standards are followed.

Qualifications

• Current or eligible Kentucky Funeral Director and/or Embalmer licenses.
• Graduation from an accredited mortuary science program or completion of the Kentucky Funeral Director Apprenticeship Program.
• Valid driver’s license and clean driving record.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Meet with families to arrange funeral, cremation, memorial, and burial services.
• Guide families with compassion and professionalism through arrangements.
• Explain available services, merchandise, and burial/cremation options.
• Prepare funeral contracts and required documents.
• Coordinate service details with clergy, cemeteries, and other providers.
• Assist families with obituary notices and post-service follow-up.
• Perform embalming and preparation tasks as needed and maintain safety standards.

Skills

Licensed Funeral Director

Embalmer license

Driver's license

Education

Mortuary science degree or KY Apprenticeship

Job description

Funeral Director and/or Embalmer (or Apprentice)

Location: Florence, Kentucky

Position Summary

Stith Funeral Home & Cremation Center is seeking a compassionate, professional, and dependable Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer to join our team. We are also open to those with a single Kentucky Funeral Director License.

As a family-owned funeral home serving Northern Kentucky, Stith Funeral Home is committed to providing every family with compassionate care, personal attention, and professional service with dignity and integrity. The Funeral Director/Embalmer plays an important role in carrying out that commitment by guiding families through one of the most difficult times in their lives while ensuring that every detail of their loved one’s care and services is handled with respect.

This position requires a combination of compassion, professionalism, attention to detail, strong communication skills, and the ability to work effectively as part of a funeral home team.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Family Care and Funeral Arrangements

• Meet with families to make funeral, cremation, memorial, and burial arrangements.
• Guide families through the arrangement process with patience, compassion, and professionalism.
• Explain available services, merchandise, caskets, urns, burial options, cremation options, and memorialization choices.
• Prepare funeral contracts, authorizations, and other required documents.
• Coordinate service details with families, clergy, churches, cemeteries, crematories, veterans’ organizations, florists, musicians, and other

service providers.

• Assist families with obituary information, service notices, memorial contributions, and other personalized service details.
• Maintain communication with families throughout the entire funeral process and provide appropriate follow-up after services.

Embalming and Preparation

• Perform embalming in accordance with professional standards, applicable laws and regulations, and the policies of Stith Funeral Home.
• Perform necessary preparation, dressing, cosmetology, casketing, and restorative procedures.
• Strive to provide families with a natural, peaceful, and dignified appearance of their loved one.
• Maintain the preparation room, equipment, instruments, and supplies in a clean, sanitary, organized, and professional condition.
• Follow OSHA requirements, universal precautions, and all applicable health and safety standards.
• Complete required embalming and preparation records accurately and promptly.

Funeral and Memorial Services

• Direct and coordinate visitations, funeral services, memorial services, graveside services, and other ceremonies.
• Prepare facilities prior to visitations and services.
• Ensure photographs, flowers, memorial folders, register books, tribute items, and other family requests are properly arranged.
• Coordinate funeral processions and transportation to churches, cemeteries, crematories, and other locations.
• Assist clergy, pallbearers, musicians, cemetery personnel, and other participants as needed.
• Ensure services are conducted professionally, respectfully, and according to the family’s wishes.

Transfers and Transportation

• Participate in the transfer of deceased individuals from residences, hospitals, nursing facilities, hospice facilities, and other locations.
• Treat every deceased person entrusted to the funeral home’s care with dignity and respect at all times.
• Safely operate funeral coaches, removal vehicles, limousines, and other company vehicles.
• Maintain the cleanliness and professional appearance of company vehicles.

Documentation and Regulatory Compliance

• Obtain and complete necessary permits, authorizations, death certificate information, cremation paperwork, veterans’ documents, and other required records.
• Work with physicians, hospitals, hospices, coroners, cemeteries, crematories, and government agencies as necessary.
• Maintain accurate case files and records.
• Follow all federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing funeral service, embalming, cremation, and disposition.
• Maintain compliance with the Federal Trade Commission Funeral Rule and applicable Kentucky funeral service regulations.
• Protect the confidentiality and privacy of families and deceased individuals.

General Funeral Home Responsibilities

As a member of a family-owned funeral home, the Funeral Director/Embalmer may be asked to assist in many areas of funeral home operations, including:

• Answering telephone calls and assisting families and visitors.
• Helping maintain the cleanliness and professional appearance of the funeral home.
• Setting up and taking down visitation and service rooms.
• Receiving and arranging flowers and memorial items.
• Assisting other funeral directors and staff members when needed.
• Participating in an on-call and/or rotating evening and weekend schedule.
• Assisting with removals and services outside normal business hours when necessary.
• Performing other reasonable funeral home duties as assigned.
• Willingness to be involved in business, social, and public relations activities outside of the funeral home.

Qualifications

The successful candidate should possess:

• Current or eligible Kentucky Funeral Director and/or Embalmer licenses.
• Graduation from an accredited mortuary science program or completion of the Kentucky Funeral Director Apprenticeship Program.
• Valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record.
• Knowledge of embalming, restorative art, funeral directing, and funeral service practices.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Professional appearance and demeanor.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to remain calm, compassionate, and professional in emotionally difficult situations.
• Ability to work independently while also functioning as part of a team.
• Willingness to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and on-call rotations when necessary.
• Ability to safely perform the physical responsibilities associated with funeral service, including assisting with transfers, lifting, standing for extended periods, and moving funeral equipment.

Personal Qualities We Value

At Stith Funeral Home, technical ability is important, but the way we care for people is equally important. The ideal Funeral Director/Embalmer will demonstrate:

• Compassion and empathy
• Integrity and honesty
• Dependability
• Professionalism
• Patience
• Respect for families of all backgrounds and traditions
• Attention to detail
• A strong work ethic
• Good judgment
• A willingness to help coworkers
• Pride in providing excellent funeral service

Our Expectations

Every family who calls Stith Funeral Home has placed an extraordinary level of trust in our staff. We expect our Funeral Director/Embalmer to treat each family as we would want our own family to be treated.
No matter the type or cost of service selected, every family and every deceased individual entrusted to our care deserves the same level of dignity, respect, compassion, and professional attention.
Our goal is not simply to conduct a funeral. It is to help families create a meaningful experience, honor the life of someone important to them, and feel confident that their loved one has been cared for with dignity.
About Stith Funeral Home & Cremation Center
Stith Funeral Home & Cremation Center is a family-owned funeral home serving families throughout Northern Kentucky. Our reputation has been built on personal service, compassionate care, professionalism, and a commitment to treating every family with dignity and respect.

Stith Funeral Home & Cremation Center
7500 US Highway 42
Florence, Kentucky 41042
859-525-1100
Service with Dignity and Integrity Since 1937

Contact Information

Stith Funeral Home 7500 US Hwy 42 Florence, KY 41042 [phone] Contact: Josh Marcum [e-mail] [phone]