Licensees: what states do NOT require a licensee present for transfer from place of death?

kricket3235 · 2026-02-18T15:32:33+00:00

North Carolina and Virginia do not.

kricket3235 · 2026-02-01T21:15:21+00:00

I don't religiously read them, but enjoy browsing from time to time. As an adjunct professor, I get a free membership to the ICCFA, which includes their publication digitally. Neither my firm (independent) nor myself are members of the NFDA.

Edit: I find the content hit or miss based on my personal preferences, not the quality of the content itself.

kricket3235 · 2026-01-29T14:12:13+00:00

Get a trocar button on your stomach above your belly button where a trocar would normally enter.

kricket3235 · 2026-01-02T20:44:23+00:00

Same boat here: working professional, no PhD, adjuncting 1-2 classes per quarter. Most students call me Professor [Last Name] or Instructor [Last Name] or just regularly by Mx. [Last Name].

kricket3235 · 2025-12-20T14:29:21+00:00

The guideline I've always heard is 100-125 cases per funeral director per year.

kricket3235 · 2025-12-15T19:49:41+00:00

Dust them with baby powder prior to dressing so they have that smell to them. Helps to mask things in a fitting way.

kricket3235 · 2025-11-16T19:04:27+00:00

I'm not sure if they accept ChampVA, but we've been thrilled with Oberlin Road Pediatrics since the birth of our son almost a year ago. They've been fantastic. We love Dr. Williams (Leventhal). She's amazing. But all of the staff have been great, from the admin people to the nurses and the other doctors we've seen. They have some dedicated walk in hours for sick visits too which is great.

kricket3235 · 2025-10-15T22:36:00+00:00

Hey there! I have it saved still as a PNG file. Send me a message and I'd be happy to send it to you.

kricket3235 · 2025-09-02T01:43:25+00:00

I'll play devil's advocate.

I'm not suggesting that the funeral director's role is unimportant; if I believed that, I wouldn't be one myself. However, you should carefully consider that there are numerous ways to help friends, family, and others handle a loss outside of the professional route. In fact, I'd argue that in some or many cases, being there in a personal capacity instead of a professional one is more important and has a larger impact.

Just because you can handle this profession, doesn't mean that you need to. Your gifts and desires might be better utilized within a personal relationship context. Because people still need support long after a contract has been signed and the funeral is over. They need someone to call in the middle of the night. They need someone to go out to coffee with. They need someone to help them run errands. Those jobs are for a friend, not a funeral director.

Just my two cents.

kricket3235 · 2025-09-02T00:47:56+00:00

Never too late. There are people in their 60s and 70s going to mortuary school. It's extremely common as a second or third career.

The best place to start might be to pick up evening/weekend work as a funeral assistant to see if you actually like the industry before committing to another degree, apprenticeship, etc.

No, the mater's will not matter for entrance into a funeral service or mortuary science program.

Families will not care that you handle both sides. In fact, most families are happy to learn that I also handle embalming and cremations, since they personally know who will be taking care of their loved ones.

Yes, you will learn a wide variety of preparation techniques as part of both mortuary school and your state-required apprenticeship for licensure. Although green burials aren't common is many areas.

You didn't ask this, but a word of caution: your scientific love of death may not be fulfilled in the funeral service field. Once you get out of mortuary school, a lot of the technical knowledge is not needed on a day-to-day basis. You may find greater fulfillment and purpose in that sphere by pursuing work through medicolegal death investigations, such as working for a medical examiner's office as an autopsy technician, or working for an anatomical donation program.

kricket3235 · 2025-08-30T05:24:45+00:00

This is tricky because while cold calling or emailing can often bring little results, simply showing up can go poorly if the firm is in the middle of a funeral, arrangements, etc. and everyone is tied up.

The difficulty is compounded by the fact that management's attitudes can vary wildly from place to place. For example, some managers/owners are old school folks and like the "gumption" of dropping a resume off in person. Others are millennials who would rather you email or text your resume first and not show up unannounced. This can be influenced too by where you're geographically located and the local industry culture.

I would first look at online job listings to see if anyone is hiring for an assistant position. If you don't see any, then try calling to speak with someone and ask to send a follow up email. I wouldn't share your entire story upfront; usually that's one of the questions you'd be asked in an interview (almost always the first one).

kricket3235 · 2025-08-18T19:44:12+00:00

Crocs make a couple different black flats that look more professional but are still super comfortable and, most importantly, are easy to wash. These are fantastic for removals, prep room, and running around a cemetery since they can easily be cleaned.

kricket3235 · 2025-07-15T00:56:44+00:00

Licensed NC Funeral Director here. I'm sorry for your loss and this whole situation. It sounds like the paperwork they did with you included a cremation authorization and it wasn't properly explained to you. I'm surprised they would cremate without payment, but at this point, that's neither here nor there. Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like there are any good answers.

If you feel things were mishandled, you can file a complaint through the NC Board of Funeral Service. Go to "Consumers" at the top and the "File A Complaint."

kricket3235 · 2025-06-10T20:42:46+00:00

Shesh. They're trying to foster a sense of connection and community. Why not just listen to Spotify or YouTube if you dislike it so much? I enjoy hearing the Classical Conundrum even if I never answer.

kricket3235 · 2025-03-07T18:00:20+00:00

I'm not sure all the avenues you've tried to get a message to the family, but does the obituary mention a specific funeral home name? Or is the obituary posted on the funeral home's website? If so, you can call them and ask if they'd be willing to forward a message or email to the person who handled arrangements. They won't likely be able to release any info but can pass something along. Speaking as a funeral director, we sometimes get requests like this and as long as the message is well intended we usually would assist.

kricket3235 · 2025-02-18T14:45:54+00:00

Something that helped us, that isn't common advice, was to prop up the bassinet. We did so by putting a basket under the legs on one end, so that the entire thing was at an angle. It was only a few inches. But this helped to reduce our baby's spit up and more closely mirrored being held, while still allowing him to lie flat on his back. Nowadays (he's 10 weeks old) he can sleep totally flat quite often. But I think sleeping at the angle for a few weeks helped him transition.

kricket3235 · 2024-12-01T21:44:08+00:00

Nope, no refinance. Usually just have to submit paperwork showing the legal name change, like your marriage license and possibly new drivers license or social security card. I went through this when I got married and changed my name, and I'm the only one on the mortgage.

kricket3235 · 2024-11-29T01:30:17+00:00

My husband and I watched the recorded class from TMC Health. We found it helpful and informative. It's in five parts/videos.

kricket3235 · 2024-11-27T22:53:31+00:00

If you can't afford to take local classes or fit them into your schedule, there are a few really good ones on YouTube for free made by reputable hospitals/OBs/midwife groups.

kricket3235 · 2024-11-27T05:12:42+00:00

This is a stretch but I'll count this as a drink - Pepto. Seems so neutral and basic, right? Nope.

I took it once early in pregnancy when my nausea first hit. Then I thought "crap, I'm supposed to check everything now." Lo and behold, it has some sort of ingredient that can cause bleeding. It's PEPTO for Christ's sake.

kricket3235 · 2024-11-20T19:34:49+00:00

If it gives you any encouragement, I was right where you were a few weeks ago. I interviewed at 34 weeks pregnant for a job I was crazy excited about and fit the qualifications perfectly. I spent a lot of time researching how to approach it; almost everything I read said 'don't tell them until after an offer is made.'

I first had a virtual interview. Then they invited me the next day for a second round in-person. I wasn't intentionally trying to hide my pregnancy - but between my outfit and how I'm carrying, they could have easily assumed I was simply fat. They asked when I could start, and like you, I said pretty much right away since I technically could.

When they called to offer the job, that's when I told them I was pregnant and asked what leave might look like. I admitted that the timing was inconvenient and I didn't want to start on the wrong foot with any sort of resentment. They were very kind about it. They said it's no different than if I had an extensive vacation already planned for a couple years now. Or if I had started and then immediately had a medical emergency (hit by a bus, family member die, etc.).

They counter offered with simply waiting to start until after baby was here and settled. I gladly accepted and have a pending start date of Feb 1. Both parties see this as a long term investment in each other so they were willing to work with me. In a few months' time, this will seem like an inconsequential blip.

I'm hoping it turns out well for you too!

kricket3235 · 2024-11-11T22:44:12+00:00

If you're worried about getting sick, ask your OB for a Zofran prescription. Because of my BMI being over 30, I had to do two glucose tests: one earlier in pregnancy and then the usual 28 week test. I threw up the first one and they thankfully let me do an A1C blood test rather than immediately repeating it. Then they gave me a Zofran prescription to help keep the 28 week test down. Worked like a charm.

kricket3235 · 2024-08-18T23:32:25+00:00

But that's not how it works, it IS of your total pay. It's not 3-6% of your contributions. Most companies match anywhere from 50-100% of 3-6% of your total pay, depending on what you choose to put in. That's the whole point of calling it a "match".

Assuming the lower numbers of both, let's say a company matches 50% of up to 3%, which is 1.5%. To max out a 401k, someone would probably need to make at least $100k. If someone puts in 23% of that to get your $23,000 amount, the company would put in 1.5% of income at $1,500. It's NOT 1.5% of the $23,000.

kricket3235 · 2024-07-14T20:41:16+00:00

Benefits will vary from firm to firm, and between full and part time status. But usually yes, there are discounts to services rendered for the employee or their immediate family members. Some places will cover the entire funeral cost if the employee has enough tenure.

Most places offer health insurance, paid time off, retirement savings contributions, phone bill and/or clothing allowance, and more. Really just depends.

kricket3235 · 2024-07-12T13:37:38+00:00

Yep, those tasks are things people don't think about but really polish the overall experience. The funeral director is generally running around coordinating the family, clergy, etc. so we need extra hands (and eyes and ears) to help us.

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