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ý- V -Thse Canadian Champion, Fniday, July 14,2000 -DAY5 'Job offuneral director takes a specialperson By STEVE LeBLANO The Champion Death may be a certainty, but the way it's deait with by loved ones is neyer pre- dictable. And for that matter neither is the life of a funeral director, who on a daily basis assumes countless tasks and a myriad of roles - ail in an effort to ease people through one of the most difficuit experiences th'ey'li ever have to face. So says Jeremy Liegis - who takes great pnide in being part of the J. Scott Early Funeral Home team, and a member of the profession as a whole. "I think it takes a special person to do this," said the 23-year-old, who began working at a funeral home on a parI-lime basis during high school and haa now been a ftill-îime funeral director in town for the past two years. "We're caretakers; of the dead and caregivers to the living." Il's responsibilities pertaining to the latter gmoup that he linda moat challenging - and ulti- malely more rewarding. While preparing the body for burial, entomb- ment or cremalion and filling ouI ail the neces- sary paperwork are the mandatory parts of the job, Mr. Liegis said il's often the minor and seemingly insignificant duties Ihat make the dif- ference 10 family and friends. Among Ihose are arranging rides home for Ihose who've accomfpanied their deceased loved ones 10 the hospital, pulting memonial notices in the local newspaper and making sure every- Ihingas in pîace for every stage of the funeral- including the possible reception afterward. "Somelimes you mighl have 10 put notices in fîve different papers around the country and it's a big dçal if one of themn gels missed. Or a family mighl aak y0u 10 have Coke Ihere (at receplion) for the kids, and you' ve gol t0 make sure the calerer bas some. You'd be surprised aI how much Ihose thinga mean 10 people," he explained. 'There's a loI of lilîle stuff involved, but it ail goes back 10 honouring the dead." Depending on the family and whal lhey're looking for, funerals can require anywhere from a few bours orsa few days 10 organize. Some families want a big, lavish funeral com- plele wilh police escort and a post-service recep- lion while olhers prefer much smaller affaira. Some families need a lot of help on many details - wilh everything from choosing a cas- kel 10 whal 10 wrile in an obiluary - while olh- ers know exactly whal lhey wanl before walking through the door. And when you îhrow wide-ranging religions and personalities mbt the mix, funeral direclors Ptioto by GRAHAM PAINE Jeremy Liegla and the J. Scott Early Funeral Home team offer care and support 10 local familles durlng oneS of the moat difflcuit ordeals they'lI ever have 10 face. have 10 be exlremely flexible as well as orga- nized. "Everyone is different and no two situations are exacîly thse same. WiIh one family, your job mighl be very-businesslike and another lime they may really open up 10 y0u," said Liegis, who on any given day may be confronled by any given emotion associated with death - including sadness, fear, anger, depression and even denial. "You jusl have 10 be genuine. Families can sense when you're nol yourself. You can't always let il gel 10 you, but aI the same lime the day t stop caring is the day I gel ouI of Ibis pro- fession." Because dealh is neyer convenient, funeral direclors are often called upon 10 work long and unusual hours. And wilh so many différent tasks involved - everylhing from the aclual embalming 10 posl- reception cleanup - the job can be physically demanding. "You can go days wilhouî having a funeral and then have three in a day, so lhere's a lot of îeamwork involved here as well," Mr. Liegis stressed. And on those days when the phone isn'l ring- ing, he andtI he local funeral home staff aren'l juat sitting around wailing. Maintenance to both the interior and exterior of the funeral home andI occasional follow-up visits 10 those who recenî- ly lost somneone close are among the Iasks assumed during downîime. While a funeral direclor must be many Ihings 10 many people, Mr. Liegis prides himacîf most on being a constant leamer - always willîng 10 accepî comments and suggestions in order 10 more effecîively carry out his duties. "My hope is that I keep leaming for as long as I do this job," he said. "I take a lot of pride in being a funeral direc- tor. People are putting their trust in you andI you're helping Ihem Ihrough one of the moat Iroubling thinga I hey'll ever deal with. Thaî's a great honour."I