I discovered my calling in a cemetery. We talk about death, but we are not prepared for it

My career as a funeral director began early. My Catholic elementary school in my small rural hometown in Indiana shared a street with a cemetery. During recess, I would often see funeral processions go by, but at the time I thought it was a parade. It wasn't until my teachers explained it to me that I realized it was actually a funeral procession. At that moment, I knew I wanted to lead that parade.

I also remember attending the funeral of a family member who died when I was nine. I, like the rest of my family, was so shocked and disappointed at how he looked in the casket. I never wanted that to happen to another family.

That same year, I found a book in my school library about embalming in ancient Egypt. A single sentence caught my eye: “Modern embalmers are sometimes called morticians or funeral directors.” When I read that, I knew that was what I was going to be. At age 15, I started working for a local funeral home, and 2024 will be my 15th year in the profession.

In those 15 years, I have made many meaningful connections with families in my community that make my career worthwhile – one of the most formative connections came just recently. Earlier this year, I turned 30 and that same week I ministered to the family of a young woman who was also 30 when she died.

I was moved by the way her family honored her, from the music they played to the way they spoke about her. I felt like my life had just begun with this milestone, but here was this wonderful person I never got to meet. I wondered if we would have been friends if we had met – we share the same taste in music and fashion. It was a humbling moment that reminded me why I chose this profession and why I still find meaning in what I do more than a decade later.

From fashion to work culture to all the TikTok trends in between, there's no shortage of social commentary on how Generation Z is redefining norms and challenging older generations to think differently.

Death and grief are no different. A recent, first-of-its-kind survey by the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) aimed to uncover generational differences regarding end-of-life issues, particularly as Generation Z grows up and enters early adulthood. The survey found that while cremation is still the most popular option for Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials, Generation Z alone has traditional burial as its most popular option, opposing cremation for decades.

As a millennial who has worked as a funeral director for 15 years, I am inspired by the next generation. Not only because they are willing to deal with death differently, but also because they are redefining work and success. I think these two generational traits make many Gen Z members ideal candidates for a career they may never have considered: funeral director.

I know not everyone is lucky enough to know what they want to do with their life at age 9 and continue to nurture that passion at 30. Like many other millennials and Gen Zers, success for me means living a life and choosing a career that gives me meaning and value. In fact, 86 percent of Gen Zers say that having a sense of purpose is important to their overall job satisfaction and well-being. But that's easier said than done, especially as today's young adults enter a challenging job market.

More than half of Generation Z believe funeral directors are important, valuable and trustworthy, and are the most likely of older generations to hold this view, according to a recent NFDA survey. Sixty-eight percent of Generation Z believe it is important to honor the life of a loved one with a funeral or memorial service, compared to 44 percent of baby boomers. With nearly 8,000 job openings planned over the next decade, the funeral industry is in desperate need of talent to fill these important roles.

While the funeral industry is undoubtedly an accessible career path with openings, it is more than that. It is clear that Generation Z, like their Millennial counterparts, value leaders who serve their community and take social responsibility seriously, as well as honor their loved ones in meaningful ways after they pass away. So why wouldn't this generation want to become those valued, trusted community leaders themselves to help families do the same?

It's not just the job of Generation Z to come to this realization themselves. It's up to us as experienced professionals to encourage and mentor the next generation. Mentors make the funeral director, and mine have been instrumental in getting me where I am today.

They taught me resilience and that you have to make mistakes to grow. They taught me perseverance, an invaluable tool for a young, first-generation mortician who is often overlooked and not taken seriously. They helped me grow into a strong, confident leader who could become one of 20 morticians in the 2022-23 NFDA National Emerging Leaders Program.

Although many Americans believe it is healthy and normal to talk about death and dying, most people do not make funeral arrangements often enough to know exactly what needs to happen when a loved one dies, according to a new NFDA study.

While they may talk openly about death and dying, in practice it may be different. It is important that we continue to have members in our community who are experts in all options, including the latest trends and innovations in funeral services, to help people navigate one of the most difficult times in their lives.

I urge millennials like myself and all older generations in the funeral industry and beyond to embrace the role of mentor and welcome the next generation into your professional community with open arms.

We need to say yes to innovation and new ideas, not “withhold knowledge” or judge Generation Z based on generational differences. We need to create a stronger line of communication between Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials and Generation Z to share decades of knowledge and help create more compassionate, purposeful and supported funeral professionals – and people.

As I look ahead to the next 15 years of my career and beyond, I ask myself one question and encourage others to do the same, no matter what profession they are in: Are you doing the work to inspire a new generation of leaders, and are you the person you needed when you started your career?

For me the answer is always “yes” and I for one am excited to see what the future holds.

Allyse Worland, CFSP, is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in the states of Indiana and Kentucky and a spokesperson for the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA). She is proud to be a first generation funeral director. She is a highly respected speaker and presents seminars at funeral conferences across the country while working full-time as a funeral director and embalmer. Her greatest joy is being a part of the funeral industry and dedicating her time to advancing the profession.

All views expressed in this article reflect the views of the authors.

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