The Funeral Director's Prayer
Dear Lord, give me the patience needed to serve
everyone as my own;
the wisdom to understand others feelings;
the knowledge to
learn as well as to instruct;
the kindness to treat everyone equally at all
times;
the strength to endure long hours and hard work;
the desire to serve
others as I would my own family;
the humility to accept words of thanks and
praise;
the compassion to be able to touch another's soul;
the pride and the
right to smile when I have served a family well;
and, Lord, most importantly,
the right to shed an honest tear
when my heart is touched.
Lord, make me
thankful that I am a Funeral Director.
Amen.
Funeral Director's Creed - "When The Bells Toll"
When GOD in His infinite wisdom
has seen fit to call back to HIS fold
a human soul.
And when the earthly remains
of one beloved
must be laid to eternal sleep.
Then it becomes the sacred duty of our profession
to assist the bereaved
living in this, the last task of their love for the departed.
In carrying out this sacred duty
we will do our part,
with Sympathy,
with Dignity, with Reverence.
The Undertaker
The Midnight Hour, the darkest hour that human grief may know,
Sends forth its hurried summons ... asks me to come ... I go ...
I know not when the bell may toll, I know not where the blow may fall,
I only know that I must go in answer to the call.
Perhaps a friend ... perhaps unknown ... 'tis fate that turns the wheel,
Our tangled web of human life winds slowly on the reel.
And I! I'm the Undertaker: "Cold Blooded," you'll hear
them say,
Trained to the shock and chill of death ... with a heart that's cold and grey
...
Trained ... That's what they call it ...
How little they know the rest.
I'm human and know the sorrow ... that throbs in the human breast.
My Commission
My vocation is worthy; it affords me a distinct opportunity to serve
society.
The ideals of my profession are high, as summarized in the Golden Rule:
“All things whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you…
do ye even so unto them.”
I will deal reverently with all deceased members of society:
I will follow those who before my calling was a profession,
labored for the sake of service itself.
I will extend helpful service to all who are bereaved.
Doing for them according to my needs, were conditions reversed.
I shall seek ways and means to amplify this service which I shall perform.
I will share with others whatever I learn and thus
uupbuild the profession of which I am a member.