Whether you’re looking into cremation services in Oklahoma City, OK for a lost loved one or wanting to learn more about funerals and funeral homes in general, it’s important to know the differences between the different titles for these industry professionals as to not offend and be sure to give these hardworking individuals the respect they’ve earned.

You’ve probably heard the terms undertaker, mortician, embalmer, and funeral director, but do you really know what they all mean?

To begin, you probably shouldn’t use the titles undertaker and mortician as they are out of date and a little negative. They are pretty much synonymous with the title of funeral director even though the term funeral director really didn’t start taking hold until the early 1900s when industry professionals actively set out to change their name from undertaker to something new. Funeral Director is the most modern, and correct, term for a professional in the industry.

A funeral director is a funeral or cremation professional that helps arrange, plan, and coordinate a funeral or cremation services. Funeral directors are professionals that are hardworking, thoroughly trained, and committed and help with funeral and cremation services. Funeral directors have to be licensed according to local laws. This is especially true in states where the funeral director is legally responsible for making sure the crematory or funeral home is complying with all health, mortuary, and vital statistic laws of the area. They perform a lot of services from funerals and visitations to memorials and wakes, as well as helping prepare the body for a funeral or cremation, including placing the body in the casket or cremation container.

On the other hand, an embalmer is a cremation and funeral professional that is responsible for making sure the body is ready for burial. As the name denotes, embalmers perform the act of embalming, meaning they remove all body fluids and replace them with embalming liquid to slow down the body’s decomposition for a funeral service. In most states funeral directors and embalmers require different licenses and training courses. However, it is common for some people to be both depending on their professional interests, their business models, or local ordinances. Funeral director is the preferred title as it is the most modern and gives the respect due for these hardworking professionals, even though none of the terms are technically incorrect. The next time you’re in a funeral home for a cremation service or are making plans for a loved one’s recent passing, you will know what to call the industry professional that is helping you. 

We are here to help if you have more questions on industry terms and names or would like to learn more about your options for Oklahoma City, OK cremation services. We offer a range of services and are happy to do whatever we can. Please stop by and visit us or give us a call to learn more about what we can do for you in your time of loss or preplanning.