Funeral Directing Midterm questions
and answers graded A+
first call - correct answer ✔✔ the request, usually made by a surviving family member, for a
funeral home to transfer a deceased from the place of death to the funeral home and for the
funeral home to carry out the wishes of the next of kin regarding funeral services and
disposition.
98 percent - correct answer ✔✔ how many initial contacts are made by telephone
salutation - correct answer ✔✔ the person answering the phone should give: the name of the
funeral home, his/her name, "may I help you?" avoid using good morning and good evening.
Some people may feel this is out of place when a loved one may have just died.
tone of voice - correct answer ✔✔ the funeral director's tone of voice should be sympathetic
yet professional, not overly sad, forlorn, or cheerful. it should have some inflection to avoid
sounding monotonous or bored.
speed of questions and pronunciation - correct answer ✔✔ the speed of the funeral director's
conversation should be slightly slower than that of a normal telephone conversation
diction - correct answer ✔✔ the voice should be clear and crisp. the telephone should not be
answered if the person answering is eating, drinking, or chewing gum
volume - correct answer ✔✔ the voice should not be so loud that it is offensive or disturbing to
the caller, yet it should not be so quiet or soft that the caller has to strain to hear or frequently
ask the funeral director to repeat himself.
,phone image - correct answer ✔✔ it is just as important to project a professional, sensitive and
empathetic image over the phone as it is in person. You want the caller to feel secure and
comforted. The beginning of a relationship of trust starts with the image you project during the
telephone call.
why is age of deceased asked? - correct answer ✔✔ to avoid any misunderstanding. The author
was told by a funeral director of an instance when he received a first call and the woman
informant said "my baby died." he never asked the age and went on the removal expecting to
transfer an infant. When he arrived at the location it was an adult deceased whose mother just
referred to her as her baby.
released - correct answer ✔✔ most hospitals will not allow the funeral home to transfer the
deceased without a signed "release of deceased" form. If the family did not sign one at the
health care facility, the funeral director may have to take one to the family to sign before the
removal is made.
permission to embalm - correct answer ✔✔ the law requires that permission to embalm must
be received before embalming can begin. this is often done during the first call.
organ and tissue donation - correct answer ✔✔ the routine referral act requires that hospitals
contact the local organ procurement organization and tissue and eye banks about each death,
or pending death, that occurs in the hospital.
transfer/removal of remains - correct answer ✔✔ the transfer of the deceased from the place
of death to the funeral home
most common vehicles used for removals - correct answer ✔✔ hearse, mini van, utility van
Arrangement Conference - correct answer ✔✔ the meeting between the funeral director and
the client family during which the funeral arrangements are discussed.
, non-traditional - correct answer ✔✔ religious orientated but follows a more modern
interpretation, including favorite music, poems, and readings.
memorial service - correct answer ✔✔ a service without the body present usually held days or
weeks after the disposition
humanistic services - correct answer ✔✔ a service devoid of religion
funeral celebrant - correct answer ✔✔ can be used instead of a clergy for non-religious services
death notice - correct answer ✔✔ a classified notice publicizing the death of a person, listing
survivors and giving those details of the funeral service that the survivors wish to have
published. Usually a charge.
Obituary - correct answer ✔✔ an announcement of death that has a biographical sketch of the
person's life, listing occupation, organizations, and notable information, sometimes with a
photograph. Usually not a charge.
death certificate - correct answer ✔✔ a legal document containing vital statistics, disposition
information, and final medical information pertaining to cause of death.
the informant - correct answer ✔✔ one who supplies the information concerning the deceased
who supplies the vital statistic information for the DC - correct answer ✔✔ the informant
funeral director's/embalmer's information - correct answer ✔✔ data pertaining to the place of
death, the date, and location of the disposition.
and answers graded A+
first call - correct answer ✔✔ the request, usually made by a surviving family member, for a
funeral home to transfer a deceased from the place of death to the funeral home and for the
funeral home to carry out the wishes of the next of kin regarding funeral services and
disposition.
98 percent - correct answer ✔✔ how many initial contacts are made by telephone
salutation - correct answer ✔✔ the person answering the phone should give: the name of the
funeral home, his/her name, "may I help you?" avoid using good morning and good evening.
Some people may feel this is out of place when a loved one may have just died.
tone of voice - correct answer ✔✔ the funeral director's tone of voice should be sympathetic
yet professional, not overly sad, forlorn, or cheerful. it should have some inflection to avoid
sounding monotonous or bored.
speed of questions and pronunciation - correct answer ✔✔ the speed of the funeral director's
conversation should be slightly slower than that of a normal telephone conversation
diction - correct answer ✔✔ the voice should be clear and crisp. the telephone should not be
answered if the person answering is eating, drinking, or chewing gum
volume - correct answer ✔✔ the voice should not be so loud that it is offensive or disturbing to
the caller, yet it should not be so quiet or soft that the caller has to strain to hear or frequently
ask the funeral director to repeat himself.
,phone image - correct answer ✔✔ it is just as important to project a professional, sensitive and
empathetic image over the phone as it is in person. You want the caller to feel secure and
comforted. The beginning of a relationship of trust starts with the image you project during the
telephone call.
why is age of deceased asked? - correct answer ✔✔ to avoid any misunderstanding. The author
was told by a funeral director of an instance when he received a first call and the woman
informant said "my baby died." he never asked the age and went on the removal expecting to
transfer an infant. When he arrived at the location it was an adult deceased whose mother just
referred to her as her baby.
released - correct answer ✔✔ most hospitals will not allow the funeral home to transfer the
deceased without a signed "release of deceased" form. If the family did not sign one at the
health care facility, the funeral director may have to take one to the family to sign before the
removal is made.
permission to embalm - correct answer ✔✔ the law requires that permission to embalm must
be received before embalming can begin. this is often done during the first call.
organ and tissue donation - correct answer ✔✔ the routine referral act requires that hospitals
contact the local organ procurement organization and tissue and eye banks about each death,
or pending death, that occurs in the hospital.
transfer/removal of remains - correct answer ✔✔ the transfer of the deceased from the place
of death to the funeral home
most common vehicles used for removals - correct answer ✔✔ hearse, mini van, utility van
Arrangement Conference - correct answer ✔✔ the meeting between the funeral director and
the client family during which the funeral arrangements are discussed.
, non-traditional - correct answer ✔✔ religious orientated but follows a more modern
interpretation, including favorite music, poems, and readings.
memorial service - correct answer ✔✔ a service without the body present usually held days or
weeks after the disposition
humanistic services - correct answer ✔✔ a service devoid of religion
funeral celebrant - correct answer ✔✔ can be used instead of a clergy for non-religious services
death notice - correct answer ✔✔ a classified notice publicizing the death of a person, listing
survivors and giving those details of the funeral service that the survivors wish to have
published. Usually a charge.
Obituary - correct answer ✔✔ an announcement of death that has a biographical sketch of the
person's life, listing occupation, organizations, and notable information, sometimes with a
photograph. Usually not a charge.
death certificate - correct answer ✔✔ a legal document containing vital statistics, disposition
information, and final medical information pertaining to cause of death.
the informant - correct answer ✔✔ one who supplies the information concerning the deceased
who supplies the vital statistic information for the DC - correct answer ✔✔ the informant
funeral director's/embalmer's information - correct answer ✔✔ data pertaining to the place of
death, the date, and location of the disposition.
