The funeral directors role following disasters

THE FUN E RAL DIRE CTORS ROLE
FOLLOWIN G DISASTE RS
CIMA 2011 CONFERENCE
N E LSON BROS FUN E RAL SE RVICE S
E ST 1858
Nelson Bros Funeral
Services is an Australian
family owned & operated
company.
Nelson Bros was established
in 1858 in L inton, Victoria
and currently operates from
funeral homes in Footscray,
Williamstown, Sunshine,
Hoppers Crossing and
E lsternwick
THE FUN E RAL DIRE CTORS ROLE
FOLLOWIN G DISASTE RS
There are many occupations which are called into action following
a disaster. Those tasks most directly related to emergency work &
disaster aftermaths are performed by emergency workers, medical
personnel, police, military, and funeral directors.
One of the complex problems of disaster aftermaths with large
numbers of death is the relationship between those people who are
called upon to be disaster workers and the nature of the work they
must do.
It is important to understand the activities they carry out, so I am
here to day to shed some light on the role of the funeral director
following disasters.
THE FUN E RAL DIRE CTORS ROLE
FOLLOWIN G DISASTE R
* ‘Disaster’ from a funeral directors
perspective
• E volution of Australian funerals
• The role of a funeral director
• Working with other agencies
• How disaster impacts a funeral director
DE FIN E DISASTE R?
In pairs/ groups come up with
your own definition of what
defines a disaster.
DE FIN ITION S OF DISASTE R
•“an overwhelming ecological disruption occurring on a scale
sufficient to require outside assistance” ….PAHO 1980
•Disasters are exceptional events which suddenly kill or injure
large numbers of people” ….Red Cross
•A sudden event, such as an accident or a natural catastrophe,
that causes great damage or loss of life
•A crisis situation causing widespread damage which far exceeds
our ability to recover
•…….
DISASTE RS & THE FUN E RAL
DIRE CTOR
…..IN GE NE RAL, MOST DISASTE R E VE NTS ARE
DE FINE D BY THE NE E D FOR E XTE RNAL
ASSISTANCE
→ when any death occurs, most families seek assistance from
others, and in the majority of cases a funeral director
What defines a ‘disaster’ can be related to individual
experiences and perceptions
Eg. Unexpected death, accidental death, infant death, murder,
suicide…
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A FUNERAL DIRECTOR?
In pairs/ groups, list the various tasks a funeral director performs…..
WHAT HAPPE N S WHE N
FAMILY
SOME
ON E DIE S?
FUNERAL DIRECTOR
NEWSPAPER
MEDICAL/ CORONER
FLORIST
SOLICITOR
CLERGY
COUNSELLOR
FUNERAL
BANK
CEMETERY
WILL
SUPPORT GROUPS
WHAT SHOULD A FUN E RAL
PROVIDE ?
S o c i a l s u p p o r t : when the
sorrow of a few become the
sorrows of many
T he need to face the reality of
death: while many try to deny
death, most want evidence of
the death. S eeing is believing
A Service: most times a religious ritual, a
service is a part of the funeral process. It
allows for the affirmation of a religious
faith
A Procession: the word “funeral” comes
from the L atin word “funeralis” which
means “a torchlight procession”
The final disposition of the body:
whether by burial or cremation
findings from a study by the eminent sociologist,
Dr Vanderlyn Pine
WHAT HAPPE N S WHE N DISASTE R
FAMILY
OCCURS?
DISASTE R
FUNERAL DIRECTOR
NEWSPAPER
MEDICAL/ CORONER
FLORIST
CEMETERY
CLERGY
MEDIA
COUNSELLOR
FUNERAL
BANK
SOLICITOR
WILL
SUPPORT GROUPS
THE RE SPON SIBILITIE S OF A
FUN E RAL DIRE CTOR IN CLUDE :-
Transportation of the
deceased from the place
of death to the mortuary
(coroners or funeral home)
Preparation of the deceased – Mortuary Care
What does this entail?
WE STGATE BRIDGE DISASTE R
15 OCTOBE R 1970
Nelson Bros staff were involved in the
transportation from the bridge site to Coroners.
MORTUARY CARE
Most deceased persons who are placed in our care at Nelson Bros
are embalmed
E mbalming is a three-fold process:
 To reduce or eliminate the presence of disease and bacteria
 To stop decomposition and the associated odour and discharge
 To achieve a more natural appearance
E MBALMIN G
Embalming can be defined as a process of chemically
treating the dead human body to reduce the presence and
growth of microorganisms, to retard organic
decomposition, and to restore an acceptable physical
appearance.
Mayer, Embalming History, Theory and Practice
PORT ARTHUR MASSACRE
28 APRIL 1996
A Team of 6 E mbalmers
were flown in to Hobart
from around Australia.
They worked around the clock,
under difficult circumstances,
to prepare the bodies for
shipment to several Australian
states & overseas.
E LE ME N TS OF A FUN E RAL
Coffin/ casket
When mass fatalities occur coffins must be sourced expediently in
large numbers
E LE ME N TS OF A FUN E RAL
Viewing
Floral tributes
Memorial gifts
Soloist or choir
E ulogy
Prayers
Newspaper notices
E LE ME N TS OF A FUN E RAL
Rituals of fraternal groups
Flowers at grave
Pall bearers
Releasing helium balloons,...
Open/ closed coffin at funeral
L ighting of candles
E LE ME N TS OF A FUN E RAL
CON T.
Funeral at the
church/ funeral chapel
Procession to cemetery or
crematorium
1970S FUN E RALS
Suicide can be deemed a ‘disaster’ by those impacted by the death
1970S FUN E RALS
One death is always difficult for the community, two or more,…..
1980S FUN E RALS
“During 1981 Victoria was facing up to the need for a State Disaster
Plan, & it was inevitable that any such scheme required the intimate
involvement of representatives of the funeral industry.”
This lead to a “detailed assessment of the funeral facilities which
could be made available in Melbourne, & further afield in Victoria,
storage for bodies, refrigeration plant, embalming facilities &
personnel & stocks of necessary equipment to cope with large-scale
disaster.”
Taken from: “No Funerals On Picnic Day” by Don Chambers
My brother & father, both qualified embalmers, were nominated as funeral industry coordinators during this period.
ASH WE DN E SDAY
16 FE BRUARY 1983
Ash Wednesday provided an
opportunity to test out some
of the new State E mergency
planning,
Members of the Victorian
funeral industry were thanked
for their assistance during
this time.
1980S FUN E RALS
Multi-cultural funerals more common
1980S FUN E RALS
Introduction of refreshments
2000S FUN E RALS
E LE ME N TS OF A FUN E RAL
CON T.
Recording of service
Dvd presentation during service
Public/ private funeral service
2000S FUN E RALS
I nfant death still prevalent
M utiple death always a trag edy
BLACK SATURDAY
7 FE BRUARY 2009
Melbourne funeral directors offered support to
local/ country funeral companies as well as
government agencies,… – used as required.
FUN E RALS
In every instance, as much privacy &
individuality as possible should be shown
each family even when there may be ‘mass
funerals’.
Even though there may be a service for several of
the victims, each individual family should have a
time & place for a ceremony of their own.
FUN E RALS & DISASTE RS
* there is a concern from funeral directors
that overseas specialists are called in after a major
disaster
* the importance of the local funeral
directors role in any modern disaster plan cannot
be overlooked
FUNERAL DIRECTORS CODE
As funeral directors called upon to serve in
disasters, we must not lose sight of the fact
that regardless of the number of persons
killed, each one had an individual
relationship to those who survive.
Those survivors should be served in a
manner that meets their individual needs