Know When to Step Up: Embalming Education and Professional Responsibility
For more than five years, Wally Hooker used his writing to educate, challenge, and inspire funeral service professionals to continually improve their embalming education and skills. When he announced that it was time to “know when to say when,” the responsibility of continuing that message became both an honor and a challenge.
Being asked to step into that role brings mixed emotions—gratitude, humility, and uncertainty. How does one continue the depth of knowledge and passion established by a respected professional? The reality is simple: no one replaces a mentor or leader. But when an opportunity to step forward presents itself, it is rarely accidental.
Embalming education remains essential and must continue to be at the forefront of funeral service. It is a defining element of the profession and one that distinguishes funeral service from all other forms of death care.
Every Professional Begins as a Student
Most professionals can recall their earliest experiences in funeral service—the first case, the first time alone in the preparation room, the first moment of doubt when asking, Do I have what it takes to be a good embalmer?
Those early stages are marked by uncertainty and learning. Like infants learning to walk, students and new professionals strive to deliver excellence while still developing their skills. Yet growth in funeral service cannot stop at the beginner stage. At some point, each individual must stand on their own and do the work they have been prepared to do.
This profession demands continual improvement. Techniques evolve, expectations rise, and professionals must commit to refining their skills and striving to be better than they were the day before.
When Education Meets the Moment
Many professionals have experienced a familiar scenario: attending a continuing education course, reading an article, or learning a new technique—only to encounter a case shortly afterward that requires exactly that knowledge.
These moments are not coincidences. They are opportunities. They are the times when preparation meets responsibility, and when it is necessary to step up and apply education with confidence and professionalism.
Why Stepping Up Matters
The Funeral Home Is Counting on Us
Funeral homes rely on embalmers to handle each case with dignity, excellence, and consistency. Employers and colleagues place trust in professionals to meet high standards, regardless of the challenges presented by each case.
Families Are Counting on Us
Families place immense trust in funeral professionals. They expect care, respect, and the opportunity for a peaceful final goodbye. Many families hesitate about viewings due to previous experiences, yet skilled embalming can restore peace where fear exists.
Through careful preparation, professionals can offer families the gift of seeing their loved one in a state that brings comfort rather than distress—often better than the final memory at the moment of death.
The Future of Funeral Service Is Counting on Us
The embalmers who have shaped this profession for decades will not always be present. Their knowledge, experience, and leadership must be carried forward by those willing to step into their place. That responsibility belongs to today’s professionals—and it belongs now.
The Importance of Mentorship
Mentorship has long been a cornerstone of funeral service education. One powerful example is the experience of apprenticing under Rodney Bright of Clements Funeral Service in Durham, North Carolina.
Rodney exemplified the traditional embalmer—meticulous, skilled, and deeply respected by the families he served. Even years after services were rendered, families would approach him during visitations to express gratitude for the care he provided.
Rodney began teaching well into his eighties. He often joked that he had forgotten more about embalming than most would ever know. Yet the techniques he shared and the stories he passed down ignited a commitment to excellence—never settling for “good enough,” and always giving families the very best during their most difficult moments.
One day, Rodney expressed gratitude for having someone there to continue the work, acknowledging that he was tired and could not do it forever. That moment made the responsibility clear: it was time to step up.
Why Embalming Education Still Matters
The funeral service profession continues to need embalmers who are willing to take responsibility, pursue excellence, and honor the trust placed in them. Embalming remains a vital and valuable aspect of funeral service.
It still matters to serve families. It still matters that the guest of honor is present. It still matters to prepare the deceased with care. And it still matters to embalm.
Preparing the Next Generation
Education plays a critical role in ensuring that future professionals are ready to step forward. Mortuary science programs provide not only technical knowledge, but also ethical grounding, professional expectations, and an understanding of the responsibility carried by funeral service professionals.
As the profession evolves, the need for well-prepared embalmers remains constant. This is an exciting time to enter funeral service—a time when education, mentorship, and commitment come together to shape the future.
By [John Hill]
Clinical Coordinator, Pierce Mortuary Colleges