Funeral home environment

In the premises of the Buisson funeral home, located on the rue du Commandant-Audibert in Alès, conversations are softer and words are weighed. Visitors often arrive after having lost a loved one, with decisions to make even as grief has just begun.

Role of funeral counselors

Franck Kolly-Hugon, a funeral counselor, insurance, and undertaker, summarizes that "when people enter our premises, time stops. They are in a bubble." Since January, the family business has separate premises for its ambulance activity to receive families in a calmer environment.

Unpredictable work schedule

Days at the funeral home do not resemble each other, with no ordinary days or fixed hours. The phone can ring in the middle of the night as well as during the day. When a death occurs at home, the teams intervene after the doctor confirms the death.

On-call service system

They can also be called upon in hospitals or, under certain conditions, at the scene of an accident. Franck Kolly-Hugon explains that "we don't really have set hours, day or night." The company operates with a system of on-call shifts to ensure the continuity of service.

Focus on family needs

Beyond the logistics, the primary focus is on meeting the needs of families, sometimes only a few minutes after a disappearance. "You need to have tact and be careful with your actions as well," notes the funeral counselor. It is necessary to adapt to each individual without imposing a rhythm.

Handling multiple cases

Once the deceased is taken care of, they are transported to a mortuary room. At the same time, another part of the team can welcome the families and prepare the paperwork. Franck Kolly-Hugon mentions that "we can very well go retrieve four or five deceased people in the same day and receive the families at the same time."

Organizing the funeral

Then comes the time to prepare the funeral, with decisions on burial or cremation, choice of coffin, religious or civil ceremony, and burial site. For close ones who have sometimes never faced a death, it is necessary to explain everything without adding pressure to the grief.

Respecting the deceased's wishes

Franck Kolly-Hugon specifies that "we ask for the deceased's wishes. Our role is to propose everything that is possible and to explain what is or is not possible." The goal is to limit as much as possible the formalities that weigh on the close ones.

Post-ceremony support

The accompaniment continues after the ceremony, with the handover of documents intended for the concerned organizations, such as pension funds or insurance companies. At the Buisson funeral home, they want to maintain a direct link with the families.

Consistent presence

The person who receives them can also accompany them to the ceremony and ensure its management. Franck Kolly-Hugon states that "when families come to us, they will always see the same person at each stage. We absolutely want to maintain this closeness."

Building trust

This continuity allows building a relationship of trust in a moment where reference points are missing. The cost of the funeral depends on the chosen services, the coffin, the transportation, or even the arrangements for the burial.

Cremation and insurance

Cremation can be a less expensive solution, but it is not always the case. For the counselor, funeral insurance is a way to anticipate these decisions. "People tell us: 'I don't want my children to have to pay anything.'"

Personalizing wishes

Beyond the financial aspect, this step allows specifying one's wishes, from burial to cremation, passing through the course of the ceremony or the music chosen. Because death remains a subject that families sometimes talk about little.

Grave maintenance

When it occurs, the close ones must make decisions without always knowing the wishes of the deceased. Anticipating allows them to avoid some of these questions. As the All Saints' Day approaches, the graves also require attention.

Additional services

The daily life of the funeral home is not limited to the transport and organization of ceremonies. The company also offers masonry services and grave maintenance. For families who live far from the cemetery or cannot travel, the funeral home ensures the cleaning, restoration, and decoration of the graves.

Rising demand

The requests multiply as November 1st approaches. Franck Kolly-Hugon explains that "families contact us and ask us to go place flowers on the plot." He does not notice a particular lack of interest in the maintenance of graves.

Security concerns

On the contrary, thefts of funeral items, plaques, or flowers are sometimes reported by families, leading some to personalize their items to better identify them. All Saints' Day thus reminds us that the work of funeral professionals continues well after the funeral.

Emotional balance

Working daily in contact with death also requires finding the right distance. The situations are multiple and the reactions of families can sometimes be unpredictable. With time, a kind of shell is built, without however making sensitivity disappear.

Professional perspective

"We are here to listen to them and hear them," insists the professional. It is necessary to learn to welcome the emotions of others, to remain available and to accompany each one without losing one's own reference points.

Job satisfaction

The job can be discovered by vocation, by chance, or on the occasion of a first experience. Despite the difficulties, the recognition of families gives meaning to this commitment. "The attitude of people is often gratitude. It is a very enriching job."