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Claire Pollard, from Norwalk
Like many people, Claire Pollard found work in retail after high school. The 19-year-old from Norwalk worked at Old Navy for three years, but she switched late last year and started working in a completely different industry: a funeral home.
(In order to be as truthful as possible, Pollard asked that the name of the funeral home be withheld.)
A clothing store and a funeral home are two very different things, but that didn’t push Pollard out. Rather, it was a necessary change for her to find a career path that suits her.
“I chose mortuary science because it seemed like the first and only job I could see myself doing,” Pollard said.
At first, Pollard was nervous about jumping into the funeral service field so quickly, so she decided to start working at a funeral home as a way to get her foot in the door.
“The best decision I ever made was working in a funeral home setting before joining the program,” Pollard said.
Her motivation behind mortuary science is not only rooted in joining DMACC’s programs and finding a future career, but also in exploring and gaining a deeper understanding of the emotions associated with death and grief. there was.
“I love talking about death and everything that comes with it because it’s the one thing we all have in common. It’s inevitable and there’s no way anyone doesn’t experience grief or death. It’s not going to happen,” Pollard said.
For Pollard, the science of funerals and working in a funeral home is more than just an education or a job. There is a passion for her in her emotional understanding of her death. Whether it was her or her grieving family, Ms. Pollard got to see firsthand how emotions played an important role in the process of her death.
She said that while she gained a holistic understanding of mortality, her relationship with the concept of death also strengthened.
“Before I worked there, I was always thinking about death, myself and those close to me, because it’s interesting to think that we could be gone at any moment. I’ve always had a healthy relationship with death. “The concept itself has never scared me,” Pollard said.
She said the emotional side of things was one of the most affecting parts of working at a funeral home. Ms Pollard said it had given her a change in her reality and a new perspective on life and death.
“Most people only experience death when it’s someone they know, so being close to death frequently gave me a sober perspective.” said Pollard.
While the work was rewarding for Pollard, he still faced some challenges along the way. Her biggest struggle, she said, is realizing how time-intensive the job is, especially for students.
“I’m still a student, so all I feel is extreme, extreme fatigue, but it’s scary to think about how much stress it’s putting on the people I work with,” Pollard said. .
The demands of this job are not only something that Pollard has experienced, but also something that his colleagues who have been working on the job for many years have also expressed.
“This is a never-ending business and it’s fast-paced. I’ve had the privilege of working with people who are honest with themselves and don’t gloss over reality. It’s hard work,” Pollard said. he said.
Another challenge Pollard faced was understanding how demanding his job really was. She said the turnover rate in funeral directors is alarming and that the average funeral director tenure is her five years. The job is in high demand, and she says she has fears of becoming overwhelmed in her line of work.
“Burnout is fast and it’s a fear that I have to constantly face, but at the end of the day, this job has changed my perspective in many ways, so whether I’m working or not… , I’m going to have this for the rest of my life.’I’m going to be in this business for another two months or 20 years,” Pollard said.
She added that funeral directors spend much of their time and lives overall making sure families receive the farewell they want and need. It’s very demanding both physically and mentally, but she understands the importance of the job.
“I think being passionate about what you do helps balance out the ugliness, but there’s no denying that it’s difficult,” Pollard said.
Pollard recommends anyone who has ever been interested in funeral science to try out the field first before deciding it’s something they want to do.
“You have to do it for the right reasons, because if you don’t have passion for what you’re doing, it’s going to fall apart quickly. Please contact us, because funeral directors are always looking for extra help,” Pollard said.
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