ABSTRACT
Funeral directors are in a special relationship with bereaved people, as it is the funeral director who deals with the body of a loved one that has died. In that unique way, a powerful bond may well be established between funeral directors and some bereaved family members. For instance, the courtesy of sending a card on anniversary occasions has resulted in expressions of appreciation, to which many funeral directors might testify. Some funeral directors report that the recipient of such a brief message of caring has led to a comment such as, ‘You are the only person who has mentioned the name of my son since his funeral!” The aftercare professional, and the funeral service organization to which he or she is accountable, is challenged to attend to details of how to set up an appropriate aftercare program. These details, at times, may include one’s core values and a variety of ethical concerns.
