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This emotional support and communication strategy can help you and your team manage the stress that follows difficult calls.

Just as we benefit from having an active support system when we are grieving, so too do we want to support others in our life who are experiencing bereavement. It is compassionate and healthy to be there for friends and family, colleagues and acquaintances who are navigating grief after loss.

We had to become experts at juggling our stress while also providing comfort to others. The word "comfort" comes from the Latin – com, meaning "with," and Fortis, meaning "strength." Literally, to provide someone with comfort is to come alongside them with "strength" or "to make someone stronger." And that's what we have been doing this past year.

Many funeral directors see their role as serving a greater purpose, some even iterating a modified proverb known as the Peter Parker principle, "With great responsibility comes great reward." However, a funeral director's occupation requires more than physical labor and a particular skill set. It requires "superpowers" to take on the emotional labor of listening to grieving families.

Stress will never go away, but if you listen to the lesson it is sharing, heed its warning and address whatever it is that the stress is bringing to your attention, you may just find yourself feeling lighter and more energized. Your thoughts may turn from pessimistic to seeing hope within the situation. Perhaps you will make time to play with your dog, take a walk and truly listen to the crunch of the autumn leaves beneath your feet or stop from time to time to just breathe. Knowing what to do when life throws you an unwanted surprise can turn a stressful situation into a moment to practice accessing your inner calm.

Funeral Directors, We Need You! I’ve been privileged to work with funeral directors for more than forty years. I know and respect many of you as colleagues, and I count some of you among my closest friends.  Funeral directors are good people. You’re “people people.” You’re good at helping others, and your empathy skills tend to be well above average. As is typical for caregivers, many of you aren’t so good at taking care of yourselves, however. This puts you at risk of burnout and mental and physical health issues during normal times. Now, more than ever, it’s essential for you to prioritize good basic self-care.