It takes a special set of skills to be a funeral director. It’s not so much a job — it’s a calling that takes a lot of heart and hard work. We’ve outlined the traits a funeral director has that makes them truly special.

1. Multitasking Pro

You are part event planner, part grief counselor. You do the job of five people and you make it look easy. From making final arrangements, to taking calls, to filling out paperwork, to washing cars, and even maintaining the funeral home’s lawn, there is no shortage of work to be done and you excel at getting it done perfectly.

2. Selfless Server

It’s not an easy line of work. The hours can be unpredictable, the weeks never ending — but it doesn’t matter. To you, it’s always been about putting families first. To be a funeral director you have to be selfless. But that’s why you were called to do it.

3. Perseverant

When things start to get tough, you ride out the storm. For such a high-stress gig, you don’t let the difficulties get you down. Day in and day out you put yourself out there for your community.

4. Kind & Compassionate

The essence of a funeral director’s role is about care. It’s that dedicated compassion that drives you. As a funeral director, you know that each service will be different, and it’s the high level of care that makes each funeral special.

5. Humble

A funeral director can come from all walks of life, but one thing that great directors have in common is that they don’t like to brag. They consistently provide excellent service to their families and, in fact, are some of the most misunderstood people.

6. Brave

Funeral directors have to guide their community through their most vulnerable moments. They’ve seen children bury parents, and parents bury their children. It takes a lot of courage to plan services for the families in your community, especially when a death is a tragedy.

7. Great Listeners

The best of the best know the importance of listening. It’s the little details they capture that can make a ceremony truly special for families.

Share your stories about the funeral directors you know who excel each and every day. Did we miss any traits? Feel free to let us know in the comments below! We’d love to hear from you.