My motive

It's implied occasionally when I am meeting with families, as well as from people outside the business that I "am only in it for the money, to swindle people for my own benefit". It is frustrating to have to defend my profession, explaining that I am not driving a Mercedes, I'm not even driving a new Kia! I don't take vacations abroad, and I don't see a family and imagine dollar signs.

This bias not only frustrates me, to a small extent, it hurts. There are far, far more professions out there that with the same amount of schooling, will yield a higher salary. Heck, the construction guy holding the "Slow/Stop" sign is making more than I am.

Why is the Funeral Professional given such a horrible stigma?

Some greedy jerks in the business ruined it for the rest of us that have a conscience and a heart. Why should we trust anyone in any business if that's the case? Bankers have embezzled, jewelers have sold shoddy gems, car salesman are greasy, and heaven knows we can't trust the mortgage industry. Maybe because of this, it's impossible to believe that anyone in any job really cares. But surprisingly, at least at my funeral home, We Care.

I will say this: I do not work on commission, I don't care which casket you buy, and I don't care whether you cremate or bury. My whole goal is to make your wishes and service go off without a hitch. In short, I don't care what you do, but I do care that it gets done properly.