Elevating Women in Funeral Service
It is not easy being a woman in funeral service. When I was a young funeral director in the 1980s, I had very few female role models.
Today, there are more women licensees than in the past and the number of women enrolling and graduating from mortuary schools is also growing. In the past 40 years since I began my career, the percentage of licensed women funeral directors has grown from 5% to close to 45% in our profession today. Statistics provided by the American Board of Funeral Service Education are showing that 67% of enrollees are female in 2021. I imagine this number is growing each year. Good to see.
We are also seeing an increasing number of women attend more professional meetings in the last 10 years than the years before.
At my former firm, the number of licensed women outnumber the men, both in licenses and in management positions. Some may say that is because I was a woman owner. I would partially disagree with that statement, as women account for a large majority of the applicants that have applied in the last 10 years. In many cases, women are the only gender applying.
So why do I have an entire section focusing on Elevating Women in Funeral Service? I have found that women are still feeling unsupported overall. Given the fact that they are still in the minority, both in most of the firms across the country as well as in the leadership roles in our associations, there needs to be more available resources in order for them to be successful in the future. This is one of the reasons I founded Your Funeral Coach.
As you read this page and about Your Funeral Coach, ask yourself, is there another place where women can network on a regular basis, exchange best practices, talk about being a wife, or a single parent, being a pregnant licensee and working 24/7 while raising children, all while juggling the demands of our profession?
I find our profession overall still lacking in its support of women. One exception, is the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) who along with the Funeral Service Foundation their charitable arm.
NFDA has continued annually to offer a Professional Women’s Conference (PWC) in the US and beginning in 2021, in Canada.
The Funeral Service Foundation, (where I am honored to currently serve on their board of trustees) helps women by providing many scholarships to attend these programs. You can view the scholarships here. The Professional Women’s Conference is very near and dear to my heart, as my dad Dave Baue was instrumental in its beginnings. Beginning 2022, our family charitable fund will be helping provide scholarships to help women too
My Collaborative partners and I are continuously hearing from women they want and need more mentoring, more time together and more leadership training.
It is my hope, that in the future, Your Funeral Coach and team, can do more to provide the increasing support needed and encourage others to do so as well. After all, we are in this profession together and helping women succeed helps our profession. We know there are staff shortages, the “Great Resignation” that is effecting us after the Pandemic and more women wanting chances to succeed.
I also believe, if we don’t work harder (and smarter) to help the women entering our profession succeed and grow going forward, we will be at risk of losing them to other professions. Their talent is great, their caregiving skills are enormous, and their future success depends on the support they receive along with their training and development.
How Lisa and her Collaborative Network Partners Help Women
Education: Follow our Facebook, Listen to our Podcasts, Read our Blogs
Consult with one or more of our Collaborative Partners: Who can help you with Leadership Development, Coaching, Counseling and Marketing yourself and your firm. These businesses are all owned by successful women who are here to support you. If you are interested in purchasing a firm, Lisa and her Financial Collaborative Partner can help you evaluate your options
Sign up for a free hour visit: If you are woman who is struggling, we are here to help and support you on your journey. We will help you discover solutions and set you on a path to personal success.
Send us feedback: about you needs, new programs for women in our profession will evolve in the future too.
In the words of one my favorite First Ladies, Eleanor Roosevelt:
“The Future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
Get in touch with us today! Schedule your complimentary, one-hour consultation with us now.
