Teila Smart
Mission,BC
Summary
Dedicated funeral director/Embalmer offering broad range of experience in the funeral services industry. Devoted to delivering exceptional service to grief-stricken families.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Funeral Director
Woodlawn Mission Funeral Home
Mission , BC
2021.05 - Current
- Provided bereavement counseling to families and friends of the deceased.
- Organized funeral services and memorials, including arranging for clergy, pallbearers, flowers, music and other necessary items.
- Maintained records of all contracts, payments and services provided.
- Prepared obituaries for publication in local newspapers.
- Coordinated arrangements with cemeteries or crematories for interment or cremation of remains.
- Advised families on applicable laws regarding disposition of human remains.
- Arranged transportation of body from place of death to funeral home.
- Managed ordering and inventorying of caskets, urns and other related merchandise.
- Conducted postmortem care such as embalming and dressing the deceased for viewing or burial.
- Performed administrative duties such as answering phones, filing paperwork and completing forms.
- Prepared legal documents such as death certificates and permits for burial or cremation.
- Met with client families to discuss service options and pricing plans.
- Facilitated final disposition planning by providing resources about cemetery plots or mausoleum spaces.
- Served as a liaison between family members and vendors at visitation events.
- Supervised staff on duty during viewings, funerals or memorial services.
- Ensured compliance with provincial regulations governing funeral homes.
- Participated in continuing education courses to maintain licensure requirements.
- Provided support to colleagues during times of high volume activity.
- Created meaningful tribute videos featuring photographs and audio recordings of the deceased.
- Actively participated in community outreach programs designed to promote awareness about funeral industry services.
- Removed deceased from place of death and transported to funeral home.
- Completed and filed all necessary legal documentation quickly and accurately.
- Led and directed funeral and graveside services.
- Consulted with families of deceased to make funeral arrangements.
- Scheduled funeral services, coordinated burials and arranged cremations.
- Addressed all client questions and requests for information relating to funeral services and pricing.
- Arranged funerals consistent with each family's heritage and religious beliefs.
- Arranged for clergy members to perform funeral services.
- Completed legal documentation and signed death certificates.
- Prepared death certificates and drafted obituaries.
- Offered counseling and comfort to bereaved family members and friends.
- Oversaw filing of legal documents.
- Drafted professional correspondence and marketing materials.
- Obtained information to complete death certificates or burial permits.
- Offered counsel, comfort and support to loved ones during difficult times.
- Communicated with funeral attendees to provide information and facilitate organized services.
- Participated in community activities for funeral home promotions and other purposes.
- Obtained doctors' signatures on death certificate to complete insurance claim forms.
Office Manager
Woodlawn Mission Funeral Home
Mission , BC
2021.05 - Current
- Assisted with the preparation of budgets, forecasts and financial statements.
- Supervised staff members, organized schedules and delegated tasks.
- Maintained filing system for records, correspondence and other documents.
- Ordered supplies and equipment to maintain adequate inventory levels.
- Provided administrative support to management team including preparing reports and presentations.
- Answered phone calls, responded to emails, routed mail and coordinated courier services.
- Resolved customer inquiries in a timely manner while maintaining positive relationships with clients.
- Processed payroll accurately ensuring all employees were paid on time.
- Managed front desk operations including greeting visitors, answering questions or directing them to appropriate personnel.
- Tracked invoices and payments to ensure accuracy of accounts receivable and payable information.
- Organized company events including holiday parties, team building activities .
- Performed general bookkeeping duties such as reconciling bank statements and creating journal entries.
- Ensured compliance with applicable laws regarding employment practices.
- Reviewed contracts for accuracy prior to signing off on behalf of the company.
- Conducted research projects related to new product development or marketing initiatives.
- Managed office inventory and placed new supply orders.
- Monitored payments due from clients and promptly contacted clients with past due payments.
- Maintained impeccable office organization to support efficiency, professionalism and performance objectives.
- Oversaw receiving and organizing correspondence, answering and forwarding calls and creating business letters and records.
- Administered payroll and maintained proper documentation of employee personnel.
- Reviewed files and records to obtain information and respond to requests.
- Used judgment and initiative in handling confidential matters and requests.
- Coded and entered daily invoices with in-house accounting software.
- Managed office budget to handle inventory, postage and vendor services.
- Implemented and maintained company protocols to facilitate smooth daily activities.
- Coordinated office activities and operations to secure efficiency and compliance with company policies.
- Interpreted and communicated work procedures and company policies to staff.
- Remained calm and professional in stressful circumstances and effectively diffused tense situations.
- Delegated work to staff, setting priorities and goals.
- Reviewed completed work to verify consistency, quality and conformance.
- Provided leadership, insight and mentoring to newly hired employees to supply knowledge of various company programs.
- Completed thorough opening, closing and shift change functions to maintain operational standards each day.
- Produced thorough, accurate and timely reports of project activities.
- Reviewed employee performance and provided ongoing feedback and coaching to drive performance improvement.
Embalmer
Dignity Memorial
Abbotsford , BC
2016.11 - 2021.05
- Utilized cosmetics and other resources to achieve best presentation results.
- Used pump to introduce embalming fluid after making incisions to remove blood and waste.
- Closed incision utilizing suture knowledge and technique.
- Dressed bodies to place in caskets.
- Transported deceased from place of death to funeral home.
- Itemized list of clothing and valuables delivered with body.
- Packed body orifices with embalming fluid to prevent escape of gases or waste matter.
- Utilized germicidal soap and hot air dryers to wash and dry bodies.
- Inserted convex celluloid between eyeballs to prevent slipping and sinking of eyelids.
- Worked successfully with diverse group of coworkers to accomplish goals and address issues related to our products and services.
- Demonstrated leadership by making improvements to work processes and helping to train others.
- Prioritized and organized tasks to efficiently accomplish service goals.
- Identified needs of customers promptly and efficiently.
- Assisted with customer requests and answered questions to improve satisfaction.
- Maintained updated knowledge through continuing education and advanced training.
Education
Funeral Director And Embalmer License - Mortuary Sciences
Canadian College of Funeral Services
Vancouver, BC06.2019
Some College (No Degree) - Anthropology/Sociology
University of The Fraser Valley
Abbotsford, BCSkills
- Mortuary Operations
- Family Counseling
- Embalming Techniques
- Grief Counseling
- Obituary Writing
- Customer Education
- Regulatory Compliance
- Sales
- Valid British Columbia Driver's License
- MS Word, Excel, and Outlook
- Licensed Embalmer in BC
- Remains Preparation
- Service Sales
- Training & Development
- Data Entry
Languages
English
Native/ Bilingual
French
Professional
Spanish
Elementary
Norwegian
Limited
Japanese
Limited
Affiliations
- Hiking
- Book Club
- Boxing
Accomplishments
- Recognition for my reconstructive work on a decedent 2019
- Leadership award from the University of the Fraser Valley 2012
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Funeral Director
Woodlawn Mission Funeral Home
2021.05 - Current
Office Manager
Woodlawn Mission Funeral Home
2021.05 - Current
Embalmer
Dignity Memorial
2016.11 - 2021.05
Funeral Director And Embalmer License - Mortuary Sciences
Canadian College of Funeral Services
Some College (No Degree) - Anthropology/Sociology
University of The Fraser Valley
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