Between A Rock and An Uncomfortable Place
Why did I become a funeral director?
My response to this answer is simple - we had a successful funeral home in Fresh Meadows, NY and I was looking for my next professional challenge. I started as the bookkeeper but soon realized that if I was going to be in the “house that Sy (and Michael) built”, I was going to have to go to school for my license.
Why did I leave day-to-day funeral directing?
This question is a little harder to answer - the stress and anxiety of internalizing a family’s grief really started to take a toll on me. While I loved making arrangements and assisting families during their time of need, I began to overthink every piece of a funeral. I would lie awake at night wondering if death certificates were going to be signed on time, having nightmares about services going wrong, and ultimately, I developed a very unhealthy relationship with myself.
Why did I stay in the industry?
Back to the easy answers - I have so much admiration, appreciation, and love for this industry. Every day, funeral directors, funeral home managers, and owners sit down with families during their darkest times to help them plan a meaningful tribute for their loved ones. I found a wonderful therapist - and those of you who know me know how much I LOVE my therapist - leaned on my wonderful and understanding family, and decided to shift my focus to something extremely meaningful to me - funeral home consulting.
What am I doing now?
In January 2023, I started my company, A. Resnick Communications, a consulting firm focused on communications and strategy in the end-of-life industry. My passions lie in working with funeral homes, cemeteries, monument companies, and families. While my goals are to help businesses with their near and long-term growth and business strategies, internal and external communications, and provide a voice in the Jewish funeral home market, I still enjoy speaking with families. I feel it is a duty and also a privilege to speak with families who are planning in advance or are at a time of need, and are unsure of what to expect when they pick up the phone and speak directly with a funeral home. There are a lot of decisions to be made in a relatively short time span, and like any other major decision, being prepared is key.
What do I hope to do next?
Now on the back half of my first year in business, I hope to continue to grow A. Resnick Communications, and support anyone in the end-of-life industry looking to shift their focus within or around the industry. I understand first-hand the need for mental health services, having a friendly face to speak with, and most of all that funeral directors are essential employees and our voices deserve to be heard.
