Six Feet DOWN UNDER

When people hear you are a Funeral Director the reactions vary. Some will quickly change the subject, but the majority of people will ask plenty of questions.
This is because there is an element of mystique about the profession. Consequently, people want to know what you do, and what you’ve seen.
This book starts from my early days as a Funeral Director’s assistant through to becoming a Funeral Director. It covers stories of tragedy, stories of laughter, stories of interest and some of the things that can and do go wrong!

I worked for a leading Auckland funeral directing firm for eight years. I worked there on two separate occasions—1986 to 1989 and again in 1998 to 2003.
This is my story, my thoughts, my observations. From dealing with bereaved families, or helping the New Zealand Police at tragic roadside smashes and murders, through to the funerals themselves. From funerals attended by the Prime Minister and high class society, to funerals attended by street kids and drug addicts. From funerals where attendance is in the thousands, through to the funerals where nobody came!

A Funeral Directors job is not all grief and sad stories. There is sadness associated with this industry, but it also has many moments of laughter, joy and boredom.
However, it is always, always interesting.