Wesley talked about why he needs to be a jack-of-all-trades, personal grief and the most important thing family members forget after a cremation. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Tracy Wesley says being a funeral director is a 24/7 job because “when death happens we have to work.” On a busy day, he embalms three to five bodies. (Leila Navidi/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Q: What is most misunderstood about your job?
A: Many people think that those in the funeral business are trying to profit off grief. That’s not the case, at least for me. There’s a cost to what we do. In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission rule, we provide an itemized price list and charge only for the services rendered. One of the reasons that rule was made was because funeral homes were offering package deals that included services that were not only not necessary but also raised the total cost.
Q: So, when do you increase the price tag?
A: Let us start with the casket. When the price from the casket manufacturers go up, our prices go up. Similarly, when chemical companies increase the price of embalming fluids, we cannot bear it all. All the price increases that affect people in their daily lives also impact the funeral business. When the gas prices and heat bill go up for you, they go up for us, too. People don’t seem to take that into account. I’m not trying to price gouge anyone, but I cannot offer services for free either.
Q: What goes underappreciated about what you do?
