Inside Out
A Noble Undertaking
Sophomore Lance McGibbon’s post-graduation plans are pretty clear. After delivering an address to his classmates at the ‘08 commencement ceremony, the outgoing president of the North Campus Student Government Association will transfer to Columbia and study economics. The point, he said, is to learn the business side of a career path he chose for purely personal reasons.
“When my brother died after an automobile accident, I was very unhappy with the funeral services he received,” McGibbon shares. “I began to have an overwhelming motivation to become part of the profession so that I could do my best to comfort the bereaved in their time of need.”
McGibbon is progressing steadily toward that goal with the backing of the skills and confidence he gained at the College’s W. L. Philbrick School of Funeral Service Education. Established in 1964, the program equips McGibbon and students like him with the skills necessary to carry out the duties of an evolving and increasingly demanding profession.
In order to be successful in the role of a funeral director, knowledge of a wide range of disciplines is necessary. Students enrolled in MDC’s program take classes not just in embalming, pathology, microbiology, anatomy, cosmetology and chemistry, but also in psychology, sociology, ethics and law.
This multifaceted approach gives would-be funeral directors the skills necessary to respond to situations as diverse as disposing safely of powerful chemical preservatives, preparing bodies for open-casket services, helping families select appropriate funeral services while taking financial limitations into account, and providing some preliminary counseling.
Ralph Covert, director of the College’s funeral services program and a leading authority with decades of experience, also emphasizes the importance of a willingness to serve others as a prerequisite for those entering the profession.
“The number one reason that someone should want to get into this line of work is to be a caregiver,” Covert says. “You are going to be in consistent contact with people who are going through the most difficult period of their lives.”
— Christopher C. Gregory-Guider