Irish Association of Funeral Directors

According to the primary website of the Irish Association of Funeral Directors (IAFD), it is a " Customer Care Charter for the clients of (IAFD) Funeral Directors, guaranteeing minimum standards of professional competence, openness and caring for families at what tends to be a vulnerable time for many." This association provides help for families at one of their most vulnerable times, along with the death of a loved one. Their official website offers a list of things you must first do when a person of your family dies, and a PDF version including an even more sophisticated list. Also, they have many comforting opportunities that come along with the Funeral Directors who will be assigned to a client's funeral service. The person will take care of legal and financial situations, and organize possible organ donations, funeral homes, purchasing a headstone and even charities. If you think about the amount of relief that these people must feel with amount of responsibility put on their shoulders in such a difficult situation.

This association defines Irish culture and their funerary traditions in many ways. The association offers counseling and support groups for these people, along with many other alternatives for families to heal. These alternatives include a "Healing Space" in which reflections are placed once a month in order for these families to read, and allow them to give thought through this difficult time. The way that the irish provide services for their funeral ceremonies, is just another example of the practice of alleviating pain, and providing positive outlooks for the families of the deceased ones.

As compared to America, there are many services that provide the same things. However, the american way of doing things is alot more about mourning, and letting the family stay in their depressive state, rather than helping them to stay positive or bright upon these kinds of ceremonies. The ways in which the irish practice these ceremonies provide valuable insight, and healing centers rather than mounring routines and states of depression as in the U.S. What I have learned form the Irish is that death is just another part of life, and it is more about remembering the deceased one rather than mourning them.

Irish Association of Funeral Directors
2009 Certificate In Funeral Practice:Irish Association of Funeral Directors. Electric Document,http://www.iafd.ie/codeofpractice.php