Francisco Flores says that when his sister told him there was work at the Catholic cemetery in Culver City, he immediately responded that there was no way he would accept a job of that type.
His sister, who worked in the offices of the Holy Cross Cemetery and Mortuary in Culver City, she insisted to him that they offered good job benefits, but he continued to be stubborn, rejecting the possibility.
“You will know,” his sister replied.
Not very convinced, Francisco accepted the job with the idea that he would only work for six months, but since then 27 years have passed.
“I started to like helping families in difficult times, but at first, I had a certain fear. “I couldn’t walk near a body, and I remember the first times I was going to participate in a funeral, I got very nervous from the night before.”
He even remembers that on one occasion, when he and two companions were opening a crypt at around seven in the morning, he suddenly heard a voice telling him, ‘Paco, come! Paco come! I got scared and ran away. He gave me goosebumps. Then I calmed down, and I realized that I should be more afraid of the living.”
Today, all those fears have been dispelled. Francisco is the assistant manager of the mausoleums, but he started out doing everything, including putting the bodies in the tombs.
However, he considers that the initial reaction to being afraid of working in a cemetery or mausoleum is normal.
“The first response when you invite someone to come work here is ‘I don’t want to be there, even if they pay me what they pay me and give good benefits.’
To get a job in cemeteries and funeral homes, Francisco says that the first thing is to have the desire to work.
“For field work, no studies are required, just knowing how to read.”
He does not hesitate to say that his greatest satisfaction in working as the mausoleum’s assistant manager is serving the families.
“Death is a reality of life. We all go there. Many don’t see that.”
One of his greatest satisfactions is when families recognize him outside the cemetery, thanking him for his help at the funerals of their loved ones.
The Catholic cemeteries and funeral homes of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles held their third job fair in the Holy Cross Cemetery and Mortuary of Culver City on February 20, but they still have many openings for which you can apply.
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has 11 cemeteries and six funeral homes in Southern California that provides pastoral care and support to families in the preparation of the funeral and burial process as well as during the unexpected death of a loved one.
Open job positions include embalmers, funeral assistants, support staff, counselors, managers and groundskeepers.
“We are needing everything from field workers who help us beautify the gardens and office staff who welcome and serve families with compassion and respect to help them with services for their loved ones who have passed away,” says Rosa Ambriz, human resources representative for Catholic cemeteries and funeral homes of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles,
Reveals that There will be another job fair on September 10 at El Calvario Cemetery in East Los Angeles.
“It is a job like any other, although you need to have integrity to help families who are suffering from the loss of a loved one. “It takes a person who has strong values to help others.”
It says they have full-time and part-time positions.
“We try to pay what the labor market is like. We offer medical, dental, vision benefits; 10 days of vacation, 10 days of illness and 16 holidays per year; and on his birthday he is given free.”
He adds that they offer pension and retirement plans; and of course discounts for carrying out your funeral services.
But the most important thing of all is that they offer employees the opportunity for job growth through programs that allow them to advance to positions of greater responsibility and salaries.
“If they want to study to be embalmers, because we work, we support them to go to school because they need to get their license from the state.”
He says they have a relationship with a school where they can attend and do the training with them.
What is the message so that Latinos are encouraged to apply for these jobs?
“Those who want to work should apply. “Beyond a job, it is a ministry because you must have that calling to serve and be part of our Catholic family.”
Nelly Campos, assistant manager of the Culver City Cemetery, says that it is difficult for some to accept these jobs in cemeteries, because in Hispanic culture we have the idea that if we do not talk about death, we do not attract death when we all go to go through that.
“I like these jobs because there is always a way to help families at a time that can be one of the hardest in their lives.”
Observe that the positions most occupied are field workers, gravediggers, and gardeners, because their employees are already retiring.
“We need to replace those positions; and we also employ funeral assistants who help the services by guiding and assisting families.”
Nelly remembers that she accepted the job out of necessity, and like Francisco, her plans were to look for another type of job later.
But it has now been at Culver City Catholic Cemetery and Funeral Home for 16 years.
“Here I found my calling. I like to assist families at the funeral of a loved one, and each family is different, although they all arrive very sad.
“First they go through shock, then comes acceptance, anger; and in the end, acceptance.”
Rosa says that she started in the office, assisting families, collecting their information, assisting on the phones, then they gave her the opportunity to study and received her human resources certificate.
“They promoted me to generalist. I have a passion for helping employees, making them aware of their new benefits so that they grow in what they do.”
For more information about available positions, visit https://lacatholics.org/open-jobs/, email employment@la-archdiocese.org, or call 888-912-6516.
Rosa clarifies that field workers earn between $17.42 to $20.02 per hour.
“Applicants for the positions of field worker or funeral attendant do not have to be Catholic. But they do have to respect and understand our values as Catholics. Certain positions do require being Catholic, for example, coordinators of religious services. Most positions, they don’t have to be Catholic.”