Professionalization without dead bodies: the case of Swedish funeral directors.

The aim of this article is to discuss Swedish funeral directors from a professionalization perspective with a focus on the last decades. The article is primarily based on a research study made in 1998 – 2002 where multiple data were used: interviews, field observations, text analysis, and a questionnaire. Later findings have been added to update. The results show that the funeral directors have acquired a professionalization by broadening their work tasks in different fields. Initially they took care of dead bodies and organized the logistics. In the last decades, new task areas have opened within the law, bereavement, and ceremonial rites. Of specific significance is that Swedish funeral directors seem reluctant to develop work tasks connected with the dead body; rather it is as public experts on death and bereavement that they want to be recognized. A step forward in this direction came with the public need for funeral directors in the aftermath of the tsunami. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]