06/06/2025
âď¸Why I Do the Job I Do ?âď¸
â By Kimberly Hughes
When people ask me why I chose to become a funeral director, the answer is never simpleâbut it always comes from the heart. This isnât just a job to me. Itâs a calling. Itâs about being there for families on what may be the most painful day of their lives, and offering a steady, compassionate hand when everything else feels uncertain.
I didnât come into this profession by accident. Itâs something thatâs grown within me over time. Iâve always had a deep sense of empathy and a desire to help others, especially in moments where words are hard to find and emotions are raw. That desire eventually led me to become a funeral director and embalmer, and to dedicate my life to supporting people through grief with care, dignity, and respect.
Thereâs something incredibly humbling about being trusted to care for someoneâs loved one. I never take that lightly. Every person we look after was someoneâs parent, child, sibling, or friend. They laughed, cried, loved, and livedâand itâs our responsibility to honour their story, no matter how long or short it may have been.
My work as an embalmer adds a deeper level of responsibility and privilege. To be able to care for someone in such an intimate and respectful wayâto restore peace to their appearance, preserve their dignity, and allow families to say goodbye properlyâis something I take great pride in. I know how much it can mean for a family to see their loved one looking at rest, and I put my heart into every person I care for.
One of the most rewarding parts of my work is seeing the comfort that a thoughtful, personal funeral can bring. Whether itâs playing a special song, arranging for a unique tribute, or simply making sure someone is dressed in their favourite outfitâthese small details matter. They remind families that their loved oneâs life was seen, valued, and remembered.
But funeral directing isnât just about the ceremony. Itâs about the conversations that happen quietly behind the scenes, the late-night phone calls, the support that continues long after the flowers have faded. Iâve sat with families in tears, held hands, and listened to stories of love, regret, and everything in between. Itâs in those moments that Iâm reminded exactly why I do what I do.
Being a wife and a mother has also shaped the way I work. I know what it means to love deeplyâand how devastating it is to imagine losing someone close. That knowledge gives me a personal understanding of how important it is to treat every family like theyâre my own.
At Hughes Funeral Directors, weâre not part of a big chain. Weâre local, independent, and proud to serve our community with genuine care. When people walk through our doors, they meet me, Craig, or Wendyânot a call centre or a stranger in a suit. That personal connection means everything.
This work isnât easy. It can be emotionally heavy, and there are days when the sadness lingers. But then I remember why I chose this path: to make a difference, however small, in someoneâs life when they need it most.
So why do I do this job? Because people matter. Because lives deserve to be honoured. And because, in the darkest of times, I believe kindness, dignity, and compassion can help light the way forward.
â Kimberly Hughes, MBIE
Funeral Director, Embalmer, Wife, Mother, and Community Supporter