10/31/2025
We talk about dignity often, and as a mortuary transporter, I hold that value close to my heart. I expect my team to follow the same example—to ensure every decedent is treated with the utmost respect and that their transfer of care to the funeral home is handled with dignity. Death can be deeply uncomfortable and often reminds us of our own vulnerability, but at what point does dignity outweigh the discomfort of others? Too often, when I arrive at a facility, whether it’s an assisted living home, nursing facility, or retirement community. I’m directed to a back entrance, usually near a loading dock or even beside dumpsters. To me, this doesn’t feel dignified. In my heart, I believe the most respectful and dignified transfer of care should be through the same front doors the individual first entered, as a final gesture of honor in their life’s journey.