MENTORSHIP MATTERS
By Allyse R. Worland, USA
Article was oryginaly published in NFDA Director
pon learning of the death of one of my
mentors, it was described accurately
during his funeral as a “bolt of lightning on
a clear day.” To each of us who were once
his students in some way or another, we
were left grief stricken and speechless, as if
we were now orphans. This was the impact
of the life of Todd Van Beck, who died a
legend of our “beloved profession.” His loss
marked a great sadness throughout funeral
service, but also posed the question, what
made this man so great?
There is no single answer that could satisfy such an
inquiry. He was an advocate of our profession and
believed in its noble cause. But what I believe to be
the greatest asset he possessed was the gift he gave
of great mentorship. Todd believed in us during the
times when we didn’t believe in ourselves. He was
dedicated to helping all “baby undertakers” to crawl,
walk, run and then fly with him.
Great mentorship is the key to the continuity of our
profession – treating every “student” as if they are
our own and preparing them for the world. Over the
years, I have had several wonderful guides to help
me navigate through my funeral service journey. It
must be distinctly understood that mentors are not
just for those who are starting out on their journey,
but rather for all of us at every stage of our voyage
through funeral service.
My very first mentor was a female funeral director in
my hometown in rural Indiana. After having several
other funeral homes slam the door in my face when
I came knocking at 15 years old, she welcomed me in
and instantly took me under her wing. She taught me
about the importance of taking your time with each
loved one, how to think of each service as the most
important day of someone’s life, and how to dress
professionally – which I would further appreciate
during mortuary school and beyond.
Another vital role she taught me was the struggles
of being a first-generation female funeral director.
I saw how she was held to a different standard since
the owner had been hesitant to even hire a woman.
I also saw how difficult it was to juggle being a parent
and a professional. But she did it with effortless grace
that I still admire today. I worked for her through high
school, and she taught me how to crawl as a baby
undertaker. It was at that point she let me crawl right
to mortuary school and toward my next mentors.
My time spent in mortuary school was stressful.
Back then, we went to class, sat at desks and didn’t
have laptops or recordings during lectures. We took
The average burnout time
for a funeral director is
now five years, which is
extremely concerning.
What is the answer to this?
Great mentorship.
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No. 111 – AUTUMN 2025 | THANOS MAGAZINE
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