EDUCATION IN THE
FUNERAL PROFESSION
HOW CAN FUNERAL COMPANIES FULFIL THE UN’S SDGS?
By Katarzyna Supa, funeral innovation researcher, editor-in-chief THANOS magazine
elcome to the next instalment in our series
exploring the United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) through the unique
lens of the funeral sector. This edition focuses on
Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality
education and promote lifelong learning
opportunities for all.
Education drives dignity, freedom, and opportunity,
unlocking creativity and resilience for individuals,
communities, and entire economies. It underpins
every Sustainable Development Goal – fighting
poverty, improving health, reducing inequalities,
advancing gender equality, and strengthening social
stability.
As the world grows more digital and dynamic,
education must evolve to equip people with the
skills needed in a rapidly changing labour market.
Businesses cannot stand aside: an educated
workforce delivers quality and innovation, while
educated communities build trust and resilience. For
funeral professionals, supporting learning is long-
term risk management and social responsibility.
Education matters at every level of our work: to
employees (for improving professional skills,
empathy, communication, and mental-health
skills), to client families (for
understanding, informed decisions,
and trust), and to communities
(for awareness, preparedness,
and the stewardship of memory).
Education, in short, is part of our
license to operate with dignity and
credibility.
Let’s explore how our profession
can align with Goal 4 and turn a
field built around endings into a
contributor to lasting learning and
growth.
The Current State of Education and
Lifelong Learning Opportunities*
The reality is Goal 4 – quality education for all
– remains off track. Global learning outcomes
are declining, and deep regional disparities
persist, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite
some progress, 754 million adults worldwide
remain illiterate, 63% of them women. Only
one in six adults participates in any form of
learning, while over 200 million children may
still be out of school by 2030. Many schools still
lack basic utilities, internet access, or qualified
teachers – widening the digital and social divide.
Relevance of Quality Education for the
Funeral Services Industry
Funeral service providers are not only custodians of
ceremonies. They mediate knowledge, expectations
and emotions across several constituencies:
• Employees need strong competencies in
empathy, communication, cultural literacy,
technology, and service management.
Continuous learning is essential to uphold
quality, ethics, and professionalism.
• Client families need clear, accessible
information: how the process works, what
options exist (religious, secular,
or green), what rights and costs
apply, and how memorial choices
influence grieving. Education
reduces confusion, conflict, and
distress.
• Local communities look to
funeral firms as part of the civic
service and cultural infrastructure.
Through remembrance events,
open days, or public talks, they
can contribute to education
around death, grief, planning,
and legacy.
42
No. 112 – WINTER 2025 | THANOS MAGAZINE
SUSTAINABILITY