After more than 30 years in the industry, Mike Savage has seen his fair share of change in the way funerals are held – from children now attending services, the clothes people wear, to technology changes and more.

Mike got into the funeral service line of work in 1991 and became a fulltime funeral director in 1999.

Although this calling has always meant more to him than just “work,” he says.

“I enjoy what I do. I love what I do. I believe I was created to do what I do,” says Mike.

Kids welcomed

When Mike was a child in the 1960s, he says it was not commonplace for children to attend funerals. Mike was aged 12 when his own mother passed away.

“When my mum died in 1966 – she was 35 – my brothers and I were taken by our father to the pictures on the day of the funeral. So we didn’t go to my mum’s funeral because that’s not what you did.”

He says it wasn’t until 26 years later that he saw his mum’s grave.

“So that aspect has changed, where children are now encouraged to go to the funeral services.

“It’s healthy you know? I remember one time when a family came in to see their loved one and they had a little boy with him. I greeted them at the door and I said: ‘Hello. What’s your name?’ He told me his name. I said: ‘Have you come to see granddad?’ He said: ‘No – he’s dead.’

“But he went in and saw him [his granddad], said: ‘Hello’ and it was fine you know – it took away the mystery.”

Casual clothing

During his three decades-plus in the funeral world, Mike has also noticed a shift in the attire of funeral attendees.

“Once upon a time men always wore suits, or if it wasn’t a suit – it was a jacket with a tie.

“Now the only person that does is maybe the funeral director or a family that say: ‘Hey we’ve got to respect papa. Let’s get dressed up’.” People are now often opting for shorts, jeans and wear hats, says Mike.

“It still does upset me when families don’t dress for their loved one.”

However, Mike does note this is a wider societal change to casual dress, and not just limited to funeral culture.

“It’s a whole lot more relaxed I guess, and we’ve just got to learn to be more accepting. That’s the way it is. People turn up and at least they’re there.”

Technology advances

Shifts in technology have flooded into the funeral space too.

“When I began in 1991, there was no such thing as a livestream. There was no such thing as photo tributes.”

Service sheets were in black and white, but that soon progressed to include coloured photos.

“Then we began to have people who’d come along and video record the service.”

In his early days of funeral directing, music was either played on records or CDs.

“But now you just download the music either on to your phone or on to an iPad.”

Who leads services has become more personal over time too, says Mike.

“When I first began, the minister or the priest did everything, whereas now you invite people up, e.g. to share the eulogy, to share tributes, to share prayers, and every service is different.”

Future of funerals

Mike expects more change to come in the current economic climate.

“Power’s going up, food’s going up, printing of service sheets is going up, cremation costs are going up. To purchase a burial plot at the cemetery now is $4500. People are going to start looking at different ways to conduct a service for their loved one.

“There are going to be changes and it’ll be interesting.”