Category: Family Ownership

An Interview with Owner & Funeral Director, Scott Found


How long have you been a funeral director?

I have been a licensed FD since 1991 and involved in the funeral business since I was 13 years old.

What led you to this profession?

Following my brother Sam’s footsteps.

What does a typical work day look like for you?

For the past 5 years as an owner, I spend most of my day concerned with the operations of Found and Sons. My main concern is always “is it best for our clients?”. I also try my best to be fair with employees and contractors.

What is the most rewarding part of doing what you do?

As an owner, the most rewarding part of my job is supporting community projects that help the youth, veterans and the elderly. As a Funeral Director, the most rewarding part of my job was knowing that I made a very difficult time easier for a family that was struggling with a loss.

What is one misconception that you think people have about funeral directors?

Funeral Directors can sometimes be thought of as not caring or not emotional. In my experience, nothing could be further from the truth. Do we become desensitized to the acute trauma of death? Yes. But, good funeral directors grieve with you, internally. While we may not have all the outward signs of grief, we feel the pain of each family and we internalize the stories and sadness.

If there is one thing that you could inform people about in regard to this industry, what would it be?

There is nothing wrong with price shopping. In today’s economy, every dollar counts. The best question you can ask a funeral director is: What is the bottom line? Make sure that you are comparing apples to apples as pricing structures can vary from funeral home to funeral home.

What advice would you give someone who is considering becoming a funeral director?

Funeral directing is not your normal profession. Do not expect a 9 – 5 job with weekends off, funeral directors serve those in need 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

How does being a funeral director play into your life compared to having a “normal” job How do you manage to keep a good balance of work life and personal life?

The hours of a funeral director can make normal life difficult. You have to be prepared to miss important life events in order to serve the community. It took me 25 years to learn how to balance work and personal time, and I’m not sure I have figured it out yet.

What do you enjoy most about working and living/working in the Culpeper? What are some things that you enjoy doing in the area?

The people and the land is what makes the Culpeper area so awesome to work and live. Folks are down to earth and honest for the most part and the country vistas are beyond compare.

Who is one person that inspires you? What is one quote that inspires you? I seek inspiration daily from many places but most importantly from my family. My twins inspire me to be a better father and person every day. My parents provide wise counsel in my ventures as a new dad and as an example of the ups and downs in a marriage and raising a “Found”. My wife, Jennifer provides me with inspiration to keep going when I want to quit or get down. My favorite quote is “The Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

 

An Interview with Funeral Director, Jennifer Found


How long have you been a funeral director? What were you before you became a funeral director?

I became a licensed funeral director in Pennsylvania in 1998 and then Virginia in 1999. It’s all I’ve ever done since I graduated high school in 1993. During the period between college and Mortuary school I worked at an undergarment company called Bestform.

What led you to this profession? 

I wanted to be a medical examiner or pathologist at first but during my first semester of college I realized I couldn’t handle 10 years of college and went to a funeral home to try it out and have been doing it ever since.

What is the most rewarding part of doing what you do? 

When a family thanks you for all that you’ve done and tells you that you’ve made the process a lot easier than expected.

What does a typical work day look like for you?

There’s no such thing as a typical day, honestly. I could make arrangements at 10:00 AM, embalm at noon then clean the chapel to get ready for a visitation then possibly go on a removal and make arrangements again. If it’s not that, I could sit at my desk catching up on paper work for a solid 8 hours. It’s something different everyday. No service is the same. No families are the same. You have to be good at multi-tasking and talking with people.

What is one misconception that you think people have about funeral directors?

That funeral directors are just directors. People don’t think that we also scrub bathrooms, embalm, put on makeup and casket people. We also put up and take down tents if we need to, mark off graves in the cemeteries, fill in as pallbearers, shovel snow, wash cars, etc.

If there is one thing that you could inform people about in regard to this industry, what would it be?

That funeral directors work long, hard hours. We do this because it is gratifying to help those when they need it most.

What advice would you give someone who is considering becoming a funeral director?

I always encourage everyone to follow their dreams. Educate yourself and just start working part time at a funeral home to get a preview of what your life will be like. It’s a lot of crazy hours and you really have to dedicate yourself to the profession, but it is a very rewarding career.

How does being a funeral director play into your life compared to having a “normal” job How do you manage to keep a good balance of work life and personal life?

It’s very hard to plan things. You just never know what you’ll be doing from one moment to the next. Your emotions get involved and it’s hard to shut things off in your head sometimes. When you wake up in the middle of the night and your singing, “How Great thou Art” in your head, you know it’s time for a mental health day.

What do you enjoy most about living in Culpeper?

I love Culpeper. I really believe this is where I’m meant to be. I love the small town atmosphere and getting to know everyone in the community. What are some things that you enjoy doing in the area? I love taking the kids to the parks, including Mountain Run  Lake. I love hiking the beautiful mountains we have like Old Rag and White Oak Falls, and most of all I enjoy eating at all of Culpeper’s fabulous restaurants.

Who is one person that inspires you/what is one quote that inspires you?

My husband inspires me.  His positive attitude and great work ethic if the reason this funeral home has done so well.  He loves his community and loves to give back to his community and all the family’s we serve. He was and still is my mentor.  He taught me everything I know and I am grateful for that.

An Interview with Funeral Director, Tonya Backe


How long have you been a funeral director? What were you before you became a funeral director? 

I’ve been a licensed funeral director for two years. Prior to becoming a funeral director, I worked in a local medical office for 28 years.

What led you to this profession? 

I was led to the funeral industry through friends that are directors. I was looking for a second career and thought the funeral industry would suit me as I enjoy serving others.

What is the most rewarding part of doing what you do?

The most rewarding part of being a funeral director is when families express their gratitude for all that you’ve done to help pay tribute to their loved one.

What does a typical work day look like for you?

I don’t think there is a “typical” work day for a director. Our industry is so unpredictable. A work day could consist of meeting with families to make funeral arrangements for a death that has occurred, or meeting with families to make pre arrangements for funeral services, perform embalming, preparing for visitations/viewings, etc.

What is one misconception that you think people have about funeral directors?

A typical misconception people have about funeral directors is that directors are mostly introverts that are odd, creepy, and uncaring.

If there is one thing that you could inform people about in regard to this industry, what would it be?

That pre-need arrangements are transferable. If you have made pre-arrangements with a funeral home and decide you would prefer another funeral home to serve you, they can be transferred.

What advice would you give someone who is considering becoming a funeral director?

My advice to someone considering becoming a director would be that this profession can be a very demanding profession with long hours and even sleepless nights, but if your desire is to truly help serve others, this has to be one of the most rewarding careers you could choose.

What advice would you give someone who is considering becoming a funeral director?

The funeral industry is not 9-5; it is 24/7. When you serve a family, it doesn’t begin at 9:00 AM and end at 5:00 PM. It is when they need you. Keeping a good balance of work life and personal life takes a bit of planning. I have to be certain to schedule time off to rejuvenate. That is the key for me to maintain a healthy balance of work and personal life.

What do you enjoy most about working and living and working in the Culpeper area? What are some things that you enjoy doing in the area?

What I enjoy most about working the Culpeper area is that our community is still quaint and although we are ever-growing, we are maintaining a bedroom community. You can still walk down the street and know someone that passes you, be it on the sidewalk or driving on the street. I enjoy the shops on Davis Street and the rich history our county holds.

Who is one person that inspires you? What is one quote that inspires you?

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are” – Theodore Roosevelt

My biggest inspiration are my children. They inspire me to be the best person I can be. 

An Interview with Funeral Director, Julie Found

What is your connection to Found and Sons? How long have you been a Funeral Director?

My family started Found and Sons shortly before I was born, so I’ve been around the business my entire life. I have been a licensed funeral director since 2015. 

Do you have any early memories of growing up around a funeral home? Any funny stories?

Our first funeral home in Culpeper was in an old manor and we lived on the top floor. As my mother’s favorite story goes, it was one quiet afternoon. My mom and I were in our apartment above the funeral home and Mom had to answer the phone. When she’s done with the call, she turns to look for me, and I had disappeared. I was under 2 years old at the time and my young mother started to panic a little bit. I had somehow gotten out of the apartment, went downstairs to the funeral home, and my mom found me taking a nap in a casket. We played hide and seek a lot in the funeral home, so I guess I was comfortable enough to walk in and take a nap. My mom still loves to tell people that story and it always starts: “I knew Julie was going to be a funeral director when….” 

What led you to becoming a funeral director?

Growing up with two funeral director parents, I couldn’t understand why they would want to do this line of work. They actually discouraged me from getting into it because it really is a dedication more than a job. I didn’t really consider it until college. I had spent a few years working part-time for my dad, and I realized I liked to help families. So my sophomore year of college, I switched my major to business and started on this path. My dad wouldn’t let me do my apprenticeship at our business, so I worked for a much larger family-owned firm in Richmond and really learned a lot. I also realized there that I could handle all aspects of the business and I really loved it. 

What does a typical work day look like for you?

No two days in this business are exactly alike, because everything is so unpredictable. Typically, when I get into the office, I check my email and other messages, see what needs to happen for the day. Next, I’ll start making my phone calls. Sometimes that means calling a preacher for a service, sometimes touching base with a family who has lost a loved, or following up on things from the day before. Later in the morning, we usually have our first appointment, so I will sit with a family and make arrangements for services, which can take anywhere from an hour to two hours. When I am finished with the family, I have to do all the tasks associated with that family. Sometimes that means embalming their loved one, sometimes it means calling and ordering our flowers, casket/urn, etc. The last thing we typically do is go over the plan for the next day.

What is the most rewarding part of doing what you do?

When we exceed families’ expectations. For most people, coming in to make funeral arrangements or seeing their loved one is the worst day of the their lives. If I can make that time a little more comforting or peaceful, I feel like I’ve done my job. The best part is when a family says “I thought this was going to be horrible, and you made it wonderful”. That really touches my heart and 

What is one misconception that you think people may have about funeral directors?

People seem to think that funeral directors are like you see on TV – morbid, dark, kind of scary, but I don’t think we are like that at all. Funeral directors come in all different forms, just like any other job. We are actually quite compassionate, caring and dedicated people. 

If there is one thing that you could inform people about in this field, what would it be?

How rewarding it really is to be a funeral director. Most days I feel like I’ve made a person’s awful day a little better, and that feels very good. 

Typically, Funeral Directors have been a male dominated field, what’s it like being a female in the industry?

Even though it is 2019 and we have females in every workforce imaginable, it is still a little difficult to be a funeral director in this field. Especially being young, I will sometimes be looked as the assistant or the secretary, not the funeral director. Many times, people will ask one of the gentleman assisting me a question, and they will have to answer “I’m sorry, I do not know, you’ll have to ask that young lady there – she’s the director.” It’s not anyone’s fault by any means, it’s just what people are used to. 

How does being a funeral director play into your life compared to having a “normal” job? How do you manage to keep a good balance of work life and personal life?

The work life/personal life of a funeral director can get complicated. We can get wrapped up in the families we are serving so much that we can neglect our own families. As long as you have a strong family support system that understands and cares about what you are doing, everything will turn out just fine. 

What do you enjoy most about working and living in the Fredericksburg area? What are some things that you enjoy doing in the area?

I love downtown Fredericksburg. The restaurants, coffee shops and little stores are fun to visit and I can’t wait to be able to move down there and walk everywhere. I also love how close we are to Lake Anna. I enjoy water sports and boating, so that is always a fun, quick getaway. Fredericksburg is also the perfect spot between two bigger cities so if you want to go to a concert, catch a flight, or see a professional sports game – it’s all still very close. 

An Interview with Funeral Director, Ray Rhodes

How long have you been a funeral director? What were you before you became a funeral director? 

I have been a funeral director for about 8 years. I worked for Coca-Cola as a Sales Manager.

What led you to this profession?

I started out part time working for Found and Sons and liked the business. Sam Found asked me if I wanted to become a Director. I really liked what I was doing and felt like I was helping people, so I decided to go for it.

What is the most rewarding part of doing what you do?

Helping families that are having the most difficult time in their lives.

What does a typical work day look like for you?

Every morning I view all the cases we have in our care to make sure every individual is being cared for appropriately. After that, it’s emails, giving out work assignments for the day to my staff, checking on the services that are scheduled to make sure we have completed any tasks that are needed (confirming ministers, church availability, staffing, etc..), transporting individuals for cremation, embalming as needed, and reviewing building maintenance.

What is one misconception that you think people have about funeral directors?

That funeral directors don’t care about their loved one and that we are only interested in selling the most expensive services to them. With every family, I try to provide them with the best information available for them to make decisions that they are comfortable and satisfied with.

If there is one thing that you could inform people about in regard to this industry, what would it be?

Start planning now! We will all eventually need the services of a funeral home, whether it is for ourselves or for a loved one. It is much easier to make decisions about what services you will want before someone passes away. Making those decisions after someone has passed is inherently more difficult when you are in a difficult emotional situation.

What advice would you give someone who is considering becoming a Funeral Director?

Work in the field first, even part time. Yes the industry is interesting, but it is not for everyone. Most directors have a preference on the types of duties they enjoy, and some that are difficult for them. Without hands-on experience, it is difficult to fully understand what this vocation requires of an individual.

How does being a Funeral Director play into your life compared to having a “normal” job How do you manage to keep a good balance of work life and personal life?

Being a funeral director does not always leave a lot of time and energy for personal time. Take the time when you can. You will spend many days dealing with other people’s personal crisis’s, but it is important to separate your personal life from this. This is not difficult for me; however, it can be very taxing on some people.

What do you enjoy most about living and working in the Fredericksburg area? 

Fredericksburg is a great place to work and bring up a family. There is a huge amount of history here, and many things to do as well. Of course, this area is growing, but it still has the home town feel about it.

Who is one person that inspires you?

The person that inspires me most would be Jesus Christ. Without forcing my religious views on anyone, he is my pick because he preached love and caring for all people. I think we all should take time to look at ourselves and strive to overcome our faults and help others to overcome theirs.

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