Help Wanted! Undertakers!

It’s been a couple of years since my last article in Porcupine Soup. Recently, I was asked to come out of retirement and return to writing about the profession that has shaped my life.

I was just 16 when I told my parents I wanted to become a funeral director. With no family ties to the business, my inspiration came from the loss of two grandparents. Experiencing their wakes, funerals, and burials stirred something in me—a sense of calling.

After high school, I enrolled at SUNY Farmingdale to study mortuary science. Within two years, I graduated, passed the National Board Exam, and began my apprenticeship at Mangano Funeral Home in Deer Park, Long Island. The rest, as they say, is history.

Over the past 50 years, I’ve worked in every corner of the profession. I started with the basics—cleaning, maintaining vehicles, and tending the grounds. Eventually, I progressed to meeting with families, making arrangements, performing transfers, and embalming, and preparing loved ones for their final farewell. I’ve conducted services in churches, synagogues, funeral homes, private residences, and more.

In total, I’ve helped guide over 5,000 individuals through burial or cremation. It’s work I deeply value, not only for honoring the deceased but for supporting those left behind during one of life’s most difficult moments.

There’s a common misconception about what funeral directors do. Many imagine us simply standing in a suit, greeting mourners, and driving a hearse. In reality, the role demands constant availability and dedication. I’ve answered calls in the middle of the night, during storms, on weekends, and holidays—whenever and wherever I’m needed. When a family faces loss, I’m there to help them navigate what comes next.

What many don’t see is the profound trust placed in us, or the deep sense of fulfillment that comes from helping families find closure. The gratitude expressed at the end of a service is something truly unique to this profession.

Throughout my career, I’ve mentored 17 residents on their path to becoming licensed funeral directors. Many have gone on to build successful careers of their own. One of them, Breanna Lennon DelVecchio, now owns Traver & McCurry Funeral Home in Catskill, where I’m proud to continue working alongside her.

Today, more women than ever are entering the field, bringing compassion, skill, and a strong desire to serve their communities. This is a profession for those who care deeply and want to make a meaningful difference.

Interested? Feel free to call or stop by—I’d be happy to talk with you about this honorable and rewarding career.

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Bob Gaus, after 30 years of owning Simpson–Gaus Funeral Home in Kingston, moved to Coxsackie. The past 13 years he has worked in Catskill and serves families throughout Greene County and beyond at Traver & McCurry Funeral Home. Bob can be reached at 518-943-3211 or info@TraverMc.com.

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