Company: Cataraqui Cemetery and Funeral Services
Location: Kingston
Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Compensation: As posted subject to experience, qualifications, and licensing status
About Us
Cataraqui Cemetery and Funeral Services is operated by The Cataraqui Cemetery Company, an independent not-for-profit organization that has served the Kingston community continuously since 1850.
We operate a licensed funeral establishment, cemetery, crematorium, and monument division. Our staff work directly with client families to arrange and coordinate a comprehensive range of bereavement services including funerals, cremation, cemetery arrangements, interments, monuments, caskets, and urns.
This position offers a unique opportunity to develop a well-rounded career within the bereavement sector. No previous funeral or cemetery experience is required — we will train the successful candidate and provide provincial licensing support as needed.
Position Summary
We are seeking a personable, professional, and motivated individual to join our team as a Cemetery Sales Representative / Funeral Director’s Assistant.
This is an entry-level position suited to someone with strong customer service and personal sales experience who is interested in building a long-term career helping families during difficult and meaningful moments in their lives.
The successful candidate will divide their responsibilities between:
- Cemetery sales and client arrangements
- Funeral director assistant duties
- Administrative and customer service support
- Rotating on-call responsibilities
Schedule & Hours
- 37.5 hours per week in-office
- Additional rotating on-call responsibilities including:
- Evenings
- Nights
- Weekends
- Holidays
- Saturday interments
- First-call/removal coverage
Due to the nature of the bereavement profession, candidates must be willing to maintain flexible scheduling availability.
Qualifications & Candidate Requirements
The successful candidate must:
- Have previous education and/or experience in customer service and personal sales
- Be personable and comfortable engaging with client families and the public
- Possess strong verbal, written, and non-verbal communication skills in English
- Demonstrate professionalism, empathy, and discretion
- Be self-motivated and capable of working independently
- Have strong organizational, multitasking, and time-management skills
- Possess attention to detail and accuracy
- Demonstrate good judgment and problem-solving skills
- Maintain strong ethical standards and professionalism
- Show commitment to ongoing learning and professional development
- Have a desire to become a well-rounded professional in all aspects of the bereavement sector including funeral, cemetery, cremation, and monument services
Mandatory Requirements
Candidates must:
- Hold and maintain a valid Ontario G2 or G driver’s licence
- Provide a clean driver’s abstract
- Provide a clean CPIC / Vulnerable Sector Police Check
- Maintain full scheduling flexibility for operational requirements
- Obtain and maintain appropriate sector licensing
Physical and Emptional Requirements
Due to the physical and emotional nature of funeral service operations, candidates must be physically and mentally capable of:
- Team lifting heavy loads
- Assisting with the lifting and carrying of decedents and/or caskets over uneven ground
- Manipulating loaded stretchers
- Navigating stairs and uneven terrain
- Assisting with loading and unloading remains from vehicles
- transferring decedents from one locaiton to another
- assist with the preparation of decedents for services and/or final disposition ( casket or cremation)
Duties & Responsibilities
Cemetery Sales & Arrangement Duties
- Meet with families to discuss, and coordinate the sale/purchasing of cemetery, cremation, interment, and any memorialization needs
- Arrange and coordinate for the use of cemetery plots, interment services, and monument or marker selections
- Recommend products and services that align with family wishes, expectations, and budgets
- Provide compassionate, professional, and knowledgeable guidance during time-of-need arrangements
- Prepare contracts, documentation, and related records accurately
Funeral Director Assistant Duties
- Assist funeral directors with funeral, memorial, visitation, graveside, and interment services
- Transfer deceased individuals from place of death to our facility or other locations
- Prepare and set up service areas and venues
- Arrange floral tributes and prepare caskets for services
- Assist families and guests during services with professionalism and compassion
- Lead or assist with funeral processions
- Deliver or retrieve documents and other required items
Customer Service & Administrative Duties
- Serve as a first point of contact for clients, visitors, and service providers
- Answer incoming phone calls and emails professionally and empathetically
- Assist walk-in clients and direct inquiries appropriately
- Maintain accurate client and service records
- Coordinate schedules for services, interments, and meetings
- Prepare service materials, programs, and related documents
- Ensure reception and public areas remain clean and welcoming
- Assist with inventory and supply management
Training & Licensing
No previous cemetery or funeral home experience is required.
The successful candidate will receive:
- On-the-job training
- Industry mentorship
- support as required to obtain and maintain sector the required provincial sector licensing
Recruitment Process
As part of our recruitment and selection process, applications may be reviewed and screened using artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted tools in combination with human review and evaluation.
Shortlisted candidates may also be asked to complete additional screening, aptitude, behavioural, or skills-based assessments relevant to the position.
To Apply
Please submit a resume and covering letter to the attention of:
Craig Boals, General Manager
Cataraqui Cemetery and Funeral Services
Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.
- Applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada.
- Artificial intelligence (AI) may be used to assist in the screening and evaluation of applicants as part of the hiring process.
- Cataraqui Cemetery and Funeral Services is committed to providing accommodation in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Ontario Human Rights Code. Accommodations are available upon request for applicants participating in the recruitment process.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: $19.75 per hour
Benefits:
- Dental care
- Disability insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Extended health care
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- RRSP match
- Vision care
Application question(s):
- Are you able to report to work outside regular business hours on short notice when scheduled on-call?
- Do you currently have any restrictions that would prevent you from participating in rotating on-call coverage, removals, or Saturday interments?
- Are you comfortable working around deceased persons and participating in transfers, funeral services, and interments?
- This role includes discussing funeral, cemetery, cremation, and memorial products and services with families. Are you comfortable working in a professional sales and consultation environment?
- In 150-200 Words please explain what interests you most about this specific role and why do you feel you would be a good fit for our organization?
- This role includes working around or handling deceased persons. Are you comfortable with this?
- This position includes rotating evenings, weekends, holidays, and on-call responsibilities. Are you able to maintain full scheduling flexibility as required by the bereavement sector?
- Do you currently have any pre-planned absences, travel commitments, or scheduling limitations within the first six months of employment that may affect your availability for training, on-call scheduling, or regular attendance requirements of this position? Yes or No
Licence/Certification:
- Ontario G class driver's License (required)
Work Location: In person
