Amanda Hicks
Memphis
Summary
Experienced embalmer and crematory operator with a strong focus on cultural sensitivity and teamwork. Demonstrated success in fulfilling family requests while maintaining compliance with industry standards. Recognized as a Service Excellence award winner for outstanding contributions within the funeral service sector.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Embalmer/Crematory Operator
Dignity Memorial
Memphis, TN
04.2018 - Current
- Performed embalming procedures in compliance with company and industry standards
- Prepared decedents by cosmetizing, dressing and placing in caskets in alignment with market standards
- Collaborate with funeral directors within the market to ensure family requests are seamlessly executed
- Demonstrated expertise in various areas of embalming
- Volunteer as a clinical preceptor for Northwest Community College by working with students as they begin their career
- Collaborate with funeral directors to ensure timely cremations
- Collaborate with funeral directors when necessary on scheduling, often striving to find a compromise
- Ensure cremation paperwork is complete and in accordance with company and state laws
- Regularly active in community athletic events, often representing Dignity Funeral Homes in local 5k events
- Participates in community events that benefit St. Jude Children's Hospital, as well as regularly fundraising for the cause
Funeral Director/Embalmer/Crematory Operator
Greenlawn Funeral Home
Springfield, MO
07.2013 - 04.2018
- Executed funeral services to ensure family needs and wishes were met
- Completed preparation of deceased through embalming procedures in compliance with state regulations
- Maintained a clean and sanitary preparation room
- Ensured that preparation room and crematory had necessary and needed supplies by regularly performing inventory and placing orders as needed
- Coordinated with funeral directors to ensure family requests of deceased appearance were met
- Completed cremations in compliance with state regulations
- Organized record keeping of preparation room for auditing and legal purposes
- Guest speaker for local middle and high schools to discuss the process of death and changes the body goes through, as well as embalming and cremation
- Regularly scheduled to execute transportation of deceased between location of death and funeral home
- Active in community as a volunteer and mentor with the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program
Location Supervisor/Office Manager
Roller Citizens Funeral Home
Marianna, AR
12.2012 - 07.2013
- Coordinated with families for execution of funeral services, burials and military services
- Placed orders for funeral merchandise to ensure appropriate and requested materials were present at time of services
- Coordinated with local cemeteries and veterans associations for burials and military honors
- Prepared paperwork for funeral contracts, obituaries and death certificates
- Coordinated with local officials for death certificates
- Executed funeral services in compliance with family needs and wishes
- Performed embalming tasks in compliance with company and state regulations
- Performed cleaning duties regularly to ensure a clean funeral home
- Ensured that client family files were complete in compliance with state regulations
- Regularly interacted with individuals as they made payments for prearrangement policies
- Counted money drawer weekly with comparisons to receipts and bookkeeping before transferring funds to bank
- Regularly answered phone lines at night to coordinate transportation of deceased from location of death to funeral home
- Supervised small dual staff of 8-10 employees
Apprentice Funeral Director/Apprentice Embalmer
Roller Citizens Funeral Home
West Memphis, AR
08.2011 - 12.2012
- Assisted while learning the procedure of embalming
- Assisted in presentation of deceased for family viewings and services
- Assisted in coordinating of funeral services, including but not limited to: ordering of merchandise; planning dates, times and locations of services; coordinating with local cemeteries and veterans associations for burials and military honors; ensuring information for death certificates are complete and correct; support of families during arrangement process
- Regularly arranged floral arrangements at graveside services
- Regularly transported deceased from location of death to funeral home
- Showed proficiency in computer programs to prepare service materials and to ensure correct information
- Performed duties outlined in state regulations for apprenticeship for funeral directors and embalmers
Education
Associate of Science - Mortuary Science
St. Louis Community College
St. Louis, MO05-2011
Skills
- Funeral service coordination
- Restorative art
- Remains preparation
- Cultural sensitivity
- Teamwork
- Attention to detail
- Cosmetic application
Accomplishments
- one of approximately 55 embalmers in the world who has completed all four courses in reconstructive embalming offered by reconstructive embalmer Vernie Fountain at the Fountain National Academy in Springfield, MO. These courses included, but are not limited to: basic embalming skills; soft tissue repair, wax and airbrush techniques; partial cranial and facial reconstruction; full cranial and facial reconstruction
- four time Service Excellence winner, 2019 & 2020 for location 2322 and 2021 & 2022 for location 4057
- regularly receives positive feedback from client families regarding appearance of their loved one
Certification
- CANA for crematory operations
Timeline
Embalmer/Crematory Operator
Dignity Memorial
04.2018 - Current
Funeral Director/Embalmer/Crematory Operator
Greenlawn Funeral Home
07.2013 - 04.2018
Location Supervisor/Office Manager
Roller Citizens Funeral Home
12.2012 - 07.2013
Apprentice Funeral Director/Apprentice Embalmer
Roller Citizens Funeral Home
08.2011 - 12.2012
Associate of Science - Mortuary Science
St. Louis Community College