Layla Drozd

Interview Assignment
COMM 1010 sec. 42
Fall 2015
I have been interested in the medical field for as long as I can remember.
Over the past few years, though, my interest has been captured by forensic pathology:
a specialty of pathology that determines the mode of death through examination of the
corpse. It sounds really morbid, but I like the logical thought process that is applied to
solve cases of suspicious death.
To reach my goal, I am enrolled in the mortuary science program at SLCC.
This course prepares you for work as a funeral director. The duties of a funeral director
can involve embalming, cremation and autopsies as well as organizing the funeral
services and speaking to the families.
McClain Lindquist is an owner/funeral director for Lindquist Mortuary. He
oversees and maintains the daily operations for four locations. He is a fifth generation
funeral director for the first mortuary business in the state of Utah. He has been working
at Lindquist Mortuary since 1991. Mr. Lindquist was kind enough to take time out of his
busy day to give me a personally guided tour, and answer some of my many questions.
The interview took place at Lindquist Ogden Mortuary 3408 Washington Blvd.,
Ogden, UT. Constructed in 1941, this facility boasts the largest chapel
(nondenominational) of any funeral home in Utah and serves as headquarters for the
seven other funeral homes owned and operated by the Lindquist Family Business. This
location also includes several viewing and meeting rooms, cold storage, embalming

rooms, crematorium, and garage for the funeral carriages and limousines available for
services.
NOTE: Prior to meeting with McClain Lindquist, he expressed his distaste for
interviews of this nature. He receives requests for interviews frequently, and agrees to
at least one a month. He explained to me that, while he is happy to help students who
are contemplating entrance into the field, he finds the interviews themselves to be
monotonous because everyone always asks the same questions. In an effort to make
our encounter more pleasant for him, I conducted some independent research for the
dull questions and have included my findings in the following paragraph.
Morticians, also known as Funeral Directors or Undertakers generally enter the
work force in Utah with an entrance salary of $28,400 and can earn as much as
$79,350 per year. The average salary is $50,420. Depending on their employer, they
may or may not receive health insurance. Lindquist Mortuary offers superior health
insurance through their sister company Great Western Insurance, as well as a 401k
plan.
Morticians are required to earn an associates degree in Mortuary Science,
though a Bachelors Degree is preferred. An apprenticeship is required prior to the
application for licensure with the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA). In
Utah, the apprenticeship is to last one year and the apprentice is required to perform at
least 50 embalmings in that period of time. Morticians also must keep their CPR and
First Aid certification current. Addition certification that is recommended, but not
required is, Certified Crematory Operator as well as Certified Preplanning consultant

Q: How competitive is the market right now?

A: This is a pretty competitive market. Most Mortuaries are family owned and have
been competing with each other for generations.
Q: Do you own the graveyards, or are they owned privately?
A:We own three sites: Washington Heights, Lindquist Memorial, and Memorial
Gardens. We will, however, arrange and conduct services at any cemetery.
Q: Are your customers responsible for paying property taxes on their graveyard plots?
A: No, we pay the property taxes.
Q: What about headstones? Do you outsource orders?
A: We make our own headstones. We have this really great machine that can carve
even the most intricate design into the stone with lasers.
Q: What kind of disposition services do you provide?
A:Burial and cremation.
Q: What is the most popular?
A: Burial.
Q: Does the case go through the same preparation process prior to burial?
A: Each case is different. Cases are preserved whether they are destined to be buried
or cremated, but we dont do as much aesthetic repair for possible trauma or apply
cosmetics for cremation cases.
Q: How long does it take to prepare a body for disposition?
A: That really depends on the level of decomposition, trauma, and the size of the
person.

Q: How about for someone of average weight and height, who suffered no physical
trauma, and was brought from the hospital?
A: About two hours. One and a half hours for embalming, and a half hour for clothing
and cosmetics.
Q: Do you charge extra for morbidly obese cases?
A: Yes. Certain accommodations, such as casket size and the amount of preservation
chemicals needed must be made for overweight cases.
Q: Do you perform autopsies?
A: Rarely. We can, and I have, but we try to discourage families from choosing to
autopsy.
Q: And why is that?
A: Its a very expensive and time consuming procedure. And, in my experience, the
family is not consoled by the information revealed by the autopsy. If a case were a
suspected homicide, the police would have called the forensic pathologist in to perform
the autopsy. It just doesnt give the family closure, and I cant, in good conscience,
advice them on this unnecessary and costly procedure.
Q: How long does a case stay in your facility awaiting disposition?
A: About 2-7 days.
Q: What is the strangest request you have received?
A: A family wanted me to remove and preserve someones tattoos once.
Q: Gross. What did you do?
A: I cut them off, put them in a jar of saline solution and gave the jar to the family.
Q: How much interaction with the bereaved do you have?

A: A lot. I sit down with them and make all of the arrangements. We also can help them
file life insurance claims, and provide resources for grief counseling.
Q: Thats very generous of you.
A: Well, we have been a part of the community a long time. Ive buried friends and
family myself, I know where theyre coming from and how theyre feeling. We also do
not charge for kids. Anyone under 19 and living at home will be taken care of, free of
charge, by us.
Q: Thats incredibly generous. How much does the average funeral cost?
A: About $10,000.
Q: And how many do you perform per year?
A: This location had about 1500 cases last year.
Q: Do you issue death certificates?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you work closely with police?
A: Not really. If they want to take a statement from the person who picked up the case,
theyll call. But apart from that, no. Not often.
Q: You just mentioned that you pick up cases. Is that a 24 hour service?
A: Yes. We always have at least one person on call.
Q: Do they clean up any mess that may be at the scene as well?
A: No, we hire someone else to do that.
Q: Are there paupers graves in Utah?
A: Sadly, yes. The indigent are either cremated by the county or they are buried in an
unmarked communal grave.

Q: Do you exhume as well?

A: Yes. It is very unpleasant for everyone involved.
Q: What qualities do you look for when hiring?
A: Honesty, empathy, and sympathy.
Q: What is your least favorite aspect of this job?
A: The hours. I always have to work holidays and can be called in at any time.
Q: Do you feel that you are stereotyped by strangers as a result of your career choice?
A: Absolutely. Death is taboo and whenever someone finds out about what I do, I am
bombarded with questions. It makes personal relationships difficult since I am often
viewed as a novelty.
Q: How has your close proximity with death affected your views on life?
A: Life has become more precious.
Q: Would you have still chosen this career had it not been for the fact that its a family
business?
A: No.
Q: If you dont mind my asking, what would you have preferred to do?
A: I wanted to be an anthropologist.

This interview, (though it feels odd to call it such, for reasons is will soon explain)
lasted about 2 hours and included a guided or of the facilities and a brief history of the
company. This aspect of the experience exceeded all my expectations. The actual Q&A
portion of this interaction was decidedly uncomfortable, especially at first. McClain took
control of the interview immediately after we greeted each other and maintained it for

the duration of the interview. He essentially explained his job and basic procedures,
unprompted by me, as he led me through the various rooms and buildings. At first I tried
to gently wrest control of the situation from him by asking pointed questions that were
intended to break his pace and establish a more back-and-forth type of dialogue. His
responses to these initial questions were curt and dismissive, and I was even verbally
reprimanded for the improper use of the word coffin! After his outburst I decided that it
would be wise to let him lead the conversation and pose any further questions I had
if/when they became pertinent. Eventually, he seemed to relax a bit and our
conversations fell into a smooth and comfortable rhythm. Towards the end of our time
together he apologized for his outburst. He further explained the negative impact that
the taboo of death and his job has had on his personal life. People just want to hear
gross stories and dont have any respect for death or my work. I work with people who
have lost a loved one and who are devastated, this person may have died in a horrific
and traumatizing way. I feel for them and their families. The general public views me as
a novelty and it really gets under my skin.
Despite the fact that nothing about my interview with McClain Lindquist went as
planned, I sincerely appreciate the knowledge and insight that I acquired and would not
change anything, if I was given the chance. The revelation of the difficulties he
encounters in social situations was especially poignant. I have also recognized the
macabre curiosity that seems to flicker behind someones eyes when I tell them what I
plan on doing with my life. I understand their curiosity, perhaps because death isnt the
family business, and am patient with the inevitable responses that can range from shock
to judgement. I hope that since I have chosen this career path for myself that I will be

more emotionally predisposed to deal with this stigma in an appropriate and

professional manner, but only time will tell.