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Forty years after starting work as a funeral director, Jason Morrison still considers it a privilege to help families through some of the toughest days of their lives.
Jason, of Warkworth-based Jason Morrison Funeral Services, began his career as a funeral director on Auckland’s North Shore in August 1986, six months after finishing an electrical apprenticeship.
Five years later, he returned to the area where he grew up and opened Jason Morrison Funeral Services in Warkworth.
Thirty-five years since opening the business, Jason, his wife Nicola and their team continue to be a trusted funeral service for families in their time of need.
As he marks four decades in the profession, Jason says there have been plenty of changes along the way.
“When I first started, there were no computers. Funerals had a service sheet with hymns, as most were church services, and then, over time, we started using more technology. When scanners and colour photocopiers came out, it was amazing,” he says.
Jason says keeping up with technology has been one of the main challenges over the years, particularly as funeral services have evolved and families’ expectations have changed.
And, while the industry may have evolved, Jason says the importance of supporting families during their time of need remains the same.
“If you can help people with their grief during the funeral and start them off in the right direction, then they may have a better grief journey, so providing a personalised service is important,” he says.
Although funeral directing might seem like an unusual career choice, Jason believes his interest in the profession began at a very young age thanks in part to his grandfather, who used to take him to visit the grave of his uncle, who was electrocuted at the age of 22.
In his teenage years, Jason attended his aunt’s funeral and found himself enthralled with the proceedings.
“I saw the funeral director with his smart car and all dressed up, and I thought, ‘I think I can do that,’” he says.
Despite that early ambition, Jason chose the more conventional option of an electrical apprenticeship after leaving school. On the day he finished his apprenticeship, he visited a funeral home to learn more about the job.
He later took two weeks’ holiday and worked there unpaid, and when the funeral home needed someone to help out, Jason was the person they called.
Six months after finishing his apprenticeship, he had changed careers from electrician to funeral directing and never looked back.
After more than 35 years running his own business, Jason says he has been around long enough to serve different generations of the same families.
“It’s nice dealing with families that you know and have dealt with before. Each person is significant in their own way and acknowledging that significance makes it more personal.”
Jason says one of his greatest achievements is his longevity in the profession and knowing he may have helped people through some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
“The longevity is something that I’m pleased with. I feel like I have made a difference, and I hope I have made a difference in people’s lives,” he says.
