Funeral director Rob Tinetti on his career

Or why someone would choose this line of work.

In Rob’s case, the career path chose him.

Rob managed Coles for four years, then started his own production business before getting offered the job by his friend Colin Purslowe. 

“We moved to Northam the same time as their family,” Rob said.

“We became good friends and down the track he was looking for a manager and rang and asked.”

Rob said he was initially hesitant. 

“It was a bit of a shock to be offered a job in the funeral industry,” he said.

“I accepted on the condition that I work in Perth first for a couple of weeks to see if it was for me or not.

“I made up my mind after the first couple of days that this was it.”

The business changed hands a few times, before Rob and his wife Dianne put in an offer to buy the place in 2005, and were successful. 

Rob said there is a lot more to the job of a funeral director then people might be aware, especially in the country with a small team and long distances to travel.

He holds many titles including qualified embalmer, director and business owner. 

“In a small family branch you need to be multi-skilled,” Rob said. 

He said people can have a few misconceptions about the industry.

“I suppose the image of undertakers was a tall thin fella in a dark suit with a top hat,” he joked.

“The premises were usually dark and not bright and light – like it is here.”

Rob said there is a lot more to the job of a funeral director then people might be aware, especially in the country with a small team and the distance they travel in the wheatbelt. 

“We are on call 24/7,” he said.

“We might think we will be having a reasonably quiet day on Monday but that can change overnight.

“It just depends on what phone calls we get in.”

Rob said to be good at the job, you have to be a good listener and a people person.

“You have to like talking to people and meeting people,” he said.

“In general have the family's interests at heart and try to look after them the best you can.”