Restoring dignity in death: A closer look at the work of a young mortician

For 33-year-old Shene Delport, working with the deceased is not a job she “fell into”; it is a calling rooted in compassion, dignity and respect.

Speaking to the Boksburg Advertiser at the Divine Funeral Group’s Boksburg office, Delport explained that she works as a mortician and undertaker, preparing departed loved ones for their final goodbye.

“I was introduced to the funeral industry at a young age through my grandparents. That sparked my passion for restoring dignity to loved ones.”

Delport specialises in preparing the deceased for viewings, paying meticulous attention to detail to help families remember their loved ones as they were in life. This includes hair, makeup, dressing and styling, all done with care and respect.

“Passing is not like in the movies. It’s difficult for families to see. What we do is give them a peaceful memory, something close to how their loved one looked before they passed,” said the Kempton Park resident.

According to Delport, the work is about more than appearance. It is about helping families find peace during one of the most painful moments of their lives.

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“We give them what they weren’t able to see in that moment. We want families to have peace of mind, to feel that their loved one is at peace and still the person they knew.”

Delport explained that preparing the deceased requires skill.

“It also depends on what the family wants and the circumstances of the death. It’s more difficult to prepare someone who sustained injuries in an accident, for example.”

She added that families often request small, personal touches, from shaving a man’s beard to painting nails or styling hair, to reflect how their loved one looked in life.

“Whatever the family requests and we are able to do, that is what we do,” she said.

While the work can be emotionally demanding, Delport said compassion is essential in the funeral industry.

“We see people at their most vulnerable. We see broken families, pain and conflict. Our job is to guide them through the arrangements without making them feel pressured.”

The role also involves extensive paperwork, from documentation to grave bookings, which families often struggle to process while grieving.

“Sometimes, we have to repeat things because people forget; they are grieving. You need a kind heart to do this job.”

Despite the emotional weight, Delport said the work has taught her valuable life lessons.

“It shows you that life is short. You need to love the people who are here, be present and tell them you love them while you still can.”

Delport officially entered the funeral industry four years ago, although she was exposed to it from the age of 13.

Before that, she worked as a paramedic and later as a teacher after a serious scooter accident left her on crutches for several years.

“I love what I do. I can’t picture myself doing anything else.”

The Divine Funeral Group operates offices in Boksburg and Benoni, with its mortuary located at the St Francis Care Centre.

She added that the funeral group regularly opens its doors to the community, offering a safe space for people who need to talk or are feeling alone.

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