From the Spring 2025 issue of The Independent magazine.
OGR recently caught up with Maddison Bakker from Huff-Guthrie Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. in Franklin, Pennsylvania about her career in funeral service, her professional inspiration, and more! Check out the article below, and OGR members can visit our digital magazine archive to read the full magazine.
What is your official job title and age?
My official job title is Funeral Director and Certified Celebrant. I am 22 years old.
How many years have you worked in funeral service?
I started helping around the funeral home during my senior year of high school and worked part time while I was attending mortuary school in Pittsburgh. I recently finished up my year-long internship and became licensed, so I've been in the profession for about four years.
Why did you begin working in funeral service?
I honestly didn't think of funeral service as an option until the middle of 2020. My plan was to go to art school in Georgia - I had spent the majority of my junior and senior years in extensive art classes, my portfolio was well underway, and my college applications were filled out and submitted. Then one day, out of nowhere, God tapped me on the shoulder, pointed me in the right direction, and next thing I knew I was sitting in the office at Huff-Guthrie Funeral Home asking for a job. Funeral service has been such an unexpected blessing to me and I can honestly say it's changed my life for the better.
What is the most rewarding part of your occupation?
I was fortunate enough to start working in the same small town I've lived in my whole life. The most rewarding part for me is serving the community that raised me. Being able to provide a final kindness for those I love and their families is a sacred experience.
What are your professional goals?
Looking ahead, I have ideas on expanding our community outreach events and veteran care initiatives. More personally, I want to enhance my skillset as a funeral director and embalmer while building a reputation of integrity and compassion in the community. I plan on continuing my higher education and would like to eventually take on an ownership role.
What are you proud of that you have achieved so far during your career in funeral service?
I only have a few years under my belt, but I'm proud of the professional and personal progress I have made in that short amount of time. I've grown more confident in my ability to guide people during arrangements and my skills in the care center. I discovered I have a knack for teaching paint classes, so we've incorporated art classes into our aftercare program - and they've been a great resource for our community.
What I'm most proud of is the impact I've been able to make through our veteran care initiatives. From our partnership with Veterans Funeral Care and our Wreaths Across America campaign, to working closely with our local American Legion post 476, each effort has been incredibly rewarding. This past year, I had the honor of serving as a co-location coordinator for two cemeteries with Wreaths Across America, where we placed wreaths on nearly 250 veterans' graves on Wreaths Across America Day. In 2024, thanks to the incredible support of our community, we were also able to support two local veteran centers by collecting over 500 toys and more than 300 stockings filled with care items.
What are some important/notable trends that you have noticed in funeral service?
We're all very aware of the current cremation rate statistics. But what we've been noticing is that many of our families decide on public visitation and service with cremation after. A fair amount of our pre-arrangements have been selecting that as well. I think part of the push for some of the tradition comes from A) the lack thereof we experienced during the pandemic and B) the fact that people are learning more about funeral service through online platforms. There are copious amounts of misinformation posted by TikTok funeral directors, but there are most certainly funeral homes with integrity that post factual content and answer real questions. People want to be educated. They want to know about our profession and their options.
What benefits have you received from being involved with OGR Future Leaders? What would you say to others who are uncertain about getting involved with this group?
Being involved with OGR Future Leaders has been such a wonderful experience. It's given me more confidence in my position at the funeral home and I've built relationships with other members of the group. I've met people that I now call friends, and it's been encouraging to know I have them and OGR in my corner as a new funeral director. When my supervisor told me he was sending me to Future Leaders last year I was so nervous! I didn't think I had much of anything to bring to the table. On the first night we all met for dinner and I knew immediately that this was something that I wanted to be a part of. If you're hesitant about joining the group, I strongly encourage you to reach out to any of our members and chat with them.
How do you spend your time outside of work? Is there anything in particular that you enjoy doing?
Our funeral home is right around the corner of our main street. Being in a beautiful Victorian small town, our shops are walkable and the buildings are stunning. I spend a lot of time visiting our small businesses, digging through vinyls at the record shop, working on personal projects at the coffee shop, and taking walks in the neighborhood. At home I enjoy baking and all things culinary (still working on my skills there), reading through stacks of books, painting, and crocheting. Though I don't get out to do this as much as I'd like to, I love visiting our local county and state parks for hiking and sightseeing.
Who or what inspires you?
It goes without saying that I wouldn't be anywhere near where I am today without the support of my family and my significant other. Their constant encouragement, support, and love is what keeps me going. My parents raised me around their incredible work ethic and I've always been inspired by their dedication to their children and each other. My supervisor, Adam, has been amazing to work for. I've seen over the years all of the changes he's made to the business and the work he has put in to make it the beautiful and successful funeral home it is today. Seeing his passion for this job everyday has had a huge impact on my drive to do what we do. Every learning experience has been beneficial to me, and his encouragement through the tough cases has been more than I could ever ask for in a mentor. There have been countless other inspirations to me, but I don't think it would be possible to list them all and effectively express how much they mean to me.
What is one thing that you believe your peers would be surprised to know about you?
Oh boy, there are so many strange talents and fun facts I could share. I suppose one of the more surprising facts is that I have a wide collection of strange instruments, with my most recently acquired one being a didgeridoo!
What do you value most about OGR?
What I value most about OGR are the opportunities and relationships it has brought into my life. Being an OGR funeral home allows us to confidently say we uphold a high standard of care. The resources OGR provides have inspired fresh ideas across all areas of our work, and the educational and social opportunities have been both unique and incredibly enriching.
The association tries to "follow the Golden Rule." What other mantra do you try to live by?
In omnia paratus, 'prepared in all things.' It's a reminder I carry with me daily. I do my best to be ready for whatever life throws my way, but it also reassures me that I don't have to be prepared for everything on my own. My faith is what grounds me. God led me to where I am and has walked with me through both the triumphs and the difficulties. Even when I don't feel ready, I trust that He is.