Training for the Heart of Funeral Service
Mortuary Training Academy
The Mortuary Training Academy provides practical, business foundations, grief-informed education for funeral home owners, staff, practitioners, and associations who serve families during life’s most difficult moments. Built on Martha Thayer’s 30+ years of frontline experience in mortuary science and grief psychology, the Academy offers real-world communication training, emotional resilience education, and professional development rooted in compassion, clarity, and skill.
Whether you’re entering the field or advancing your career, the Academy gives you the tools, scripts, and confidence you need to excel in the sacred work of funeral service.
Professionals The Academy Serves
Funeral Home Owners & Directors
Training and strategic communication support for owners, managers, and licensed funeral directors who serve families in high-emotion, high-stakes moments.
Small & Family-Owned Funeral Homes
Professional development for teams under 50 who want to strengthen communication, reduce burnout, improve client care, and build a consistent standard of excellence.
Associations & Deathcare Organizations
Customized workshops, keynotes, and continuing education sessions for state associations, funeral service organizations, and national deathcare leaders.
Track 1 Communication & Professionalism
• Professional communication in funeral service
• High-stakes family interactions
• Handling conflict and crisis
• Delivering difficult news
Track 2 Embalming
& Tech Education
• Embalming fundamentals
• Restorative art
• PPE & OSHA compliance
• Crematory operations
Track 3
Cultural & Community Care
• Serving diverse families
• Religious, spiritual, and cultural considerations
• Medical examiner & coroner interactions
• Body donation and anatomical gift programs
Track 4 Leadership & Ops Excellence
Professional development for funeral home owners, managers, and small teams who want to strengthen communication, improve staff cohesion, and elevate the overall client experience.
On Demand Training Courses For
Mortuary Science Professionals & Their Staff.
Course 1:
Professional Communication for Funeral Service
Essential communication + attunement skills for grieving families.
Course 4:
Restorative Art Foundations
A practical workshop for restorative techniques and case management.
Course 2:
Difficult Conversations in Deathcare
Scripts, techniques, and conflict navigation strategies.
Course 5:
Ethics & Professional Practice
Ethical decision-making, boundaries, and professional conduct.
Course 3:
Compassion Fatigue & Emotional Resilience
Burnout prevention + emotional regulation strategies for practitioners.
Course 6:
Etc….