A body removal technician has opened up about the moment that “breaks my heart every time,” while sharing what it’s really like working around death day in and day out.
For anyone unfamiliar with the role, a body removal technician — sometimes referred to as a funeral service operative — is responsible for transporting people who have died from places such as homes, hospitals, or incident scenes to a mortuary or funeral home.
The work is often on-call and can involve long, unpredictable hours. It also demands careful handling, adherence to strict rules, and professionalism in situations that can be emotionally and physically challenging.
Despite how essential the job is, there isn’t much public discussion about what daily life in that line of work actually looks like.
That’s why one anonymous worker decided to answer questions on Reddit, offering an unfiltered glimpse into their experiences as a body removal technician.
They wrote: “I am a body removal technician, I work in the Toronto area so we are fairly busy. I deal with all kinds of scenes like homicides, suicides, decomp, OD’s, and all that comes with it. It’s a pretty interesting gig!”
In the comment section, one Reddit user asked what aspect of the job still catches them off guard.
The technician said the hardest moments are often tied to calls involving elderly people who have been left undiscovered for extended periods.
The body removal technician replied: “What surprises is me most is when responding to a call for a senior who is found decomposed. They always have so many photos of their families, kids, grandkids etc and are still found alone weeks or months later.
“It breaks my heart every time.”
They also fielded plenty of other questions, including whether the job has ever brought them into situations that felt unsettling in a supernatural way.
“I have experienced some paranormal stuff, one time we had someone hang themselves above a pentagram, lights were flickering and on our way out we heard a door slam,” they added on Reddit.
“Even the police officers on scene were waiting in their patrol cars due to the eerie vibes.”
Another person asked whether the nature of the work has changed how they approach their own life. According to the technician, it has influenced everything from family habits to household setup.
The Redditor revealed: “I’ve been checking in on my grandparents more, I’ve been eating better, I’ve redecorated my room so incase my turn comes sooner than expected, the transfer will be easy lol. (You’d be surprised at how inconveniently placed some beds and couches are).”
Elsewhere in the thread, the worker also touched on pay, stating that they earn $50k per year gross, which they said works out at around $40k after tax.