Memorial Assistant
Compensation: $17.05-$19.00 per hour
Schedule: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Work Arrangement: Full-time, In Person
Primary Location: 1700 Sout Harlem Avenue, North Riverside, Illinois 60546
Waldheim Cemetery Co. provides professional caretaking and administrative services for Jewish cemeteries in the Chicago area. We are seeking an organized, compassionate, and detail-oriented Memorial Assistant to support families and daily cemetery operations. This position is based primarily in North Riverside and requires travel to cemetery and office locations in North Riverside, Forest Park, Broadview, and Chicago.
Prior experience with cemetery operations, memorials, monuments, or funeral service is strongly preferred. However, we also welcome applicants with strong customer service, administrative, healthcare, hospitality, or other professional service backgrounds who are interested in learning this unique and meaningful profession.
The Memorial Assistant works directly with families, visitors, funeral professionals, vendors, office employees, and grounds personnel. Responsibilities include assisting families with cemetery and memorial needs, coordinating memorial orders and dedications, preparing documentation and work orders, maintaining accurate records, and providing professional customer service by telephone, email, and in person. This position combines customer service, administrative office work, and coordination with cemetery operations.
This is a non-commission position. Compensation is hourly and is not based on sales or commissions.
Key Responsibilities
- Customer Service & Support: Serve as a primary point of contact for families, visitors, and funeral professionals by phone, email, and in person, providing timely and courteous assistance.
- Cemetery Navigation Assistance: Help families locate graves across multiple cemeteries and provide clear directions.
- Memorial Coordination: Assist the Memorial Manager in guiding families through available memorial options and in preparing related proposals, documentation, foundation applications, and veteran memorial paperwork.
- Vendor & Order Coordination: Coordinate memorial orders, inscriptions, and services with vendors and internal staff.
- Memorial Dedications: Coordinate memorial dedication arrangements with families, clergy, Company staff, and other participants, as applicable.
- Records Management: Maintain accurate and well-organized records within cemetery management systems (e.g., CemSites) and physical files.
- Historical Records: Review and interpret historical cemetery records, deeds, lot ownership records, maps, and other handwritten documents, including records written in cursive, to assist families and maintain accurate cemetery records.
- Work Orders & Follow-Up: Prepare and track work orders and follow up with families as appropriate after services are completed.
- Weekly Care Report: Coordinate with grounds superintendents to prepare and circulate the weekly care report.
- Multi-Location Support: Provide support across multiple cemetery properties and office locations in North Riverside, Forest Park, Broadview, and Chicago (Zion Gardens).
- Operational Coordination: Work collaboratively with office staff, grounds personnel, and management to support daily operations.
What You Bring
- Strong customer service and communication skills
- Excellent organizational skills with strong attention to detail
- Ability to handle sensitive situations with professionalism, empathy, and discretion
- Comfort discussing memorial products and services with families in a supportive, service-oriented manner
- Prior experience with cemetery operations, memorials, monuments, or funeral service is strongly preferred. Candidates with relevant customer service, administrative, healthcare, hospitality, or other professional service experience will also be considered.
- Ability to respectfully serve families from diverse backgrounds and to learn and follow cemetery traditions, practices, and procedures, including those associated with Jewish cemeteries.
- Strong computer and data-entry skills, with the ability to maintain accurate and confidential records.
- Ability to accurately read and interpret handwritten historical records, including cursive handwriting.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office; experience with CemSites or other cemetery management software is a plus, or the ability to quickly learn specialized systems.
- Ability to work independently while managing multiple responsibilities
- A valid driver’s license and reliable transportation are required for travel between work locations.
- A compassionate, respectful, and professional demeanor.
- Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
Pay and Benefits
- Compensation: $17.05-$19.00 per hour. The anticipated starting rate is $17.05 per hour.
- Full-Time Schedule: 37.5 hours per week (Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM)
- Paid Time Off: Up to 12 days of frontloaded PTO in the first year, prorated in the year of hire in accordance with Company policy, with a minimum first-year allotment of 10 days
- Paid Holidays: Company-observed paid holidays in accordance with Company policy
- Support for Life’s Moments: Paid funeral leave and jury duty compensation (per policy)
- Health & Wellness Options: Eligible to participate in current benefit plans, including group medical insurance; dental insurance; life insurance coverage; short-term disability coverage; accidental death & dismemberment coverage; and AFLAC supplemental insurance plans (per plan terms)
- Retirement Plan: SIMPLE IRA with employer matching contributions up to 3% (per plan terms)
Work Environment & Additional Information
This is an in-person position requiring regular work at cemetery office locations and grounds, primarily in North Riverside, Illinois. Duties may include walking cemetery grounds, occasional outdoor work, and use of standard office equipment. Be part of an organization dedicated to serving families and the community with care, professionalism, and respect in a collaborative and respectful team environment. Authorized business travel between Company work locations is reimbursed in accordance with Company policy.
How to Apply
Please apply through Indeed by submitting your resume. Applicants selected to move forward in the hiring process will be required to complete a Waldheim Cemetery Co. Employment Application before an interview is scheduled.
Waldheim Cemetery Co. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This job posting is not an employment contract, implied or otherwise, and employment is on an “at-will” basis. Waldheim Cemetery Co. reserves the right to modify, interpret, or apply this posting as appropriate in its business judgment. This posting does not represent a complete list of duties, and additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed.
Pay: $17.05 - $19.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
Shift:
Application Question(s):
- Are you able to travel between our cemetery and office locations during the workday? (Yes/No)
Are you available to work Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.? (Yes/No)
License/Certification:
- driver's license (Preferred)
Ability to Commute:
- Forest Park, IL 60130 (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
