Sauer earns funeral director certification

VW independent/submitted information

Sean Sauer, CFSP, a funeral director with Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory in Van Wert, and Gearhart & Jurczyk Funeral Home in Convoy, has recently qualified for recertification of the designation of Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP) by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice.

A number of professions grant special recognition to members upon completion of specified academic and professional programs and CFSP is the funeral service’s national individual recognition.

A select few have distinguished themselves among their peers within the funeral service profession as they continue their education to exceed the highest standards of care. This achievement is especially notable because Sauer has voluntarily elected to participate in quality educational and service opportunities that far surpass what the funeral service licensing board in Ohio requires.

Sauer has committed to a program of lifelong learning to serve individuals and families in the community with the level of excellence expected of a CFSP.

Since its 1976 founding, the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice has had as its goals: 1) to recognize those practitioners who have voluntarily entered into a program of personal and professional growth, 2) to raise and improve the standards of funeral service and 3) to encourage practitioners to make continuing education a life-long process in their own self-interest, the interest of the families they serve, and the community in which they serve.

To initially receive this award, the practitioner must complete a 180-hour program of continuing education activities and events. In addition, the practitioner is required to accumulate 20 hours per year to recertify. Credits are awarded by the Academy for work leading to personal and/or professional growth in four areas:

• Academic activities
• Professional activities
• Career review (for retroactive credit)
• Community and civic activities

Sauer came to Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory and Gearhart & Jurczyk Funeral Home on June 1, 2015, from Columbus. He became a licensed funeral director and embalmer in 1996. He resides in Van Wert with his wife, Heather, and their 2-year-old triplets, Hadley, Holden and Hudson. Together, they look forward to calling Van Wert home.