meaning of word "undertaker"

[Nadigarhi]

In the sentence" “Mr. N, owner of 14 gold mines in Eastern Siberia…, was known a gifted and talented undertaker, whose life was rich pleasant in and tragic events…” How do you understand the word “undertaker”: do you perceive it as a “one who undertakes; one who engages in any project or business; one who stipulates or covenants to perform any work for another” or “one whose business is the management of funerals”? My “freelance employer” asserts that it is in the first place “a person preparing the dead for funeral or cremation” and is mad at me because of my translation. Please help. Thanks in advance!
Julia

[hobbes]

Hi Julia

Your 'freelance employer' is correct. That is the primary understanding ,and would be a correct assumption given the quoted text.

hope this helps

David

[Casiopea]

In the sentence" “Mr. N, owner of 14 gold mines in Eastern Siberia…, was known a gifted and talented undertaker, whose life was rich pleasant in and tragic events…”

I'm in agreement with Hobbes.

Given the context, there are three possible meanings, but only [1] is English. [2] is a transliteration and [3] is a new word.

[1] (funeral) undertaker
[2] Transliteration: a miner, one who takes gold from under the earth
[3] The verb undertake + er => undertaker