Once again it is time for Funeral Director Daily to give our readers a 2nd chance to read articles that they may have missed in the past 30 days. We’ve highlighted the Top 5 most read from May 15 to June 15 below. The articles again show the variety of topics that Funeral…
We noticed in this article last week that a consumer group has asked for the removal of funeral directors as “the middleman in cremations, saying it’s costing people money”. Among other things, the group says “it gives them (funeral directors) the opportunity to “hook people into a package deal” charging grieving families for…
Tomorrow night is June 17th and it is the 3rd Tuesday of the month so that brings us the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) sponsored online Peer Support meeting. The monthly Peer Support meetings are for all funeral home, cemetery, crematory, and other Death Care workers. According to information from…
I tried something different last week and had a five-part series on how “Out-of-the-Box” thinking may change Death Care. The series of articles was well recieved and, from feedback I recieved, seemed to make people think. . . even if they don’t think my thoughts will become a reality anytime soon. Joel…
When I look at the long-term trends of democratic countries — countries that I define by having free and fair elections for leaders — I see historical movement towards more “socially economic” values. For instance, when I look at European countries that were founded much earlier than the United States I sense a pattern…
BUSINESS
Death Care Out-of-the-Box: The Epilogue
I tried something different last week and had a five-part series on how “Out-of-the-Box” thinking may change Death Care. The series of articles was well recieved and, from feedback I recieved, seemed to…
A 4th possible death care evolution: More government payments
When I look at the long-term trends of democratic countries — countries that I define by having free and fair elections for leaders — I see historical movement towards more “socially economic” values. For…
Who might be our future competition?
Smart companies look for “Line Extention” to help them grow. I learned a little about “Line Extension” in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s when I served on a Board of Wells Fargo. …
FINANCE
Funeral Home acquisitions: Why not royalties as part of the consideration?
The negotiations to sell and or purchase a funeral home generally involve “what one is buying and how are they paying for it”. It’s pretty common to hear the terms “asset sale”, “real estate”,…
Outside the Box: 4 Things I think will eventually come to Death Care
Over my lifetime some things have just stuck with me. A couple of those things are quotes that share a message of complicated projects or ideas that might seem insurmountable but also give…
Park Lawn adds Colorado locations, completes leadership transformation
In this very brief press release issued out of Toronto, Ontario, last weekend funeral home and cemetery operator Park Lawn Corporation announced that they had acquired two free-standing funeral homes in Colorado’s Western…
REGULATIONS
Consumer group calls for “cutting out the funeral director as middleman” on direct cremations
We noticed in this article last week that a consumer group has asked for the removal of funeral directors as “the middleman in cremations, saying it’s costing people money”. Among other things, the…
A 4th possible death care evolution: More government payments
When I look at the long-term trends of democratic countries — countries that I define by having free and fair elections for leaders — I see historical movement towards more “socially economic” values. For…
A four-day work week for funeral service professionals?
If you have been involved in leadership for any length of time you will find that any decision that you make, even if you think it is the greatest decision in the…
CEMETERY
Memorial Day 2025 — May God Bless their memories
I bring you this Memorial Day thought and tell you that it is a slight reprise from an Easter message of thanks that Funeral Director Daily produced during the days of the pandemic lock…
What’s one to do?
Recently a lawsuit was filed in New Jersey contending a New Jersey township used discrimination in deciding against a Jewish group that planned to establish a Jewish cemetery in the community. You can read…
Are Reinforced Soil Systems the future for cemetery safety and profits?
Geogrid Reinforced Soil Systems (RSS) have long been used by engineers to provide for stability for retaining walls and highway roadways in North America. Now there is a company that has turned that…
CREMATION
Consumer group calls for “cutting out the funeral director as middleman” on direct cremations
We noticed in this article last week that a consumer group has asked for the removal of funeral directors as “the middleman in cremations, saying it’s costing people money”. Among other things, the…
CANA says “rate of cremation increase” is decelerating
The percentage rate of cremation disposition for all deaths in the United States continues to rise, but the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) says in a recent press release that that rate is…
“Death should be inconvenient”
I have a retired Lutheran clergy friend who, when we were both working, was not hesitant to tell families that “Death should be inconvenient”. That sentence usually came during an arrangement conference when families…
PRENEED
“Death should be inconvenient”
I have a retired Lutheran clergy friend who, when we were both working, was not hesitant to tell families that “Death should be inconvenient”. That sentence usually came during an arrangement conference when families…
Raising the retirement age. . . Does it affect Preneed??
Last week the country of Denmark once again set in place an increased age for receiving government sponsored retirement benefits. As you can see in this article those citizens of Denmark born after 1970…
The future of Preneed is looking good
The other day I came across this article from Today’s Will & Probate publication of Great Britain. The title of the article is “Regulation profoundly changing the dynamics of the funeral plan market“.…
PRODUCTS
Who might be our future competition?
Smart companies look for “Line Extention” to help them grow. I learned a little about “Line Extension” in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s when I served on a Board of Wells Fargo. …
It’s “What you Know”
There’s always been an argument about successful businesses. . . Did they get to be successful because of “Who they know” or “What they know”? I’m guessing that both circumstances will help, but in today’s…
“The Mortician” documentary series debuts Sunday on HBO
Here’s what a press release from Warner Brothers/Discovery says about the new series titled “The Mortician” that is scheduled to be premiered on Sunday on HBO: “THE MORTICIAN chronicles a trusted family-owned…
