Funeral Director Daily

The “Man in the Van” reprised

By Funeral Director Daily / July 19, 2022 /

I’m guessing the funeral home entrepreneur “Man in the Van” has been around for going on 50 years.  My idea of the “Man in the Van” or mobile funeral home operator, is that individual funeral director business operator who operates without a permanent venue.  In essence, they take calls over the internet or the phone…

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CANA, NFDA offer valuable insights with conventions, programming

By Funeral Director Daily / July 18, 2022 /

The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) is getting ready to host its 104th Annual Cremation Innovation Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, from August 17-19.  The event will have some of the most powerful speakers in the death care industry involved and on hand for operators to learn from. Brian Waters, funeral director, embalmer and host…

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Earth Funeral announces Oregon expansion

By Funeral Director Daily / July 18, 2022 /

Earth Funeral, which calls itself a “soil transformation provider” announced earlier this month in this press release that they will be expanding services to the state of Oregon.  According to the press release, Oregon began allowing soil transformation (Natural Organic Reduction or NOR) on July 1, 2022.  That makes Oregon the 3rd state, joining Washington…

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Dignity plc annual report: “In time, price drop will lead to volume growth”

By Funeral Director Daily / July 15, 2022 /

There was much ado last year about Great Britain’s largest provider of funerals and cremations, Dignity plc,  and their upcoming change in strategy.  While not apprised of the entire situation, I do know that the company was coming under scrutiny from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) as well as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA),…

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NFL Packers put “pocket” in jersey for cremated remains

By Funeral Director Daily / July 14, 2022 /

I’m surprised I missed this article last October when it was originally published by CBS Sports.  However, I’m glad that I found it recently while researching another article for Funeral Director Daily. The article touches on sports but is, in my opinion, an article on death care, grief, the human psyche, and the movement of…

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The new “work from home” reality

By Funeral Director Daily / July 13, 2022 /

There is no doubt that the pandemic ushered in a new “work from home” mentality for many American workers.  Death care may be a little different in that embalming and cremation cannot be done in a “work from home” environment.  However, many aspects of the death care world, such as arrangers, preneed advising, and many…

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CANA to present Pet Care diversification at annual convention

By Funeral Director Daily / July 12, 2022 /

Some funeral homes including Australia’s largest provider of death care services InvoCare, have embraced the idea of Pet Death Care as part of their service options.  The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) will be holding their annual Cremation Innovation Convention next month in Atlanta, Georgia, and pet services will be an item for discussion.…

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Grief: It softens but lingers. . . . do we ever get over it?

By Funeral Director Daily / July 12, 2022 /

My summer exercise program consists of running 2 1/2 miles on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and bike riding 5-6 miles, depending on the route on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.  I’ve told the readers of this column before that my usual Saturday morning ride brings me from my house on the south side of of our…

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Solace opens East Coast operation

By Funeral Director Daily / July 11, 2022 /

This recent press release from direct-to-consumer direct cremation operator Solace announces their opening of their 3rd geographic area of service in the United States.  The announcement brings forth the opening of a service area in Jacksonville, Florida, that according to the press release, will serve Clay, Duval, Nassau, and St. Johns counties of Northeast Florida.…

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Park Lawn makes acquisition, enters the state of Virginia

By Funeral Director Daily / July 11, 2022 /

This press release issued last week by Park Lawn Corporation (PLC) will tell you of their acquisition of Farris Funeral Service, Inc. and Affiliated Service Group, Inc. (collectively known as “Farris”).  The businesses acquired include one stand-alone funeral home and one on-site funeral home and cemetery located in Abingdon, Virginia. Here’s what Park Lawn Corporation…

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