Funeral Director Daily

Could we have an LBO or Hostile Takeover in the Death Care Industry

By Funeral Director Daily / December 31, 2018 /

One of the things that I find interesting about the death care industry is the continuing consolidation and spin-offs that seem to always occur.  Get a few funeral directors together and they are always talking about who is acquiring who. I’ve been around long enough to see upstart Prime Succession grow fast and then be…

Read More

Christmas, Grief, and Your Funeral Home’s Options

By Funeral Director Daily / December 21, 2018 /

It was back in April 1977 that I remember losing my father to a sudden heart attack while he was serving at a funeral.  As a teenager you remember where you were when you were first told and then the rest of the visitation, funeral, and following time is somewhat forgot except for a few…

Read More

SCI to again sponsor float at Tournament of Roses Parade

By Funeral Director Daily / December 20, 2018 /

In a press release that you can read here it was announced that Service Corporation International will, for the 11th consecutive year, be a major sponsor of the “Donate Life” float at the 130th Tournament of Roses Parade on January 1, 2019, in Pasadena, California. SCI and its brand, Dignity Memorial, will be the sponsor…

Read More

Interest Rates and the Seller’s Reality

By Funeral Director Daily / December 19, 2018 /

If everything goes as expected today, most people are looking for a 0.25% rise in the Federal Funds interest rate as set by the Federal Reserve Board.  There has been a lot of talk that the rate, which if raised today for a 4th time this year, has had something to do with the volatility…

Read More

A New Twist on an Old Service

By Funeral Director Daily / December 18, 2018 /

Most funeral homes have some type of Holiday Remembrance service for those who have lost loved ones in the past year.  Most of these establishments also give out something to take home after the service. . . it may be a plant, a flower, some other type of memento, of even, as is very common,…

Read More

Cremated Remains Stolen. . . What’s your Policy?

By Funeral Director Daily / December 17, 2018 /

Over the weekend we learned that the cremated remains of three people had been stolen before they could be sent to their respective loved ones.  You can read an article and see a news video from Las Vegas News 8 here that explains the situation. From what I can gather remains from Las Vegas Cremations…

Read More

Tomorrow is Wreaths Across America Day

By Funeral Director Daily / December 14, 2018 /

One of my favorite days of December as we move into the Holiday Season is a day that I am proud to say that I am an American and a way that we all can have the chance to honor America and her hero dead.  It is Wreaths Across America day at National Cemeteries and…

Read More

Strategic Acquisitions Continue

By Funeral Director Daily / December 13, 2018 /

Mergers and acquisitions in the death care space are nothing new and actually seem to be accelerating in not only the retail funeral home and cremation space but among suppliers as well.  Earlier this week we learned of Foundation Partners Group acquiring the Loyless Funeral Homes of Florida and we learned of Wilbert Funeral Services,…

Read More

Will subscription services come to death care?

By Funeral Director Daily / December 12, 2018 /

Subscription services have been around a long time.  As a junior high student I can remember how Columbia House Records got their claws into you to be a customer.  Remember, pick 10 albums for $2 and then subscribe to buy one per month – at the regular price – for the next 24 months? Columbia…

Read More

More Issues in Michigan

By Funeral Director Daily / December 11, 2018 /

We learned last week in an article that you can read here from Reuters that a cemetery in Canton, Michigan, has been shut down by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).  It was reported in the article that over one hundred uncremated fetus remains were found at the Knollwood Memorial Park Cemetery…

Read More