Funeral Director Daily

Thousands Help Wreaths Across America

By Funeral Director Daily / December 18, 2017 /

I just wanted to point out a short video story news capsule on Saturday’s Wreaths Across America event at Arlington National Cemetery.  We publicized this a couple of times on Funeral Director Daily and let people know that Wreaths Across America was a little bit short of financing all the wreaths necessary.  Thanks for your help…

Pre-Arrangement Operations in the Cremation World

By Funeral Director Daily / December 15, 2017 /

Back in the 1990s as our State of Minnesota began allowing insurance policies to be a repository for pre-need funeral arrangement funding, many funeral homes, mine included, started insurance agencies in order to profit from the decision.  Since, Minnesota is a 100% trusting state, prior to that decision if a family gave you $5000 to…

Small Funeral Homes and Being Bold in Cremation Pricing – Part 2

By Funeral Director Daily / December 14, 2017 /

Yesterday I mentioned that for small funeral homes more than 75 miles from a major metropolitan area it would be wise to be bold in pricing of cremation services.  I mentioned that if you are that far away from a large metropolitan area families in your service area will feel comfortable using your firm –…

Small Funeral Homes and Being Bold in Cremation Pricing – Part 1

By Funeral Director Daily / December 13, 2017 /

It’s Sunday morning and I’ve just read the Minneapolis Tribune and, as I always do, perused the obituary section to not only see the obituaries but also to look at the death care related ads in it.  Last evening I was looking to book airfare for a winter trip for my wife and I –…

Wreaths Across America – Slated for Saturday — Needs Your Help

By Funeral Director Daily / December 12, 2017 /

Wreaths Across America, the non-profit with the big goal of placing a Christmas wreath at the tombstone of every United States soldier is asking for some help this year.  This year, the group’s goal is to not only get enough wreaths for Arlington National Cemetery, but for 1,200 other cemeteries around the world.  The organizations…

Pennsylvania Family Funeral Home To Change Hands

By Funeral Director Daily / December 11, 2017 /

Last week we published news releases concerning acquisition companies Carriage Services and Park Lawn Corporation purchasing funeral properties.  Public companies release their information for all kinds of purposes, including publicity, and we print it.  However, we feel it is important to let our readers know that small funeral homes are profitable and active in the…

Service Corporation Announces New Debt Arrangement

By Funeral Director Daily / December 8, 2017 /

Service Corporation International (SCI), a funeral care public company and a component of the Funeral Director Daily Death Care Index (DCI), on Tuesday announced a new debt arrangement moving forward.  The company announced that it has priced an underwritten public offering of $550 million Senior Notes due in 2027.  The notes have been priced at…

Image Watch — Don’t Let this Happen to Your Firm

By Funeral Director Daily / December 7, 2017 /

Funeral Director Daily recently received an article and video clip from a New Zealand source that captures via dashcam a New Zealand hearse driver going through an intersection.  While that is an every day occurrence anywhere in the world what makes this clip different is that the back door of the hearse flies open and…

Park Lawn Corporation Makes Strategic Saskatchewan Purchase

By Funeral Director Daily / December 7, 2017 /

Park Lawn Corporation announced last week that they had purchased Christie’s Funeral Home and Crematorium in Yorktown, Saskatchewan.  The announced purchase price was $1.96 million (Canadian).  You can read the press release here. The company announced that it was a strategic fit and will build upon their operations in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.  They also announced…

Carriage Services Announces Long Island Acquisition

By Funeral Director Daily / December 6, 2017 /

It was announced at the close of business yesterday that Carriage Services, a publicly traded death care industry consolidator, had acquired the five funeral homes under the ownership of the Thomas F. Dalton Funeral Homes on Long Island, New York.  According to Carriage Services CEO Mel Payne, “The partnership with Thomas F. Dalton Funeral Homes…