Business

The New Math

By Funeral Director Daily / August 13, 2026 /

    As you read this today I will soon or already have given a presentation at the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) International Convention.  I was asked to speak on the Fads, Trends, and Traditions of Death Care from the historical past and looking into the future into what may come.   Looking…

Empty grave case still perplexing, legal issues pending

By Funeral Director Daily / August 12, 2026 /

    Back in December 2025, Funeral Director Daily, in this article, informed you of the case of the empty grave of CBC Canada Royal Glider Pilot Gordon Patrick.  If you read the article you will recall, Sgt. Patrick died in 1973 and was buried in Green Acres Cemetery outside of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.  And,…

Texas funeral director becomes funeral home owner

By Funeral Director Daily / August 7, 2026 /

    It’s a tried and true solution for funeral home business succession but in this day and age you just don’t seem to see it as often as you used to.  That business plan is one of turning a funeral director staff member into an owner.   I learned recently via this article in…

Colorado city tackles cemetery issue

By Funeral Director Daily / August 3, 2026 /

  The Lafayette  (Colorado) City Council reached an agreement on what action to take to help those who have purchased lots in the Lafayette Cemetery and may not be able to use them due to conditions at the cemetery.  You see, back in September 2025 it was discovered that the 150-year old cemetery had record…

NFDA, Selected Independent Funeral Homes to pursue merger

By Funeral Director Daily / July 30, 2026 /

  Yesterday we received this press release from the National Funeral Directors Association that stated a Letter of Intent was signed between the Boards of Directors of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) and Selected Independent Funeral Homes to pursue a merger to unite the two organizations.   The press release also made this comment:…

The U.S. still has Covid-19 deaths

By Funeral Director Daily / July 29, 2026 /

  Maybe it is just because I want to put that time period out of my mind but I don’t think of the global pandemic of 2020-2021 very often anymore.  It was a time period that I was pretty much home-bound and cautionary.  And, I remember it as a time of great uncertainty for many…

Marketing and Public Relations: Better Together

By Funeral Director Daily / July 28, 2026 /

    Today’s funeral homes and funeral suppliers understand the importance of marketing. Whether they have a dedicated marketing department or rely on an outside resource, most companies invest considerable time and resources in websites, social media, email marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), digital advertising, and online reputation management. These tools are essential, and today’s…

National “Cremation Placement Day” coming on October 17

By Funeral Director Daily / July 27, 2026 /

    If you are in the Death Care business you know that the number of cremated remains that reside in peoples’ homes is a large, and more than likey, growing number.  Some estimate that 60-80% of those people who are cremated have their cremated remains brought to a private home initially.   Others estimate…

Can “Roll-ups” work in a “Price-Sensitive” environment

By Funeral Director Daily / July 24, 2026 /

  Earlier his week I heard from a couple of people who notified me that Foundation Partners Group (FPG) apparently had a recent round of employee layoffs. That seems to be confirmed by employee and now former employee posts on Reddit and other conversational websites.  One of those individuals sent me this comment that I…

Somebody finally said it, “Industry revenue for Death Care is estimated to drop”

By Funeral Director Daily / July 23, 2026 /

  Over the years that I owned and operated a funeral home I saw an increasing cremation percentage almost every year.  And, like most funeral homes, my charges for traditional burial were more than my charges for any type of cremation.   If one did not increase pricing, that dynamic in itself would lead to…