Cremation

Consumer group calls for “cutting out the funeral director as middleman” on direct cremations

By Funeral Director Daily / June 17, 2025 /

    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…

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CANA says “rate of cremation increase” is decelerating

By Funeral Director Daily / June 6, 2025 /
CANAofficialLogoOctober2022

  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 “decelerating” in its growth.  It is, however, a common statistical occurrence for growth rates to slow once the percentage hits…

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“Death should be inconvenient”

By Funeral Director Daily / June 3, 2025 /

  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 struggled to try to fit in a funeral or memorial service between grandchildren’s youth sports events, family vacations, and holidays.…

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“The Mortician” documentary series debuts Sunday on HBO

By Funeral Director Daily / May 29, 2025 /

    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 funeral home that hid behind a façade of decency and propriety to take advantage of loved ones at their most…

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What’s one to do?

By Funeral Director Daily / May 15, 2025 /

  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 in this article from NJ.com that the lawsuit complaint alleges “Howell Township violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons…

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Will Gen Z lead the way back to more traditional funerals?

By Funeral Director Daily / May 1, 2025 /

    I think it is a real longshot and we are a long way from proclaiming that the funeral is back in American culture.  However, a couple of indicators show that Generation Z, those who are in today’s age bracket of between 13 and 28 years of age, may be yearning for a life…

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The Cremation Aftermarket: Here’s a great idea to spur interest and sales

By Funeral Director Daily / April 29, 2025 /

    If you read Funeral Director Daily and listen to me when I have a chance to be a guest on an industry podcast you know that I believe that there is a great, and growing, potential market in what I call the “Cremation Aftermarket”.  My take on the the “Cremation Aftermarket” is that…

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SCI’s “Non-funeral home” revenue is growing fast. . . What can we learn?

By Funeral Director Daily / April 24, 2025 /

  Service Corporation International (SCI), the largest funeral home operator in North America, has grown its “Consolidated Funeral Revenue” 20.8% from 2019 (the latest year not affected by the pandemic) through 2024.  Their annual financial report lists this number as $1.92 billion in the year 2019 and $2.32 billion in the most recent year of…

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Top Stories: Revenue growth, tariffs, acquistions, perceptions, ransoms — there’s an article for every interest in our “Best Read”

By Funeral Director Daily / April 17, 2025 /

  Wow!!  The middle of the month seems to have got here fast and with it comes our list of “Top Read” Funeral Director Daily articles over the past 30 days.   This month it looks like there is something for everybody’s interest.  Our top-rated articles cover subjects like revenue growth, potential casket tariffs, consumer…

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Private Equity makes investment in Alkaline Hydrolysis

By Funeral Director Daily / April 17, 2025 /

  When an investment is made in a business venture the investor has high hopes for a multiple return on their investment.  That can certainly be said for private equity companies who make some of those investments.   Unlike individual investors where passion may fuel the investment, most private equity investments are done with a…

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