Regulations

Judge overturns crematory variance, what’s coming up in our profession

By Funeral Director Daily / July 27, 2020 /

Today’s afternoon edition tells of a Dayton, Ohio, decision by a judge that overturns a variance needed to operate a crematory.  Funeral Director Daily will also give you news of a large funeral home acquisition of six Ohio mortuaries.  Finally, we’ve got some other stories and a listing of some of the events for learning…

Price named to grieving children board. . . more news

By Funeral Director Daily / July 24, 2020 /

The National Alliance for Grieving Children (NAGC) named death care industry veteran Jim Price to its Board of Directors last week.  Price has over 50 years of experience in the funeral profession and is a 3rd generation funeral director.  He currently serves as Senior Vice-President, Industry Relations for Park Lawn Corporation.  Jim, earlier in his…

Are we failing our families?

By Funeral Director Daily / June 29, 2020 /

This is a really difficult topic, but one that needs to be thought about.  This article, entitled “Lack of collective mourning shows way pandemic has altered grief“, appeared in Sunday’s Minneapolis Star Tribune.  It is thought provoking and gets to the essence of why modern funeral directors exist — to care for the living. It…

What kind of funeral service education do we want?

By Funeral Director Daily / June 25, 2020 /

I came across this article from Scoop of New Zealand entitled, “Collaboration to benefit funeral services industry“.  The details of the article go on to tell how different educational institutes in New Zealand are collaborating to develop programs of study for the funeral services industry. For instance, Open Polytechnic “will develop the educational resources, deliver…

Lawsuit against Park Lawn affiliate

By Funeral Director Daily / June 23, 2020 /

Last week Funeral Director Daily learned about a lawsuit against a Park Lawn affiliate cemetery from this article.  The article contends that the American Moslem Society (AMS) of Dearborn, Michigan, has filed a lawsuit alleging an attempt by Woodmere Cemetery to breach its contract with the mosque. According to the article, AMS has purchased more…

FTC Funeral Rule comment period ends. . . what’s next?

By Funeral Director Daily / June 18, 2020 /

The Federal Trade Commissions (FTC) “Funeral Rule” is up for review this summer and the comment period for public opinion into the rule ended on Monday.  So, now that that period is over. . what comes next? First, a little review on the Funeral Rule.  According to the Federal Register of the Federal Trace Commission…

Supreme Court rules in “landmark” civil rights case partly stemming from funeral home employment issue

By Funeral Director Daily / June 17, 2020 /

On Monday the United States Supreme Court issued its opinion in a case that was partly brought to that court from a Michigan funeral home lawsuit alleging discrimination in employment as it pertains to gay, lesbian, and transgender people. Here is what an article from Real Clear Politics (RCP) says of this decision.  “The Supreme…

News funeral professionals can use

By Funeral Director Daily / June 1, 2020 /

In our continuing efforts to keep death care professionals up to date on information available to the profession we pass these items along to you.  Please feel free to share with colleagues and others in the industry. Webinar:  NFDA Town Hall.  This informational webinar is brought to us by the National Funeral Directors Association.  Its…

How COVID-19 death care can affect the economy in many ways

By Funeral Director Daily / May 27, 2020 /

Today (which is Tuesday-as I usually write these columns a day ahead of time) in Minnesota is a warm, humid morning with threats of rain.  I usually take a run every morning and because of the weather I did so indoors on the treadmill while flashing the television between CNBC and Fox News. The television…

A Memorial Day like no other

By Funeral Director Daily / May 22, 2020 /

Monday will bring Memorial Day to those of us in the United States.  It is a day like none other.  Not only does it serve as the weekend when summer begins, but it ultimately is the day all Americans should solemnly, sometime during the day, ponder and give thanks to all who were willing to…