Floridian named “Funeral Director of the Year”

By Funeral Director Daily December 19, 2024

    We learned last week that a Auburndale, Florida, resident and funeral director had been honored as American Funeral Director’s “Funeral Director of the Year”.   In a press release from her employers at Foundation Partners Group it was explained that Jennifer Lindell-Roys, a funeral director at the Kersey Funeral Home had been so honored.…

Small business optimism is up, but. . . . . .

By Funeral Director Daily December 18, 2024

  The National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) issued their monthly “Optimism Index” last week and it showed the highest degree of “optimism” among small businesses in America since 2021.  That’s great but, there are also conflicting reports that came out that share a degree of caution among businesses.   For instance, this article from…

Private money entering Death Care, pace of family firm acquisitions, and cremated remains memorialization top this month’s reader list

By Funeral Director Daily December 17, 2024

  It’s the middle of the month and with that comes our publishing of Funeral Director Daily’s “Top Read Articles” of the past 30 days.  This month’s leading articles are no surprises because they are subjects that seem to be on the minds of Death Care business leaders and funeral home owners more and more.…

Funeral home adds two locations, tweaks their brand

By Funeral Director Daily December 17, 2024

  I found an interesting, unique, and well-thought out expansion by a funeral home aimed at bringing their geographical reach closer to more families.  At the same time that this funeral home expanded from three locations to five locations they subtly tweaked their brand name by matching it with “. . .the younger generation of…

More case volume: Organic growth vs. Acquisition

By Funeral Director Daily December 16, 2024

    Last week Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos told reporters in this article that Netflix has no plans to pursue mergers and acquisitions next year. . . . .what is interesting about his comments is that he also said, “We are better builders than buyers”.   I found that a really interesting statement from a…

BUSINESS

Christopher Walken stars in the latest “funeral home” inspired film

By Funeral Director Daily | October 8, 2026

  The movie Back in Black starring Christopher Walken recently celebrated its world premiere in September at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).  The movie stars Walken as Clyde Mortimer in what some reviews call…

Dignity Plc Funeral Services owner: “The legal services strategy has continued to exceed expectations”

By Funeral Director Daily | October 7, 2026

  I’ve had a lot of experience during my time as a Board member and Chairman of Senior Living companies extending “service lines” in order to build business.  And, I think part of the future…

Acquisitions: The price that is paid is all about “The Present Value of Future Cash-Flow”

By Funeral Director Daily | September 30, 2026

  Acquisitions are big in Death Care. . . .and we are being told that with so many retiring funeral home owners. . . about to become bigger.  If that is the case, we will…

FINANCE

Park Lawn Corp purchases business assets of historic Texas funeral home. . . .Strategy may start a trend of facility closures

By Funeral Director Daily | October 6, 2026

    This recent article from the Waco (TX) Tribune-Herald will give you full information on the recent purchase of the business assets of the historic Connally-Compton Funeral Home in Waco, Texas, by the Park…

Acquisitions: The price that is paid is all about “The Present Value of Future Cash-Flow”

By Funeral Director Daily | September 30, 2026

  Acquisitions are big in Death Care. . . .and we are being told that with so many retiring funeral home owners. . . about to become bigger.  If that is the case, we will…

Propel Funeral Partners FY 2026 Annual Report: Pretty much “Statis Quo”

By Funeral Director Daily | September 25, 2026

  Propel Funeral Partners, the largest public Death Care company and 2nd largest Death Care company in Australia and New Zealand, presented their Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Report at the end of August.  The report…

REGULATIONS

Preneed: Your funeral home’s reputation may be tied to your preneed provider

By Funeral Director Daily | October 2, 2026

    I came across an interesting article the other day that reminded me of the unease that I always had in selecting our funeral home’s preneed insurance partner.  My unease had nothing to do…

Will the dispersion of Natural Organic Reduction soil be an issue?

By Funeral Director Daily | October 1, 2026

  Back in August the Worcester (Maryland) County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) approved Natural Organic Reduction (NOR) firm Earth Burial’s request to spread NOR soil on a 14-acre property in the county.  According to…

Health Savings Accounts (HSA) seem to becoming more popular for a variety of reasons

By Funeral Director Daily | September 28, 2026

  It’s been over 20 years since the advent of Health Savings Accounts were swept into law during the George W. Bush administration.  And, a bill (HR 2436) which moves them into the Death Care…

CEMETERY

Will the dispersion of Natural Organic Reduction soil be an issue?

By Funeral Director Daily | October 1, 2026

  Back in August the Worcester (Maryland) County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) approved Natural Organic Reduction (NOR) firm Earth Burial’s request to spread NOR soil on a 14-acre property in the county.  According to…

Recollections of 9/11. . . 25 years later

By Funeral Director Daily | September 11, 2026

    So today, September 11, 2026, marks the 25th anniversary of the 2001 terror attacks on America.  For those of us who are baby boomers, that day is seared in our memory as are…

Nicole Kidman, Sandra Bullock visit cemetery movie screening

By Funeral Director Daily | August 26, 2026

  It’s interesting to me that when I look at the financial results of the public companies in Death Care and also try to understand the continual business potential of Death Care, I seem to…

CREMATION

Will the dispersion of Natural Organic Reduction soil be an issue?

By Funeral Director Daily | October 1, 2026

  Back in August the Worcester (Maryland) County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) approved Natural Organic Reduction (NOR) firm Earth Burial’s request to spread NOR soil on a 14-acre property in the county.  According to…

The devastating effects of Direct Cremation on traditional funeral homes

By Funeral Director Daily | September 23, 2026

  My career in the Death Care business spans from 1980 when I attained my funeral director’s license until today where I keep my eye on what is happening in the business so that I…

Recollections of 9/11. . . 25 years later

By Funeral Director Daily | September 11, 2026

    So today, September 11, 2026, marks the 25th anniversary of the 2001 terror attacks on America.  For those of us who are baby boomers, that day is seared in our memory as are…

PRENEED

Preneed: Your funeral home’s reputation may be tied to your preneed provider

By Funeral Director Daily | October 2, 2026

    I came across an interesting article the other day that reminded me of the unease that I always had in selecting our funeral home’s preneed insurance partner.  My unease had nothing to do…

The shifting preneed trend and the need to make preneed a priority

By Funeral Director Daily | September 16, 2026

  I recently read a blog post on the Funeral Directors Life (FDL) blog written by Todd Carlson, Executive Vice-President and Chief Sales officer at Funeral Directors Life.  The article was titled “Three preneed trends…

Death Literacy: “Concerns over the rapid rise of Direct Cremations”

By Funeral Director Daily | September 4, 2026

  “Death Literacy” is something you may be hearing more about in the days to come.  This article from SABR-A Care Collective mentions that “Raising death literacy aims to equip people with the skills not…

PRODUCTS

Dignity Plc Funeral Services owner: “The legal services strategy has continued to exceed expectations”

By Funeral Director Daily | October 7, 2026

  I’ve had a lot of experience during my time as a Board member and Chairman of Senior Living companies extending “service lines” in order to build business.  And, I think part of the future…

Will the dispersion of Natural Organic Reduction soil be an issue?

By Funeral Director Daily | October 1, 2026

  Back in August the Worcester (Maryland) County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) approved Natural Organic Reduction (NOR) firm Earth Burial’s request to spread NOR soil on a 14-acre property in the county.  According to…

“Drowning in information, starved for knowledge”

By Funeral Director Daily | September 17, 2026

  Back in 1982 when John Naisbitt’s bestselling book, Megatrends, was flying off the shelves (it was before Amazon so it wasn’t being ordered by mail) the book commented that Americans were “drowning in information…