Back in junior high school when I took aptitude tests for future employment ideas the results for my tests were always that I should go into “Marketing”. I pursued mortuary science but I do believe that my “marketing aptitude” was helpful in building our funeral home business. And, while “marketing” can be about…
We learned last week that Albuquerque, New Mexico, based French Funerals & Cremation was sold. The company, founded in 1907 by Chester French, and operated by descendants for the past 115 years, elected to keep the company private and sold to long-time French company executives Tom Antram and Alice Brousseau according to this article…
I’ll be the first to tell you that I’m certainly not an expert on the subject of faith preference and burial customs because the community that I served was, I’m guessing, at least 95% Christian of those that practiced faith. However, I know some of the history since as before Vatican II in…
I’ve said it before and truly believe it. Death care is changing and will continue to change. No longer are traditional funeral homes the only option for those who need death care services. Have you heard of the “Be a Tree Cremation Service” of Denver, Colorado, yet? Neither had I until this past…
Children survivors: 12 year-old leads rally for “Bereavement classes” to be taught in public schools
My younger brother, Jim, and I learned about the death of a parent the hard way. I was a 19 year-old Freshman in college and he was a 15 year-old Sophomore in high school when our father died of a sudden heart attack while servicing a funeral. Immy Leith learned the hard way,…
BUSINESS
How do consumers come up with the money to pay for funerals?
Yesterday we took a look at how funeral merchants should expect their clients to pay for the services that they select. Our article took a look at crowdfunding, credit cards, savings, and, of…
Paying for a funeral
I ran across this article the other day that is entitled, “Financing a Funeral: Crowdfunding, insurance, credit cards, loans, and payment plans”. The article comes from a publication called “The Enlightened Mindset” and appears directed…
Will “State of Mind” affect the acquisition market in 2023?
People from not only the United States, but from almost every country around the world have seen a whip-saw of economic conditions since the pandemic year of 2020. It was a pandemic economy that…
FINANCE
Dignity plc accepts buy-out offer
According to this article from Yahoo, Great Britain’s largest public death care company, Dignity plc, has accepted a buyout offer from a consortium that includes its largest shareholder group and one of the country’s…
Albuquerque’s historic French Funeral and Cremation business sold to executive employees
We learned last week that Albuquerque, New Mexico, based French Funerals & Cremation was sold. The company, founded in 1907 by Chester French, and operated by descendants for the past 115 years, elected to…
British funeral/cremation provider Dignity plc in takeover talks with private parties
Reuters reported last week that Dignity plc, Great Britain’s largest provider of death care services “(was) in advanced talks with a consortium compris(ed) of investment firms SPWOne V Ltd. and Castelnau Group Ltd. after…
REGULATIONS
More Jewish families opting for cremation
I’ll be the first to tell you that I’m certainly not an expert on the subject of faith preference and burial customs because the community that I served was, I’m guessing, at least 95%…
Children survivors: 12 year-old leads rally for “Bereavement classes” to be taught in public schools
My younger brother, Jim, and I learned about the death of a parent the hard way. I was a 19 year-old Freshman in college and he was a 15 year-old Sophomore in high school…
Body brokers sentenced to prison
“This is the most emotionally draining case I have ever experienced on the bench,” U.S. District Judge Christine M. Arguello said during Tuesday’s (January 3, 2023) sentencing hearing in Grand Junction, Colorado. That was…
CEMETERY
The interesting ownership of New York’s Pinelawn Cemetery
I live in flyover country so I don’t pretend to be an expert on the customs and traditions of New York’s funeral and cemetery business. However, I’ve been in the death care business my entire…
Wreaths Across America . . . Remember-Honor-Teach
If you are part of the Death Care business in North America part of your goal is to move families from grief to remembrance of their loved one. And, if we are honest about it,…
Winter at the Cemetery
As you may know I have lived my entire life in Minnesota. . . and this past weekend winter arrived. We had a little brush with snow and then our first Zero degree day was…
CREMATION
More Jewish families opting for cremation
I’ll be the first to tell you that I’m certainly not an expert on the subject of faith preference and burial customs because the community that I served was, I’m guessing, at least 95%…
CANA announces “First-of-its-Kind” credential for Cremation Specialist
The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) has developed an all new program to train cremation specialists. The first class begins in January 2023 and registration begins today. The following is complete information from CANA:…
Are funeral directors losing their “clout”?
There was a time when if you needed information on a task or a service you went direct to the source to find the information needed. Remember, when your watch didn’t work you would take…
PRENEED
How do consumers come up with the money to pay for funerals?
Yesterday we took a look at how funeral merchants should expect their clients to pay for the services that they select. Our article took a look at crowdfunding, credit cards, savings, and, of…
Paying for a funeral
I ran across this article the other day that is entitled, “Financing a Funeral: Crowdfunding, insurance, credit cards, loans, and payment plans”. The article comes from a publication called “The Enlightened Mindset” and appears directed…
There’s opportunity out there. . . go get the business
Last week was a great week to be inside in Minnesota. While many people were trying to get home for the holidays we had temperatures of 15 below zero with winds gusting into the…
PRODUCTS
I’ve said it before, “The niches are coming” to funeral service
I’ve said it before and truly believe it. Death care is changing and will continue to change. No longer are traditional funeral homes the only option for those who need death care services. …
Is hospice an ally or a threat?
Lee Webster has co-founded an organization known as the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance and served in leadership positions at the National Home Funeral Alliance and the Green Burial Association. According to this recent…
New York state approves human composting
One of the things that happened at the end of 2022 is that New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill into law that permits the State of New York to add Natural Organic…
