O, Holy night! The stars are brightly shining It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth O night divine, O night when Christ was born O night, O Holy night, O night divine! Enter your e-mail below to join the 3,201 others who receive Funeral Director Daily articles daily Subscribe…
We all worry — probably too much. We worry about finances, we worry about weather, we worry about our children. Trust me, I think everybody worries a lot — like I said, probably too much. Over the past week I’ve had a couple of experiences that have made me want to count…
Everstory Partners, who may be the nation’s 2nd largest Death Care provider by serving over 65,000 families per year, recently announced completed renovations at their Cedar Hill Funeral Home just outside Washington, DC. This press release from Everstory will give you more information on the recent transformation at the funeral home that serves about…
If you own, operate, or manage a funeral home or cemetery you get lots of advice — including from Funeral Director Daily at times. However, I’ve also learned over 40+ years of business ownership in various enterprises, that while it it good to consider all the advice you get, it is most of the…
A recent report (November 2025) from the State of New York Department of Health with the results of an audit “which covered April 2019 through November 2023, concluded that the state Department of Health and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene must improve oversight and coordination to address significant…
BUSINESS
Make sure your obituary postings get seen
It’s imperative in today’s information age where all kinds of information is available to the public that the obituaries your funeral home disseminates get seen by the appropriate audience. It’s no different than what…
Harvard business professor: Time to pay funeral expenses of organ donors
According to this recent article authored by Alex Chan of the Harvard Business School and Kurt Sweat of The School of Public Health at the University of Texas Southwest Medical Center “In the U.S.,…
Future Funeral Directors: Education, License Portability, Hiring Practices all in flux
I spent six years as a board member of the University of Minnesota, which comprises the 8th largest campus by enrollment in the United States counting over 55,000 students. During that tenure I spent two…
FINANCE
Everstory Partners publishes “Year in Review”
Recently private company Everstory Partners, who may be the 2nd largest Death Care services company in North America ranked on revenue, published an impressive “Year in Review” document that you can access here.…
Park Lawn Corporation makes leadership changes
Last evening funeral service publication Connecting Directors reported that Park Lawn Corporation made leadership changes earlier in the week that included the replacement of Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Hay and Chief Operating Officer…
Bitget on SCI: “. . a focus on compounding value through operational excellence and strategic acquisitions, not rapid volume growth.”
Every so often I come across an investment article that not only gives an opinion on a certain company in Death Care but also mentions the Death Care business in general and intimates on…
REGULATIONS
Harvard business professor: Time to pay funeral expenses of organ donors
According to this recent article authored by Alex Chan of the Harvard Business School and Kurt Sweat of The School of Public Health at the University of Texas Southwest Medical Center “In the U.S.,…
Heating homes with cremation emissions: An ethical question?
Energy transfer is not a new science. Yet I was surprised when I read this recent article published in The World – Public Radio that was titled “How cremations are helping to heat…
Future Funeral Directors: Education, License Portability, Hiring Practices all in flux
I spent six years as a board member of the University of Minnesota, which comprises the 8th largest campus by enrollment in the United States counting over 55,000 students. During that tenure I spent two…
CEMETERY
This might give a new meaning to “Permanent Memorialization”
I’m a big fan of “permanent memorialization” for the simple fact that that memorialization of that type continues to give creedence to a “life that was lived”. I’ve seen the graves and permanent memorialization…
SCI: Strategy changed in early 2000’s to target 8-12% Earnings Growth
Service Corporation International (SCI) recently participated at the J.P. Morgan Industrials Conference and were represened there by Senior Vice-President and Treasurer Aaron Foley. Seeking Alpha provided a transcript of Foley’s comments and answers…
There has to be another side to this story
Late last week Fox 6 TV of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, broke a story pertaining to Death Care that I found to be incredulous. Here’s the headline, “Milwaukee County funeral home debt; officials move to collect…
CREMATION
Heating homes with cremation emissions: An ethical question?
Energy transfer is not a new science. Yet I was surprised when I read this recent article published in The World – Public Radio that was titled “How cremations are helping to heat…
This might give a new meaning to “Permanent Memorialization”
I’m a big fan of “permanent memorialization” for the simple fact that that memorialization of that type continues to give creedence to a “life that was lived”. I’ve seen the graves and permanent memorialization…
We’ve truly “Turned the Corner”
There is no doubt that when one thinks of the idea of an embalmer around the time of the Civil War (1860’s in the U.S.) or one known as an “undertaker” in the same…
PRENEED
Propel Funeral Partners First-Half FY2026 continues upward trends
When you look at the First-Half of the 2026 Fiscal Year for Propel Funeral Partners you will not notice anything “earth shattering”. From my point of view, when that is the case with an…
Funeral planning: There seems to be a gap between “Perception and Action”
Funeral planning is an interesting topic on an individual basis. In my opinion, regardless of your age, self-mortality is a thought all human beings have at more than one point in their lives. …
Homesteaders celebrates 120 years, $5 Billion in force
In a press release received the other day, Homesteaders Life Company, a national leader in Preneed Death Care funding announced that 2026 marks the 120th year for the company. The company issued its first…
PRODUCTS
Make sure your obituary postings get seen
It’s imperative in today’s information age where all kinds of information is available to the public that the obituaries your funeral home disseminates get seen by the appropriate audience. It’s no different than what…
Heating homes with cremation emissions: An ethical question?
Energy transfer is not a new science. Yet I was surprised when I read this recent article published in The World – Public Radio that was titled “How cremations are helping to heat…
“Perceived Value” is now the strongest driver of Death Care customer satisfaction
Last week Johnson Consulting Group (JCG) released their annual “Sales and Customer Service Trends” report for 2026. The report is compiled by customer surveys that over the past five years and have included…
