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 homes in Denmark“. One of my first thoughts is always about entrepreneurship and the idea that funeral homes with…
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 of those years as Chair of the Finance Committee and two years as Chair of the Mission Committee which deals…
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 what companies have to do to be profitable. I find those articles are important to read so that one can…
Back in 1990 or 1991 I was invited to an event hosted by the late Tom Johnson for funeral profession leaders. With rare exception, I have continued to attend the annual event for the past 35 years and much of what I was able to learn about the greater Death Care world came from…
Who’s writing the reviews? That’s one question that businesses, including funeral homes and cemeteries, don’t want potential consumers asking. I recently read an article in Funeral Service Times “that indicate(s) 89% of people refer to product or service reviews before making purchases.” If true, that is an incredibly high proportion of shoppers and…
BUSINESS
Employees may need their Employer or Manager to be more than a Death Care mentor
I feel very fortunate that I grew up in a household that valued knowing what was going on in the world around us. We always were encouraged to watch the national evening news to…
It’s not all about your “Platform”. . . Be a “Pillar” for long-term success
I attended church on Sunday and heard a sermon that I thought worthy of sharing with my funeral home colleagues. The sermon ended up being about the difference between “building a Platform” and “becoming…
Funeral homes can add service lines to increase revenue streams
Funeral homes and cremation providers have seen the revenue numbers that they bring in flatten as more consumers have continued to prefer less expensive services, such as cremation, over traditional burials for the…
FINANCE
Security National Financial 2Q Results: Cemetery carries the Cemetery/Mortuary segment
Overall, Security National Financial Corporation (SNFC), the Utah-based company with its base in the Death Care industry, had a positive 2nd Quarter of 2026 with Earnings before Taxes increasing 8.6% (7.3% After Taxes)…
Matthews International Earnings Call: “Challenges, Challenges”
On August 7, Matthews International, a leader in the Death Care supply and equipment business, held their quarterly earnings call to give their opinion of the company’s Fiscal 3rd Quarter 2026 results and answer…
Carriage Services 2nd Quarter Earnings Call: Dealing with lower volumes
On August 6, Carriage Services held their quarterly earnings call to give their opinion of the company’s 2nd Quarter 2026 results and answer questions from analysts who cover the company. We’re ten days removed…
REGULATIONS
Empty grave case still perplexing, legal issues pending
Back in December 2025, Funeral Director Daily, in this article, informed you of the case of the empty grave of CBC Canada Royal Glider Pilot Gordon Patrick. If you read the article you…
Colorado city tackles cemetery issue
The Lafayette (Colorado) City Council reached an agreement on what action to take to help those who have purchased lots in the Lafayette Cemetery and may not be able to use them due to…
NFDA, Selected Independent Funeral Homes to pursue merger
Yesterday we received this press release from the National Funeral Directors Association that stated a Letter of Intent was signed between the Boards of Directors of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) and Selected…
CEMETERY
Everstory Partners aims for more of the “Upper K”
Not every consumer is looking for the $999 direct cremation service. And, the good operators in the Death Care space know that. There are plenty of ways to buy a burger in many different…
Empty grave case still perplexing, legal issues pending
Back in December 2025, Funeral Director Daily, in this article, informed you of the case of the empty grave of CBC Canada Royal Glider Pilot Gordon Patrick. If you read the article you…
Colorado city tackles cemetery issue
The Lafayette (Colorado) City Council reached an agreement on what action to take to help those who have purchased lots in the Lafayette Cemetery and may not be able to use them due to…
CREMATION
Everstory Partners aims for more of the “Upper K”
Not every consumer is looking for the $999 direct cremation service. And, the good operators in the Death Care space know that. There are plenty of ways to buy a burger in many different…
The New Math
As you read this today I will soon or already have given a presentation at the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) International Convention. I was asked to speak on the Fads, Trends,…
National “Cremation Placement Day” coming on October 17
If you are in the Death Care business you know that the number of cremated remains that reside in peoples’ homes is a large, and more than likey, growing number. Some estimate that…
PRENEED
Pure Cremation exec: Is the “At-Need choice” death market contracting?
The number of deaths in the United States is expected to grow 26.3% from 2019 (the last year prior to the pandemic) until 2040 by certain estimates. Estimates for the number of deaths in…
Anthem Partners announces strategic partnership with Family Shield Credit
In a press release from earlier this week funeral home operator Anthem Partners announced that they have formed a partnership with Family Shield Credit in order to provide families with “flexible, budget-friendly payment options while…
Connecticut budget includes money for victims of allegedly stolen pre-arrangements
Earlier this month, as you can read in this article from NBC Connecticut, the legislature of Connecticut passed their state budget which included the “Act Concerning Unlawful Funeral Service Practices”. The state appropriated…
PRODUCTS
Funeral homes can add service lines to increase revenue streams
Funeral homes and cremation providers have seen the revenue numbers that they bring in flatten as more consumers have continued to prefer less expensive services, such as cremation, over traditional burials for the…
Everstory Partners aims for more of the “Upper K”
Not every consumer is looking for the $999 direct cremation service. And, the good operators in the Death Care space know that. There are plenty of ways to buy a burger in many different…
Chptr, iHeart Media, Tribute Technology work to get more media exposure for funeral homes
In a press release from Chptr, that you can access here, and also in a press release from Tribute Technology, that you can access here, we learned that Chptr partnered with iHeart Media to…
