The succession dilemma of rural funeral home ownership

By Funeral Director Daily September 14, 2022

Over the past several weeks I’ve had several instances which caused me to wonder “What is going to happen to rural America’s home town, home-owned, funeral homes.”  Again, it has not been one thing, but a string of instances that have made me wonder about that. For instance, I know of firms in my state…

Anthem Partners makes 19 location acquisition

By Funeral Director Daily September 13, 2022

We learned last week via this press release that Anthem Partners, the Frisco, Texas, based owner and operator of funeral homes and cemeteries had acquired Serenity & Company Memorial Service.  According to the press release, Serenity & Company began in 2007 in Arkansas, but has expanded and now operates in Arkansas, California, Nevada, and New…

Messenger acquires Thumbies; thoughts on the “new memorialization”

By Funeral Director Daily September 13, 2022

In this news release from Messenger News you can read about the Messenger Company and its acquisition of the Thumbies Fingerprint Keepsakes business.  The release states that “the new addition to the Messenger family of companies will allow the Messenger team of sales representatives to offer the complete line of Thumbies jewelry in their portfolio…

The case for a free-market (funeral business) society

By Funeral Director Daily September 12, 2022

Last week I saw an article about the Fast Food Accountability and Standards (FAST) Recovery Act that has passed both houses of the California legislature and is awaiting a signature by Governor Gavin Newsome to make it a law.  Part of what that law would do is create a 10-person fast-food council with employee and…

StoneMor announces acquisition of Illinois funeral home

By Funeral Director Daily September 9, 2022

StoneMor Inc., the Pennsylvania based operator of funeral homes and cemeteries announced the acquisition of Anderson Funeral and Cremation Services of Belvidere, Illinois, last week.  According to this press release from StoneMor, company CEO Joe Redling said of the acquisition, “StoneMor’s acquisition of Anderson Funeral and Cremation Services is a valuable strategic move for us…

BUSINESS

Keeping your brand relevant with the new consumers

By Funeral Director Daily | September 2, 2026

  I’ve came to believe that, at least in part, the reason why consumers select a certain funeral home has changed.  From my point of view, in days gone by almost almost all funeral home…

“Size” has its own set of issues

By Funeral Director Daily | August 31, 2026

  Great Britain’s Pure Cremation, quite possibly the most successful start-up in the history of Death Care, continues to grow their direct cremation business.  And, that growth in itself seems to cause some problems.  …

Oklahoma family business gets initial court win to move forward in casket sales case

By Funeral Director Daily | August 27, 2026

  According to this recent article from the Institute for Justice the District Court of Oklahoma County has ruled that Casket of Honors owners Candice Mentink and Todd Collard may proceed with their case against…

FINANCE

Death Care Index (DCI) once again trails major indexes

By Funeral Director Daily | September 3, 2026

    Over the years I’ve seen many family funeral homes explode in value as they built more market share, acquired more facilities, and simply built a culture of enhancing revenues while at the same…

Matthews International names new President/CEO

By Funeral Director Daily | September 1, 2026

It didn’t take long for Death Care conglomerate Matthews International to name a new President and CEO following this August 4, 2026, press release indicating that current President/CEO Josepah Bartolacci would be retiring after more…

A.S. Turner & Sons has a busy summer — adds a funeral home and terramation service line

By Funeral Director Daily | August 25, 2026

  A.S. Turner & Sons has served the population of Decatur, Georgia, and the greater Atlanta area for more than 120 years.  Funeral Director Daily recently mentioned the firm in this article about The Natural…

REGULATIONS

Oklahoma family business gets initial court win to move forward in casket sales case

By Funeral Director Daily | August 27, 2026

  According to this recent article from the Institute for Justice the District Court of Oklahoma County has ruled that Casket of Honors owners Candice Mentink and Todd Collard may proceed with their case against…

Empty grave case still perplexing, legal issues pending

By Funeral Director Daily | August 12, 2026

    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

By Funeral Director Daily | August 3, 2026

  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…

CEMETERY

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…

Everstory Partners aims for more of the “Upper K”

By Funeral Director Daily | August 14, 2026

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

By Funeral Director Daily | August 12, 2026

    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…

CREMATION

“Size” has its own set of issues

By Funeral Director Daily | August 31, 2026

  Great Britain’s Pure Cremation, quite possibly the most successful start-up in the history of Death Care, continues to grow their direct cremation business.  And, that growth in itself seems to cause some problems.  …

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…

A.S. Turner & Sons has a busy summer — adds a funeral home and terramation service line

By Funeral Director Daily | August 25, 2026

  A.S. Turner & Sons has served the population of Decatur, Georgia, and the greater Atlanta area for more than 120 years.  Funeral Director Daily recently mentioned the firm in this article about The Natural…

PRENEED

Pure Cremation exec: Is the “At-Need choice” death market contracting?

By Funeral Director Daily | July 14, 2026

  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

By Funeral Director Daily | July 10, 2026

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

By Funeral Director Daily | May 28, 2026

    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

Oklahoma family business gets initial court win to move forward in casket sales case

By Funeral Director Daily | August 27, 2026

  According to this recent article from the Institute for Justice the District Court of Oklahoma County has ruled that Casket of Honors owners Candice Mentink and Todd Collard may proceed with their case against…

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…

A.S. Turner & Sons has a busy summer — adds a funeral home and terramation service line

By Funeral Director Daily | August 25, 2026

  A.S. Turner & Sons has served the population of Decatur, Georgia, and the greater Atlanta area for more than 120 years.  Funeral Director Daily recently mentioned the firm in this article about The Natural…