We are already coming up on the third Tuesday of the month and that means it is time for another Cremation Association of North America (CANA) sponsored funeral professionals peer support online meeting. This month CANA brings us Tony Russo who asks the question “How far is too far” in dealing with families? …
Celestis, the memorial spaceflight program for cremated remains, recently lost its spacecraft from the Perseverence flight and the 166 cremated remains and/or human DNA carried with it. This article from MSN states that the remains “. . . have now been spread across the Pacific Ocean after a malfunction caused the recovery capsule’s…
This article from Angelus tells of the the July 1, 2025, bankruptcy filing of the Catholic Diocese of Fresno, California. The article makes this comment about the filing: In the Chapter 11 petition — filed July 1 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District Court of California, Fresno Division — diocesan…
I read a this recent article about the Arlington Cemetery located in the City of Arlington within the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The article had to do with re-opening the cemetery for sales of lots after three decades of not selling any new lots. It reminded me of a situation that we had when I…
As of July 1, 2025, Natural Organic Reduction, or Terramation as some call it, became a legal form of disposition in the state of Minnesota. According to information that I believe reliable, Minnesota was the 11th state to pass legislation permitting such and the 13th state to activate the process. The process of…
BUSINESS
Happy Thanksgiving — Enjoy, food, family, and football!!!
This year for my evening devotions I am using a book of daily notes by Billy Graham titled, “Wisdom for Each Day“. It was in the back of my mind to write something for…
62 Years ago this week. . . . the story of the Kennedy casket
Imagine it is lunch time at the funeral home you work at when you get a call from the hospital two miles away that you need to immediately bring the best casket you have…
Transformation continues — You can’t afford to be left behind
Simply as a member of a community I was again reminded this past week that transformation, and especially technology transformation, continues to happen at a rapid pace in the Death Care profession. Last week…
FINANCE
Security National Financial’s 3rd Quarter: Cemeteries/Mortuaries are the bright spot
Security National Financial Corporation, the Utah-based public company with parts of its operation in the Death Care segment, reported their 3rd Quarter 2025 financials last week. When the President of the company,…
Wealth generation, private equity, funeral homes — Will this period last forever?
The Wall Street Journal in this recent article (you may find a paywall here) estimates that over the past 5 years Americans have gained a total of $63 trillion in personal wealth. And, this…
Seeking Alpha author says “Carriage Services is coming back to life”
Seeking Alpha author Daniel Jones made the following comment in this opinion article titled “Carriage Services is coming back to life” published last week about the company: “. . . I believe…
REGULATIONS
Subject of iconic “Homecoming” photo died on Veterans Day
This is Thanksgiving weekend — a time to reflect and give thanks for the lives we are living. Those of you who are old enough will remember back in 1973 a time when our…
Happy Thanksgiving — Enjoy, food, family, and football!!!
This year for my evening devotions I am using a book of daily notes by Billy Graham titled, “Wisdom for Each Day“. It was in the back of my mind to write something for…
Turning golf courses into cemeteries. . .here’s a city that wants to do just that
Golf courses, in this day and age, are incredibly expensive to build. It’s not only the land acquisition costs but you have the costs involved in shaping the fairways and the greens, building a…
CEMETERY
62 Years ago this week. . . . the story of the Kennedy casket
Imagine it is lunch time at the funeral home you work at when you get a call from the hospital two miles away that you need to immediately bring the best casket you have…
Turning golf courses into cemeteries. . .here’s a city that wants to do just that
Golf courses, in this day and age, are incredibly expensive to build. It’s not only the land acquisition costs but you have the costs involved in shaping the fairways and the greens, building a…
Socialism in NYC and Death Care
The election of Democrat Socialist Zohran Mamdani as Mayor of the city that many refer to as the “World’s Financial Center” has brought about questions on what might change. Most of those questions deal…
CREMATION
Does KFC have a template for Death Care?
Alex Fasciano, an analyst for CFRA Research suggests that quick service restaurant player KFC’s (formerly Kentucky Fried Chicken) strategy is “. .centered on driving growth through brand relevance, marketing innovation, (and) operational excellence. .…
Cremation Air: A new service to help funeral homes
Funeral Director Daily learned last week that one of the best known names in Death Care was branching out to continue to help funeral directors. The Czachor family, founders of the leading funeral home…
Socialism in NYC and Death Care
The election of Democrat Socialist Zohran Mamdani as Mayor of the city that many refer to as the “World’s Financial Center” has brought about questions on what might change. Most of those questions deal…
PRENEED
Preneed companies emerge as funeral home lending sources
Morgan Stanley, a global financial services firm that provides a wide range of products and services, including investment banking, wealth management, consumer banking, and brokerage services, recently made this comment in an article, “Life…
Co-op Funeralcare increases “Funeral Plan” sales over 17% despite cyberattack
An April cyberattack which you can read about here probably cost the parent company of Great Britain’s largest funeral home operator, Co-op Funeralcare, about a US$ 107 million profit swing but didn’t seem to…
Acquiring client families — “Any Which Way You Can”
As so often happens in my world I’ve had some real life and/or businesses experiences or discussions in the last week or ten days that has made me think about Death Care. And,…
PRODUCTS
Transformation continues — You can’t afford to be left behind
Simply as a member of a community I was again reminded this past week that transformation, and especially technology transformation, continues to happen at a rapid pace in the Death Care profession. Last week…
Cremation Air: A new service to help funeral homes
Funeral Director Daily learned last week that one of the best known names in Death Care was branching out to continue to help funeral directors. The Czachor family, founders of the leading funeral home…
Consumers do change habits
Service Corporation International Chairman and CEO Thomas Ryan made some interesting comments in his opening statements in last week’s SCI Earnings Call. And, I wonder when looking at the long-range perspective if these comments…
