Matthews International, an international conglomerate which serves the death care industry with memorial products, reported their January through March 2022 financial numbers last week. Because they choose to report on a Fiscal Year that begins on October 1 each year, this report is considered their 2022 2nd Quarter Report. You can access a copy of…
Just as you would take an inventory of your physical health at least once a year, I also think it is imperative that you take a look at your business’ health at least that often. And, while we meet with our bankers and accountants to take a deep look in the financial health of our…
When you read this it will already be May 2022 and we will be two-thirds of the way into the 2nd Quarter of most company’s 2022 business year. As a matter of fact, the reports of January thru March have already started to roll out as Matthews International provided us information on the January thru…
I’ve said in this forum, while Natural Organic Reduction (what some call human composting) is not for me. . . as an entrepreneur I’m somewhat in awe of how Katrina Spade moved the idea for human disposition from idea to a legal process of disposition. Spade not only had to prove that the concept worked…
Over last weekend while doing some research I stumbled across this article on Matthews International. As you may know Matthews is the parent company of Aurora Caskets and Matthews Cremation. What you maybe don’t know is that they are a world-wide conglomerate who is making a big bet on the electric car market with a…
BUSINESS
Christopher Walken stars in the latest “funeral home” inspired film
The movie Back in Black starring Christopher Walken recently celebrated its world premiere in September at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The movie stars Walken as Clyde Mortimer in what some reviews call…
Dignity Plc Funeral Services owner: “The legal services strategy has continued to exceed expectations”
I’ve had a lot of experience during my time as a Board member and Chairman of Senior Living companies extending “service lines” in order to build business. And, I think part of the future…
Acquisitions: The price that is paid is all about “The Present Value of Future Cash-Flow”
Acquisitions are big in Death Care. . . .and we are being told that with so many retiring funeral home owners. . . about to become bigger. If that is the case, we will…
FINANCE
Park Lawn Corp purchases business assets of historic Texas funeral home. . . .Strategy may start a trend of facility closures
This recent article from the Waco (TX) Tribune-Herald will give you full information on the recent purchase of the business assets of the historic Connally-Compton Funeral Home in Waco, Texas, by the Park…
Acquisitions: The price that is paid is all about “The Present Value of Future Cash-Flow”
Acquisitions are big in Death Care. . . .and we are being told that with so many retiring funeral home owners. . . about to become bigger. If that is the case, we will…
Propel Funeral Partners FY 2026 Annual Report: Pretty much “Statis Quo”
Propel Funeral Partners, the largest public Death Care company and 2nd largest Death Care company in Australia and New Zealand, presented their Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Report at the end of August. The report…
REGULATIONS
Not a Good Look: “Dysfunctional Death Care System” becoming an issue in Chicago mayor’s race
In August of this past summer (2026) 56 decomposed bodies were found improperly stored in a funeral home in Chicago. It’s not the first time or the first place something like this has…
Preneed: Your funeral home’s reputation may be tied to your preneed provider
I came across an interesting article the other day that reminded me of the unease that I always had in selecting our funeral home’s preneed insurance partner. My unease had nothing to do…
Will the dispersion of Natural Organic Reduction soil be an issue?
Back in August the Worcester (Maryland) County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) approved Natural Organic Reduction (NOR) firm Earth Burial’s request to spread NOR soil on a 14-acre property in the county. According to…
CEMETERY
Will the dispersion of Natural Organic Reduction soil be an issue?
Back in August the Worcester (Maryland) County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) approved Natural Organic Reduction (NOR) firm Earth Burial’s request to spread NOR soil on a 14-acre property in the county. According to…
Recollections of 9/11. . . 25 years later
So today, September 11, 2026, marks the 25th anniversary of the 2001 terror attacks on America. For those of us who are baby boomers, that day is seared in our memory as are…
Nicole Kidman, Sandra Bullock visit cemetery movie screening
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…
CREMATION
Not a Good Look: “Dysfunctional Death Care System” becoming an issue in Chicago mayor’s race
In August of this past summer (2026) 56 decomposed bodies were found improperly stored in a funeral home in Chicago. It’s not the first time or the first place something like this has…
Will the dispersion of Natural Organic Reduction soil be an issue?
Back in August the Worcester (Maryland) County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) approved Natural Organic Reduction (NOR) firm Earth Burial’s request to spread NOR soil on a 14-acre property in the county. According to…
The devastating effects of Direct Cremation on traditional funeral homes
My career in the Death Care business spans from 1980 when I attained my funeral director’s license until today where I keep my eye on what is happening in the business so that I…
PRENEED
Preneed: Your funeral home’s reputation may be tied to your preneed provider
I came across an interesting article the other day that reminded me of the unease that I always had in selecting our funeral home’s preneed insurance partner. My unease had nothing to do…
The shifting preneed trend and the need to make preneed a priority
I recently read a blog post on the Funeral Directors Life (FDL) blog written by Todd Carlson, Executive Vice-President and Chief Sales officer at Funeral Directors Life. The article was titled “Three preneed trends…
Death Literacy: “Concerns over the rapid rise of Direct Cremations”
“Death Literacy” is something you may be hearing more about in the days to come. This article from SABR-A Care Collective mentions that “Raising death literacy aims to equip people with the skills not…
PRODUCTS
Dignity Plc Funeral Services owner: “The legal services strategy has continued to exceed expectations”
I’ve had a lot of experience during my time as a Board member and Chairman of Senior Living companies extending “service lines” in order to build business. And, I think part of the future…
Will the dispersion of Natural Organic Reduction soil be an issue?
Back in August the Worcester (Maryland) County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) approved Natural Organic Reduction (NOR) firm Earth Burial’s request to spread NOR soil on a 14-acre property in the county. According to…
“Drowning in information, starved for knowledge”
Back in 1982 when John Naisbitt’s bestselling book, Megatrends, was flying off the shelves (it was before Amazon so it wasn’t being ordered by mail) the book commented that Americans were “drowning in information…
