“Get to Know Them”: Nicki Mikolai

By Funeral Director Daily December 10, 2020

Today’s Funeral Director Daily “Get to Know Them” feature introduces our readers to Nicki Mikolai.  Nicki graduated from my alma mater – the University of Minnesota – and has performed an extensive array of work in the death care profession.  She is a licensed funeral director and had worked for the Minnesota Lions Eye Bank…

Foundation Partners Group adds Florida funeral homes

By Funeral Director Daily December 10, 2020

Earlier this week Foundation Partners Group, the Orlando based funeral home, crematory, and cemetery operator announced that it had purchased a company that operated three locations in Southwest Florida.  You can read the press release on the acquisition here. Foundation Partners Group announced that it had acquired the Akin-Davis Funeral Homes.  They also announced that…

Building brand awareness, perception, and image

By Funeral Director Daily December 9, 2020

So many times when I’m writing a an article I find something in that article that jogs my mind about another aspect of funeral service, or business, or life in general.  In yesterday’s article I mentioned “Top of Mind Awareness” as something that your business or your brand wants your potential customers to have. I…

Wilbert offering free CEU hours to funeral directors

By Funeral Director Daily December 8, 2020

I’ve learned, and am not surprised, that there are companies out there that really understand that the coronavirus pandemic has been detrimental in many ways.  I never really thought about it but for those of us who like to get our continuing education hours in a live setting, we realize that those settings have been…

NFDA news you can use. . . a couple of California stories that break hearts

By Funeral Director Daily December 7, 2020

This afternoon we are bringing you some news from the National Funeral Directors Association as well as a couple of stories that we uncovered about death care in California that point out the tragedy of humanity in the lives of those less fortunate than many of us. First of all, the National Funeral Directors Association…

BUSINESS

“It’s good enough” — That’s an attitude bound to bring disaster to your business

By Funeral Director Daily | September 8, 2026

  Last Saturday morning my wife, Angie, and I were having our morning coffee and she was paging through the local newspaper.  She made the comment that our recent county fair had a record attendance…

Death Literacy: “Concerns over the rapid rise of Direct Cremations”

By Funeral Director Daily | September 4, 2026

  “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…

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…

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

Death Literacy: “Concerns over the rapid rise of Direct Cremations”

By Funeral Director Daily | September 4, 2026

  “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…

“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…

PRENEED

Death Literacy: “Concerns over the rapid rise of Direct Cremations”

By Funeral Director Daily | September 4, 2026

  “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…

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…

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…