Afternoon Edition: NFDA 9/11 Podcast, . . Park Lawn appoints CFO, . . . India’s 15 year old “King” of cremation

By Funeral Director Daily September 14, 2020

In our first Afternoon Edition following the 19th anniversary of the 9/11 Attack on America we bring you the latest podcast from the National Funeral Director’s Association, which features an interview with funeral director Dominic Carella.  According to NFDA, Carella was the first funeral director called on 9/11, 2001, and he and his team provided…

Celebrity funerals . . . and funeral celebrities

By Funeral Director Daily September 14, 2020

There were a couple of items in the news recently that brought about this headline.  The first was the death and funeral services for young actor Chadwick Boseman and the second item that I caught was the notice that CBS is developing a one-hour drama series that will be called “Closure”. “Closure” is loosely based…

Axar Capital pulls back bid to take StoneMor Inc. private

By Funeral Director Daily September 11, 2020

In this public relations release from Globe Newswire you can read that Axar Capital Management has withdrawn its proposal to acquire all of the outstanding shares of StoneMor Inc. and take the company private. In the press release, StoneMor made this announcement by Stephen J. Negrotti, Chair of a special committee to evaluate the Axar…

Back in the saddle again

By Funeral Director Daily September 11, 2020

Today I am going to take one day and depart from my usual news and commentary on the death care profession to tell a little about my position on the Board of Regents at the University of Minnesota – the 12 person public board that governs the University.  I do so because as you read…

Afternoon Edition: “Get to Know Them” — Jay Dodds

By Funeral Director Daily September 10, 2020

Today we start a new feature with Funeral Director Daily that we plan to showcase every Thursday afternoon.  This is our “Get to Know Them” feature. Doing this daily edition of death care related topics for Funeral Director Daily has shown to me the unique, but yet diverse occupations and individuals involved in bringing the…

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

Groundbreaking research from Parting Stone may help you get cremated remains permanently placed

By Funeral Director Daily | September 9, 2026

    Recently I received a press release from Parting Stone, the solidified remains company, that enlightened me as to some of the reasons so many survivors continue to hold on to cremated remains in…

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…

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

Groundbreaking research from Parting Stone may help you get cremated remains permanently placed

By Funeral Director Daily | September 9, 2026

    Recently I received a press release from Parting Stone, the solidified remains company, that enlightened me as to some of the reasons so many survivors continue to hold on to cremated remains in…

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.  …

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

Groundbreaking research from Parting Stone may help you get cremated remains permanently placed

By Funeral Director Daily | September 9, 2026

    Recently I received a press release from Parting Stone, the solidified remains company, that enlightened me as to some of the reasons so many survivors continue to hold on to cremated remains in…

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…