To cap off the week and the month of May we are forwarding to you three separate articles from the world of death care. Click on the links of these articles to learn more. State of Washington and its Death Certificate Problem- An editorial from the Spokane Spokesman-Review that you can read here goes into…
We bring you this article and video about the Charles Baber Cemetery in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. We bring it to you simply because it is so unusual. The article is about an 8-foot, non-venomous black snake that has apparently taken up residence in the cemetery. It appears to live in some of the walls of the…
Security National Financial Corporation, the Utah based financial and death care company showed a total company decrease in revenue for the 2019 1st Quarter as compared to the same quarter in 2018. You can see their 1st Quarter report here which was made public on May 16. However, even as the company experienced a decrease…
The standard “What business are you in” history lesson is still taught at the nation’s top business schools. That lesson goes way back to when I was in college and contemplates the question of how you define your business may actually make or break the business as the business goes forward in times of technological…
2019 is supposed to be the year that the Federal Trade Commission reviews the Funeral Rule. I don’t know if that will happen, but critics of the death care industry are asking for the reviewal and with it, price transparency required as a web or app based service. This article that I read from the…
BUSINESS
The funeral profession is changing . . . . but yet, what is really important should stay the same
I met John Adams, a past President of the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) of Great Britain at the Baltimore NFDA Convention a few years back. We had randomly sat down at the…
Park Lawn makes promotions to strengthen “Family Experience” and support growth. . .promoting from within
Last week I received this press release from Park Lawn Corporation titled “Park Lawn empowers key leaders to enhance the family experience and support growth”. While there is nothing particularly newsworthy in that title, publishing…
No end in sight
I talk to a lot of funeral directors. Most understand the ramifications of raising their prices. However, sometimes it just needs to be done to stay profitable. . . . but in an inelastic…
FINANCE
Carriage Services expands Revolving Credit Facility
At the end of September public company funeral home and cemetery consolidator and operator Carriage Services made some moves that they hope will enhance their long-term flexibility. In essence, Carriage Services made this…
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…
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
The Start of Something Good
I learned of the advent of the upcoming first annual National Cremation Remembrance (or Placement) Day earlier this year from my friends at Crowne Vault. The company was one of the first to…
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…
CREMATION
The Start of Something Good
I learned of the advent of the upcoming first annual National Cremation Remembrance (or Placement) Day earlier this year from my friends at Crowne Vault. The company was one of the first to…
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…
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…
