We are blessed to live in a country which allows for religious freedom. And, when you work as a funeral director helping those who have lost loved ones to death, it’s a privilege to help even when those client families don’t believe as you do. However, have you ever thought about…
What happens when deceased human remains remain unclaimed? In the Canadian provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador that situation is causing a problem. According to this article there is no easy solution on the human disposition of deceased human beings who are either unidentified or in a situation that the family does not claim…
I was reminded this week that many times “Discretion is the choice over Valor”. In writing today’s column, which will eventually get down to the Death Care business, I’m going to share a little of my weekend and how I came to write this for today. If you read Funeral Director Daily…
While I was researching this morning’s article on the most recent financial performance of Propel Funeral Partners I was made aware that the people of Seeking Alpha had written some opinion pieces on North American Death Care companies within the past month. Without any opinion or other action I present them to the…
The growth of Propel Funeral Partners of Australia and New Zealand is apparent when you look at the company’s financial report covering the 1st-Half of 2024, ending on December 31, 2023. In looking at the report you will see that, what is now believed to be the South Pacific’s largest “publicly-held” death care…
BUSINESS
The paradox that is killing funeral service
Last week Angie and I attended a visitation service for a neighbor at the funeral home I used to own and operate. While there we witnessed first hand the care the family was…
Dignity, care, and respect. . . bringing the fallen home
On Saturday night I was at a movie, came home and turned the television on to catch the news and learned of the missile bombardment of Israel that Iran took responsibility for. Now,…
Has Inflation hit your bottom line yet?
There is no doubt that the cost of inflation in doing business will affect the bottom line of businesses unless they do something to counter the effect. It’s a pretty simple equation in the…
FINANCE
Starmark acquires AMA Containers
It was announced earlier this week that Starmark, a leading manufacturer of innovative funeral products, has acquired AMA Containers. AMA was originally founded in 1991 as Airline Mortuary Associates. Starmark, according to the press…
Seeking Alpha has a recent opinion on Carriage Services
Every once in a while the writers at Seeking Alpha put out an article on one of the Death Care Index stocks — Carriage Services, Service Corporation International, Park Lawn Corporation, Security National…
Security National Financial CEO on their Memorial Segment: “Growth. . .is our goal”
It took awhile, but Security National Financial Corporation (SNFC) finally got around to posting the results of the company’s 2023 year just last week. And, there is no doubt that SNFC’s Memorial Segment was…
REGULATIONS
Dignity, care, and respect. . . bringing the fallen home
On Saturday night I was at a movie, came home and turned the television on to catch the news and learned of the missile bombardment of Israel that Iran took responsibility for. Now,…
Might the Baltimore Bridge collapse cause a “funeral tax” in Maryland?
A week ago today I woke up to the news of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore Harbor. It wasn’t so long ago that I was in Baltimore…
It’s Good Friday. . . .Easter is coming!!!
We are blessed to live in a country which allows for religious freedom. And, when you work as a funeral director helping those who have lost loved ones to death, it’s a…
CEMETERY
America’s military cemeteries face financial backlog for upkeep and improvements
Kansas United States Senator Jerry Moran recently testified at a United States Senate Veterans Affairs Committee meeting that “When mourning a death the last thing a grieving family needs is some bureaucratic hurdle…
Looking outside the grave for cemetery revenue
Back almost three years ago in July 2021, Funeral Director Daily brought you this story of how a renewable energy company, Verogy, had put a 7,000 panel solar energy farm inside a…
Well intentioned rules and regulations need to be thought through, clarified
Well-intentioned rules and regulations are put into place by organizations. Sometimes, however, like America has found out with the disastrous “de-fund the police” movement, the results are not what the organizers intended them…
CREMATION
Well intentioned rules and regulations need to be thought through, clarified
Well-intentioned rules and regulations are put into place by organizations. Sometimes, however, like America has found out with the disastrous “de-fund the police” movement, the results are not what the organizers intended them…
Permanent Memorialization: How long is “Permanent”?
How long is “Permanent”? That is a question that has never been answered, but in many cases you will find out that “permanent” is not really “permanent”. There is an interesting…
Are you registered for CANA’s “Thinking Green” cremation symposium?
It is a only a little more than a month away. . . .are you ready to attend? The “It” I’m referring to is the “Thinking Green” Cremation Symposium hosted in Las Vegas, Nevada,…
PRENEED
Cash is King. . . .make sure that you turn your services into cash
Last week Funeral Director Daily published this article titled “Know your customer — How’s their credit”. That article delved into the American consumer credit profiles and why, before extending credit, you needed to…
Know your customer — How’s their credit?
The American economy keeps spending, yet we hear that families are getting squeezed by the combination of high prices and high interest rates. We also hear that high interest rates don’t seem to…
“Preneed” or “Funeral Contribution Funds”
There is an old saying that goes, “You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink”. I think that the meaning of that phrase, in human terms is something…
PRODUCTS
Starmark acquires AMA Containers
It was announced earlier this week that Starmark, a leading manufacturer of innovative funeral products, has acquired AMA Containers. AMA was originally founded in 1991 as Airline Mortuary Associates. Starmark, according to the press…
Empathy startup raises an additional $47 million
In the recent past I served as Board Chairman for a large Senior population health and living company for three years and as Chairman for a smaller home care and hospice company…
Cash is King. . . .make sure that you turn your services into cash
Last week Funeral Director Daily published this article titled “Know your customer — How’s their credit”. That article delved into the American consumer credit profiles and why, before extending credit, you needed to…
