Localnews24 reports that Memphis funeral home R. Bernard Funeral Services is offering drive thru viewings. The family owned funeral firm opened in January and has held four drive-thru viewings. The funeral home also offers live stream viewing so that out of town family members can participate. You can watch the video below https://youtu.be/aM2m2bqLrPQ Funeral Director…
“I think it would be great to eliminate this tax. For people, at the end of life, to have further tax put upon them seems to be too much for people who already spend their whole life being taxed” Funeral Director John Kohl of Parker Kohl funeral home as quoted in Southernminn.com Southernminn.com reports that…
The Dallas Post reports that the Luzerne County has increased the fee for a cremation permit from $35 to $60. The increase will offset a $50,000 proposed budget increase for autopsy expenses relating to drug overdoses. There were 1,872 cremations in 2016 in Luzerne County, up from 1872 cremations in 2015. Funeral Director Daily’s take:…
Service Corporation International (NYSE: SCI), the largest provider of deathcare products and services in North America, issued fourth quarter 2016 financials. Here are the highlights. Quarterly revenue increased by 5% to $809 due primarily to an increase in cemetery preneed revenue. SCI funeral home revenues were flat. Net income declined by 11% to $66 million…
The US Census surveys the funeral industry every five years. The next census will take place later this year. Here is the data on US revenues and employment in the Cemetary, Crematory and Funeral Home industries for 1997-2012. Funeral Director Daily take: The drop in cemetery and crematory staff of almost 46% in fifteen years…
BUSINESS
Bill introduced to raise Social Security Death Benefit
It’s been almost 100 years since Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Bill into law in 1935. And, contrary to what most people believe, there was a “Lump Sum Death Benefit”…
Illinois funeral home owner says selling to friends “. . makes it easier to walk away from this business I’ve known all my life”
We learned of an interesting sale/acquisition story that happened recently in Illinois. This article from the Mendota Reporter will tell you of the sale of the Merritt Funeral Home to the Unger-Horner Funeral…
The Federal Funds interest rate came down, what does that mean for you?
If you ask my opinion, American borrowers have been somewhat spoiled by the low interest rates that we had had for almost the last ten years. This article will tell you that from…
FINANCE
Illinois funeral home owner says selling to friends “. . makes it easier to walk away from this business I’ve known all my life”
We learned of an interesting sale/acquisition story that happened recently in Illinois. This article from the Mendota Reporter will tell you of the sale of the Merritt Funeral Home to the Unger-Horner Funeral…
SCI adds San Antonio funeral home locations
Last week we noticed in this short announcement from Market Screener that Houston-based Service Corporation International (SCI) had acquired the Porter Loring Mortuaries based in San Antonio, Texas. It appears that the Porter…
Prelude receives an investment from Cortado Ventures
The last time we mentioned the upstart preneed company Prelude in Funeral Director Daily was this article back in March 2024 when we first heard of them. We mentioned that we didn’t know much…
REGULATIONS
Bill introduced to raise Social Security Death Benefit
It’s been almost 100 years since Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Bill into law in 1935. And, contrary to what most people believe, there was a “Lump Sum Death Benefit”…
The Crematory Dilemma: Continued consumer choice vs. the NIMBY attitude
For over a year and a half Funeral Director Daily has followed the application process of the Evans Funeral Chapel in trying to locate and build a new crematory in the White Marsh…
NFDA joins others in quest to delay implementation of Corporate Transparency Act (CTA)
In early September the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) joined with hundreds of other groups to delay implementation of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) which is set to be implemented on January 1, 2025. …
CEMETERY
Last wills, charitable giving, and preneed
Central Co-op of Great Britain is an interesting company. They are a company with a history of over 100 years and operate in the grocery, legal services, floral, and funeral business. According…
“Place” is very important
Earlier in August I came across this feature article titled “One of Oregon’s most prominent families appears to want another family’s burial plot” from Willamette Weekly of Oregon about a disagreement in ownership…
Propel Funeral Partners announces acquisition
In a press release Propel Funeral Partners of New Zealand announced a somewhat unusual acquisition. Propel announced in July that they had completed the acquisition of Decra Art. Decra Art is believed…
CREMATION
Florida’s Van Orsdel Funeral & Cremation adds “Water Cremation”
Fifty years ago services were almost all traditional casketed funerals with earth burials. Then, for the next 50 years cremation choice by the consumer started building until we now have an approximate 60%…
The Crematory Dilemma: Continued consumer choice vs. the NIMBY attitude
For over a year and a half Funeral Director Daily has followed the application process of the Evans Funeral Chapel in trying to locate and build a new crematory in the White Marsh…
Carriage Services: Strategies driving improvements
I’m one that believes you can learn something from seeing what the public companies in funeral service are doing. When I was active with my funeral home in the business I would read their…
PRENEED
The Federal Funds interest rate came down, what does that mean for you?
If you ask my opinion, American borrowers have been somewhat spoiled by the low interest rates that we had had for almost the last ten years. This article will tell you that from…
Prelude receives an investment from Cortado Ventures
The last time we mentioned the upstart preneed company Prelude in Funeral Director Daily was this article back in March 2024 when we first heard of them. We mentioned that we didn’t know much…
Last wills, charitable giving, and preneed
Central Co-op of Great Britain is an interesting company. They are a company with a history of over 100 years and operate in the grocery, legal services, floral, and funeral business. According…
PRODUCTS
Academic scholarships available from the Funeral Service Foundation — 6 weeks to application deadlines
I know a lot of people in funeral service. And, I might make a wager and say that most of those that I know are humble and enjoy helping their community and the world…
I’m set for New Orleans. . Are you?
Just over a month from now, from October 19 thru the 23rd, I’ll be in New Orleans attending the 2024 National Funeral Directors Association National Convention. I procrastinated but still got registered under the…
Foundation Partners acquires Cake
In a press release from yesterday we learned that funeral home and cemetery operator Foundation Partners Group (FPG) has acquired the end-of-life planning company Cake. The press release, which you can access here,…
